Climate catastrophes are happening before our eyes - fires in Greece, Hawaii or Italy, the worst flooding in Hong Kong in over 100 years, temperatures reaching levels never before measured. Scientists are sounding the alarm, environmentalists are warning, activists are protesting.

Environmental activists do not only display banners in the city's main square, march along major streets or sometimes picket in front of parliament buildings. Many of them go to extreme measures to draw attention to the impending climate catastrophe. They block airports splash paint on famous artworks, plug holes in golf courses, destroy yachts or other private property. They fight the system, and also target the richest. They claim that it is nothing personal, that their opponents are not the people, but capitalism and a lavish lifestyle.

A report by the NGO Global Witness states that 177 activists were killed worldwide last year. As many as 60 of these murders took place in Colombia, "thanks" to which the country earns the infamous title of being the deadliest for environmental activists.

Global Witness reports that only few perpetrators of activist killings have been brought to justice. The organisation reports that impunity for murderers is fuelling further violence, with the number of deaths almost doubling in 2022.

Global Witness began recording deadly attacks on climate activists in 2012. The group claims that since then their numbers have reached as many as 382 murders.

Although Colombia ranks on top of the deadly countries list, other Latin American states are also extremely dangerous for environmental activists.

Brazil has recorded 34 fatal attacks on activists. Mexico 31, while Honduras had 11. In the Amazon region, 39 killings occurred. Many of the victims were from indigenous communities.

A Global Witness report alerts that activists may be particularly threatened by protests against logging and gold mining. Several companies based in the UK, the European Union and the US are said to have been linked to human rights violations, the BBC reports.

Aside from Latin America, 11 environmental activists were killed in the Philippines.

Global Witness added that the full scale of the killings is unknown. The organisation alerts that through a lack of independent monitoring and restrictions on free press in many countries, many acts of violence go unreported altogether.

The organisation calls on government officials around the world to urgently address this issue. It adds that activists are also subjected to legal attempts to silence them.

Source: bbc.com