UNESCO warns of violence against environmental journalists

Between 2009 and 2023, at least 749 journalists and media outlets reporting on environmental issues were targeted by murder, detention, online harassment or legal attacks.

Các nhà báo đưa tin về hậu quả của đám cháy rừng lan vào khu Skyhawk ở Santa Rosa, California, Mỹ ngày 28/9/2020. — Journalists report on the aftermath of a wildfire that spread to the Skyhawk area in Santa Rosa, California, U.S., September 28, 2020.

On May 2, the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sounded the alarm about the increase in violence and threats against journalists reporting on the environment and climate.

The UNESCO report is based on a survey of more than 900 journalists from 129 countries conducted in March. Accordingly, 70% of journalists surveyed said they had been attacked, threatened or pressured in relation to their work. In particular, about 40% said they had faced physical violence.

Between 2009 and 2023, at least 749 journalists and media outlets reporting on environmental issues were targeted by murder, detention, online harassment or legal attacks.

The situation has worsened in recent years, with 305 attacks reported between 2019 and 2023, a 42% increase over the previous five-year period.

Topics covered by journalists are diverse, including protests, mining and land conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather, pollution, and the fossil fuel industry.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed that without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it, but journalists who provide that information are facing serious risks, while climate-related misinformation is rampant on social media platforms.

To address this issue, UNESCO plans to launch a funding programme to provide legal and technical support to more than 500 environmental journalists.

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