In 2023, at least 196 environmental defenders were killed worldwide, with over a third of these deaths occurring in Colombia, according to a new report by the NGO Global Witness. The figures highlight the perilous conditions faced by those protecting natural resources and ecosystems.
The report reveals that environmental defenders were killed at an alarming rate of one every other day last year. The most dangerous countries for these activists were Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Honduras, which together accounted for over 70% of the global total. Mining emerged as the leading cause of these deaths, with 25 killings linked to the industry.
Laura Furones, lead author of the report, condemned the ongoing violence, stating, “As the climate crisis accelerates, those defending our planet face increasing violence and intimidation. The persistently high number of killings is unacceptable.”
The report also notes that 43% of those killed were from Indigenous communities, and nearly 90% were men. Since Global Witness began documenting these incidents in 2012, the total number of recorded killings has reached 2,106.
Despite Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s promises to tackle violence against environmental defenders, the report indicates little progress in curbing the violence. The majority of killings occurred in southwestern Colombia, an area plagued by drug trafficking and coca cultivation. The Colombian government has yet to respond to requests for comment on the report’s findings.
Global Witness has called for increased protection for environmental defenders at the upcoming Cop16 Biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, scheduled for October. The report also highlights improvements in Brazil, where killings decreased from 34 in the previous year to 25, though Indigenous communities remain disproportionately affected.
In Asia, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia were identified as the deadliest countries, with 17, 5, and 3 killings, respectively. The report also points to a troubling trend of disappearances, abductions, and criminalization of activists globally.
Nonhle Mbuthuma, a Goldman Environmental Prize winner from South Africa, emphasized the global threat faced by those exposing environmental damage. “Indigenous peoples, crucial in combating climate change, are disproportionately targeted year after year,” she said in the report’s foreword.
