Stay informed: News and articles on our environment.

Opening Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights  5 September 2021 It is a pleasure to be with you all today, and I want first to express my profound gratitude and respect for your work. Defending biodiversity, ecosystems and our environment as a whole is dangerous. Both in the field and at the global level, my Office has been monitoring the situation...

Are you a human rights or social justice activist who cares about wellbeing at the individual, organizational and movement levels? The Wellbeing Project, in partnership with Human Rights Resilience Project, is launching its Defenders Wellbeing Collective. Social justice and human rights advocates often face stress and trauma, but frequently lack tools to support  resilience at the...

GENEVA (19 August 2021) – The UN’s draft plan to preserve and protect nature must be amended to put human rights at its centre if we are to ensure the future of life on our planet, David Boyd, UN special rapporteur on human rights and environment, said today. “Leaving human rights on the periphery is simply not an option, because rights-based conservation is the most effective,...

'Human activity is changing the climate in unprecedented and sometimes irreversible ways, a major UN scientific report has said. The landmark study warns of increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and flooding, and a key temperature limit being broken in just over a decade. The report "is a code red for humanity", says the UN chief. But scientists say a catastrophe can be avoided if...

The Earth Defenders Toolkit is a collaborative space for earth defenders and their allies. The Toolkit provides a growing collection of resources and training materials for communities on the frontlines of the struggle to defend critical ecosystems around the world, and community networks for users to connect and share their experiences. The mission of the Earth Defenders Toolkit is to...

The Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) has developed two important digital tools: the Microsite for Collective Protection Resources, a library of over 100 reports, videos, guides, and other training materials on best practices to effectively protect land and environmental defenders, their communities, and lands; and the new Podcast, a space for IWGIA's partners and allies to share their...

Joint Commitment endorsed by the Executive Committee, chaired by the UN Secretary-General and is the highest decision-making body of the UN. The statement promotes the right of children, youth and future generations to a healthy environment and their meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels, in relation to climate action and climate justice. Read the full statement:...