Paris, France – A recent report by Unesco and the International Federation of Journalists has shed light on the increasing dangers faced by environmental journalists around the world. The report, based on joint research dating back 15 years, revealed that over 70% of environmental journalists have been attacked for their work since 2009, with at least 749 having experienced violence and intimidation in the past fifteen years. Shockingly, the report also highlights that 44 environmental journalists were murdered between 2009 and 2023, with only five convictions resulting from these cases.
The research conducted by Unesco and the International Federation of Journalists emphasized that environmental journalism has become an increasingly hazardous field, primarily due to the remote and isolated nature of the work. The topics covered by environmental journalists, including issues related to fossil fuel companies, mining firms, land grabbing, and deforestation, often lead to threats and attacks.
Director general of Unesco, Audrey Azoulay, stressed the importance of reliable scientific information in addressing the ongoing environmental crisis. She highlighted the risks faced by journalists worldwide who play a crucial role in investigating and providing accessible information on environmental issues. The report also mentioned that physical violence, such as assaults, arbitrary detention, murder attempts, and abductions, have become more prevalent in recent years.
The survey included responses from 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries, revealing that state actors were responsible for at least half of the violence faced by journalists. Male reporters were found to experience attacks more frequently than female journalists, with the report stating that attacks on environmental journalists have become routine. Despite the high-profile cases of murdered journalists garnering international attention, the survey indicated that attacks are on the rise, with an average of 50 attacks per year between 2009 and 2023.
Guilherme Canela, the lead report author for Unesco, emphasized the essential role journalists play in informing societies about the environmental crisis, including climate change. He called on public authorities to prioritize the protection of journalists to ensure access to accurate information in addressing environmental challenges. The report also highlighted the prevalence of self-censorship among journalists due to fears of attacks, underscoring the urgent need for increased safety measures and an end to impunity for attacks on environmental journalists.
In the face of the global environmental crisis, the report stressed the critical importance of environmental reporting and called for collaborative efforts from advocacy groups, journalism networks, donors, and policymakers to safeguard press freedom and journalist safety. The report urged for country-specific measures, including legislative reforms and policy changes, to ensure the protection of environmental journalists and the integrity of environmental reporting.