We all have an interest in supporting people who are pressing governments to meet their obligations on climate change, whether they are protesting in the street, bringing cases to court, or even carrying out civil disobedience.
Across Europe, other repressive laws and practices have been adopted--environment movements criminalized or shut down, environment defenders classified as"climate extremists," and considered"terrorist threats," in addition increasing prosecutions, police brutality, and judicial intimidation. Last June, the French governmentSoulèvements de la Terre, an environmental umbrella group of grassroots civil activism in the country.
The international human rights community--individuals, non-governmental organizations, and relevant human rights institutions--needs to do more to press governments to respond to environmental protests by complying with their obligations to deal with climate change instead of treating environmental defenders and their movements as terrorists, extremists, or criminals.
The Aarhus Convention includes a way for environmental defenders and protesters to raise their protection concerns with the appointment of a"special rapporteur." This mandate includes protecting environmental defenders from threats that result from their opposition to specific activities that are harmfully affecting them, such as an oil drilling project, a mine, or a foreign construction project in countries which are parties to the convention.