Over the last 15 years, journalists and news outlets covering environmental issues have been targeted with murder, physical violence, detention, online harassment, or legal attacks. UNESCO in its latest report titled “Press and Planet in Danger,” sheds light on the alarming rise in attacks against environmental journalists, highlighting the urgent need for stronger support and governance.
Over the past 15 years, at least 749 journalists and news outlets covering environmental issues have been targeted with murder, physical violence, detention, online harassment, or legal attacks. Shockingly, between 2019 and 2023 alone, there was a 42% increase in attacks compared to the preceding five-year period.
UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists recorded the killing of at least 44 environmental journalists during this period, with an impunity rate of almost 90%. Physical attacks have more than doubled in recent years, with 353 incidents reported between 2019 and 2023.
A consultation of over 900 environmental journalists from 129 countries revealed that 70% had experienced attacks, threats, or pressure linked to their reporting. Disturbingly, two-in-five journalists reported experiencing physical violence as a result.
RISING PHYSICAL ATTACKS: A GLOBAL TREND
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said,”Without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it. And yet the journalists we rely on to investigate this subject and ensure information is accessible face unacceptably high risks all over the world, and climate-related disinformation is running rampant on social media. On World Press Freedom Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression and protecting journalists worldwide.”
Women journalists, in particular, are more exposed to online harassment, echoing trends identified in UNESCO’s previous report on online violence against women journalists. Additionally, a third of journalists surveyed reported censorship, while nearly half admitted to self-censorship due to fear of reprisal or exposure of sources.
THE PERILOUS TERRAIN: CHALLENGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
Environmental journalism is inherently perilous, with reporters often operating in remote and isolated locations, far from immediate help or legal protection. Covering issues like deforestation, pollution, or illegal mining adds layers of risk, as journalists frequently intersect with highly profitable economic activities. This overlap can provoke hostility from corporations, local operators, and criminal organizations, all of whom view environmental journalists as threats to their operations.
THREATS FROM STATE AND PRIVATE ACTORS: A GLOBAL CONCERN
Moreover, state and private actors, along with criminal groups, have been known to intimidate, harass, or physically harm journalists in an effort to silence their reporting. The widespread nature of these threats underscores the serious challenges faced by environmental journalists worldwide.
In response to these dangers, UNESCO calls for stronger support for environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms to combat online harassment and disinformation. Protecting press freedom and defending journalists’ right to report on critical environmental issues is essential for ensuring informed public discourse and addressing the ongoing environmental crisis.
