Wealthy, democratic nations in the Global North are increasingly using harsh and punitive measures to suppress climate protests, even as they criticize similar tactics used by authorities in the Global South, according to a Climate Rights International report.

The report highlighted the severe treatment of climate activists in Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the US, including long prison sentences, preventive detention, and harassment. This crackdown is seen as a violation of the government's obligations to uphold basic rights such as freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

Despite their strong criticism of restrictive regimes in developing countries, these same governments often employ restrictive laws and police action to quell protests at home.

“Governments too often take such a strong and principled view about the right to peaceful protest in other countries – but when they don’t like certain kinds of protests at home they pass laws and deploy the police to stop them,” said Brad Adams, director at Climate Rights International.

In Europe, the US, and the UK, non-violent climate protests have been met with mass arrests and severe new laws, with participants sometimes labeled as hooligans, saboteurs, or eco-terrorists. Human rights advocates and environmental campaigners are urging these governments to protect the right to peaceful protest.

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Wealthy nations crack down on climate protesters amid crisis

The escalating climate crisis in 2024 has led to record-breaking temperatures, food shortages, large-scale displacement, and severe economic challenges, including deadly fires and floods. Despite this urgent situation, the report revealed that many wealthy countries are focusing on suppressing climate protesters rather than taking decisive action to cut fossil fuel use and prevent ecological collapse.

Brad Adams, director at Climate Rights International, emphasized, “You don’t have to agree with the tactics of climate activists to understand the importance of defending their rights to protest and to free speech.” He added, “Instead of jailing climate protesters and undermining civil liberties, governments should heed their call to take urgent action to address the climate crisis.”

Furthermore, the report pointed out that while developed nations often champion the right to protest on the international stage, they are simultaneously engaging in severe crackdowns at home.

For instance, following a UN report in July, the UK government stated, “These rights [to peaceful assembly and protest] are essential to the functioning of society, providing a platform for citizens to advocate for positive change. Nonetheless, civic space is increasingly contested as authoritarian governments and actors, who feel vulnerable to scrutiny and accountability, seek to silence dissent.”

Tuesday’s report also revealed:

• Lengthy prison sentences for non-violent protesters in countries such as the UK, Germany, and the US
• Preemptive arrests and detention of individuals suspected of organizing peaceful protests
• Harsh new laws that criminalize most forms of peaceful protest
• Efforts to prevent juries from learning about the motivations behind people’s participation in protests, a move critics argue undermines the right to a fair trial

It is also worth noting that Climate Rights International has urged democratic governments globally to end their authoritarian measures and safeguard the right to protest.

“Governments should see climate protesters and activists as allies in the fight against climate change, not criminals,” said Adams. “The crackdown on peaceful protests is not only a violation of their basic rights, it can also be used by repressive governments as a green light to go after climate, environmental, and human rights defenders in their countries.”