European Governments' Repressive Response to Climate Protests: A Call for Human Rights and Environmental Advocacy

16-10-2023

Emily Wolfe 

Europe and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence

Human rights experts and climate activists are voicing deep concerns over an escalating crackdown on climate protests across Europe. Recent research by The Guardian has unearthed a troubling pattern where governments in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK are employing repressive measures to quash environmental activism. This crackdown infringes upon the fundamental right to non-violent protest and poses a severe obstacle to addressing the pressing issue of climate change.

In the UK, the situation is particularly alarming as judges have upheld multi-year sentences for climate activists involved in non-violent protests. Over the past two years, the UK has enacted laws that grant police wide-ranging powers to ban protests deemed "disruptive" and criminalize various protest tactics. This approach has drawn international condemnation, with UN rapporteur Michel Forst describing it as "terrifying" and warning that other European nations might follow suit, leading to dire consequences for climate activists across the continent.

Amnesty International is currently conducting an investigation into a continent-wide crackdown on protests, highlighting instances of criminalization, harassment, stigmatization, and negative rhetoric targeting environmental defenders. Instead of suppressing activists, the organization argues that European governments should engage in open dialogue with them to address the climate crisis.

Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, and Volker Türk, the UN's high commissioner for human rights, have both called for the protection of civic space for young environmental activists. However, some European governments have adopted a different approach. France's interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, ordered the banning of a prominent environmental protest group, denouncing them as "ecoterrorists."

In the Netherlands, police used water cannons to disperse protesters on a highway, resulting in over 1,500 arrests, including charges of sedition. In Sweden, members of the Återställ Våtmarker group were convicted of sabotage for blocking highways. In Germany, police conducted nationwide raids against the Letzte Generation group, seizing their possessions and shutting down their website. Italy employed anti-organized crime laws to target the Ultima Generazione group.

These actions have prompted criticism from organizations like Human Rights Watch, emphasizing that governments should respect the rights to assembly and expression, rather than suppress environmental protests. It is essential for democratic institutions to uphold these rights while also prioritizing robust environmental protection and climate action. Only through collaboration and dialogue can we hope to address the pressing climate crisis that affects us all.

Sources and Further Reading:

Gayle, D., Taylor, M., & Niranjan, A. (2023, October 13). Human rights experts warn against European crackdown on climate protesters. The Guardian. Retrieved on October 16, 2023 from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/12/human-rights-experts-warn-against-european-crackdown-on-climate-protesters