Global Environmental Defenders Face Rising Violence and Declining Aid

The report highlights a lethal intersection of state neglect and organized crime. Latin America remains the most dangerous region, accounting for 85% of total fatalities. Colombia leads with 39 deaths, followed by Brazil, Honduras, and the Philippines. Over three-quarters of those killed were Indigenous people, Afro-descendants, or small-scale farmers, often targeted while defending forests and water sources from illegal encroachment.

The Impact of Policy and Neglect

Experts point to the U.S. administration’s withdrawal from international norms and significant cuts to aid as factors that strip local communities of their protective resources. With more than one-third of killings linked to organized crime and over half stemming from unresolved land disputes, defenders are increasingly left to protect their territories without state support. Joan Carling of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights International notes that while Indigenous ancestral knowledge offers vital climate solutions, these communities are frequently excluded from decision-making, leading to what activists term "green colonialism." Despite the 124 recorded deaths—a figure likely representing a significant underestimate due to reporting barriers in repressive states—the systemic failure to secure land rights continues to invite violence against those on the front lines of the climate crisis.