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Paris, A report released by UNESCO on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, underscores a disturbing rise in attacks against journalists covering environmental issues.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, over the past 15 years, 749 journalists have faced attacks while reporting on the environment, with a significant increase in incidents in recent years. The report calls for enhanced support for these journalists and improved governance of digital platforms to ensure their safety and the integrity of environmental reporting.
The report details that 70% of environmental journalists have experienced attacks, threats, or pressure linked to their work, as revealed in a UNESCO consultation with over 900 journalists from 129 countries conducted in March 2024. Additionally, it notes that physical violence has affected two-in-five of those who reported such experiences. The Observatory of Killed Journalists has recorded the killings of 44 journalists investigating environmental issues within the same period, with a low conviction rate of only about 10%. Moreover, there were 353 other reported physical attacks, more than doubling from the period 2014-2018 to 2019-2023.
Women journalists, in particular, face greater online harassment compared to their male counterparts. The study also highlights significant self-censorship among journalists, with 45% refraining from thorough environmental reporting due to fears of attack or pressure from influential stakeholders.
As part of the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference, UNESCO will introduce a Global Roadmap against Climate Disinformation. This initiative outlines the roles of various stakeholders, including governments, media, academia, and civil society, in combating misinformation and supporting journalists. The Director-General of UNESCO will announce the launch of a grants program aimed at providing legal and technical support to over 500 environmental journalists facing persecution, alongside new measures to foster critical engagement with climate disinformation and to enhance the regulation of digital platforms as per UNESCO’s guidelines.