On World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO unveiled a startling revelation: environmental journalists are under siege like never before. The release of their report, “Press and Planet in Danger,” shed light on a disturbing trend of violence and intimidation against journalists reporting on environmental issues. Over the past 15 years, a staggering 70% of these journalists have faced attacks for simply doing their job.
The numbers are chilling. In the last 15 years, at least 749 journalists and news media outlets focusing on environmental issues have been targeted with violence, harassment, and legal threats.
This alarming figure reflects a global crisis, with attacks occurring in 89 countries across the world. The situation is dire, with physical attacks more than doubling in recent years, rising from 85 incidents between 2014-2018 to 183 incidents between 2019-2023.
UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists paints a grim picture, recording the deaths of 44 journalists investigating environmental issues in the last 15 years. Shockingly, only 5 of these cases have resulted in convictions, highlighting a disturbing impunity rate of almost 90%.
A recent consultation conducted by UNESCO revealed alarming statistics: 70% of environmental journalists from 129 countries reported experiencing attacks, threats, or pressure linked to their reporting.
Even more concerning, two-in-five of these journalists subsequently experienced physical violence. The fear of reprisal is real, leading to self-censorship among nearly half of the journalists surveyed.
However, it’s not just physical violence that journalists face. Online harassment has become a pervasive issue, with women journalists particularly vulnerable to attacks. The report uncovered a variety of other physical attacks, totaling 353 incidents. Furthermore, it revealed a disturbing trend of escalating attacks, surging from 85 incidents between 2014-2018 to 183 between 2019-2023.
Statistics indicate that female journalists are disproportionately targeted by online harassment compared to their male counterparts, mirroring findings from UNESCO’s earlier report, “The Chilling: global trends in online violence against women journalists.”
In addition to physical assaults, one-third of the surveyed journalists disclosed instances of censorship. Nearly half of them (45%) admitted to self-censorship while reporting on environmental issues. This reluctance stemmed from the fear of reprisals, the risk of exposing their sources, or the realization that their stories clashed with the interests of influential stakeholders.
The reasons for this censorship are varied, ranging from fear of being attacked to concerns about conflicts of interest with stakeholders. This chilling reality underscores the urgent need for stronger support for environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms.
As we navigate the complexities of climate change and environmental degradation, the voices of these journalists are more crucial than ever. It’s time to stand up for press freedom and protect those who risk their lives to tell the stories that matter.
See also from UNESCO: The role of law enforcement agents: ensuring safety of journalists during public demonstrations and elections
UNESCO Sudipta Chakraborty
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