Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
At the first European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Strasbourg, France, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that Europe is experiencing climate change impacts including increasing floods, shrinking glaciers, and heatwaves, with the continent warming twice as fast as the global average. He also noted that 95 percent of urban residents breathe unsafe air and that over 80 percent of habitats are in poor or bad condition across Europe.
Türk praised environmental defenders for their work to protect the planet and democracy but highlighted serious threats they face. According to his office, nearly 600 environmental and land defenders have been killed or disappeared worldwide in the past three years, and activists have been detained in at least 55 countries for peaceful environmental advocacy. Despite ambitious climate goals, new laws criminalizing peaceful protest are being enacted in some European countries, sometimes invoking legislation intended for terrorism and organized crime against activists.
The High Commissioner urged governments to protect environmental defenders, ensure accountability for abuses, respect court decisions, and improve regional protection systems. His remarks coincided with the eve of World Environment Day, observed on 5 June and led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which emphasizes urgent action to combat global warming and limit temperature rises to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen encouraged global action with the slogan “get low for climate,” promoting a campaign that includes a global limbo dance challenge supported by celebrities such as actor Jason Momoa and Brazilian DJ Alok.