The UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders has appealed to European nations, through a recent position paper, to halt the state repression of environmental protest and fulfil their obligations in line with the Paris Agreement to cut global warming.
Michel Forst, in the document, argued that the ongoing repression of peaceful environmental activists in Europe is a significant obstacle to democracy and human rights. He posited that addressing the environmental crisis is contingent on ensuring that individuals who voice concerns and advocate for action are not punished for their activism. Instances of harassment through arrests, fines, and identity checks against protesters have been reported in several European countries such as the UK, France, Spain, and Denmark. Forst also mentioned an increasing trend of legal prosecution of activists and instances of journalists’ harassment.
Nations’ judicial procedures and court systems allegedly contribute to the oppression and legal prosecution of environmental activists involved in peaceful protests and acts of civil disobedience. There is a notable increase in the number of prosecutions of climate protestors, with the apparent intention of discouraging people from engaging in protests.
Forst called for European nations to confront what he termed the “triple environmental crisis,” namely pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. He argued further that this escalating threat will spur additional mobilisation of protest groups. Rather than criminalizing these groups, nations should investigate the fundamental causes of their existence. He implored states to reverse the repression trend and ensure a safe and enabling environment for environmental defenders.
Simultaneously, several European countries are adopting stricter measures against peaceful demonstrators, and environmental groups are increasingly stigmatized through criminalization. As stated by the European Council’s Commissioner for Human Rights in a June 2023 declaration, peaceful environmental protesters have faced instances of pepper spraying, manhandling, injuries, dispersal, and arrests and detention in several European nations. She urged governments to cease oppressive crackdowns on environmental protesters, stating, “These are issues that affect us all… Those who raise them deserve our sympathy and support – not repression or resentment.”
This report comes as environmental protests throughout Europe continue to gain momentum, despite an uncomfortable response from several states.