Defending Nature: Environmentalists Risk Everything Ahead of COP30 – Insights from TRF

COP30 in Brazil is a crucial chance to shine a light on the dangers faced by environmental activists and to increase efforts to protect them.

Take Kenia Ines Hernández, an Indigenous woman and human rights lawyer from Guerrero, Mexico. She’s dedicated her life to defending her community’s rights and culture. Sadly, her commitment has come with a heavy price. Since 2020, she has been serving nearly 22 years in prison for her activism. Authorities convicted her of “aggravated battery” in a trial described by the American Bar Association as deeply flawed. While some charges were dismissed earlier this year, she remains behind bars.

On Nelson Mandela International Day, we honor Hernández’s struggle and call for her release. Her case isn’t an isolated incident. It reflects a troubling pattern across the Americas, where governments are misusing legal systems to silence those defending collective rights. From Canada’s Wet’suwet’en Nation to Mapuche communities in Chile, advocates are facing increasing hostility for protecting their territories and cultures.

In Mexico alone, there were at least 77 recorded incidents targeting environmental defenders in 2024, primarily affecting rural and Indigenous activists, according to the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA). These actions not only silence voices but also weaken grassroots movements at a time when climate activism is vital.

Research from the CIVICUS Monitor shows that environmental defenders in the Americas are systematically threatened, stigmatized, and even killed—often by groups with ties to corporations or the state. The region is the most dangerous in the world for land and environmental protectors, with Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru accounting for the majority of fatal attacks.

Despite the grim landscape, there is hope. The Escazú Agreement, which came into force in 2021, is the first legally binding treaty in Latin America and the Caribbean aimed at protecting environmental human rights defenders. Unfortunately, its implementation has been sluggish; only 24 countries have signed it, and just 18 have ratified it, affecting around 44% of the region’s population.

In a positive move, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently issued an advisory opinion affirming that states and companies have binding responsibilities to safeguard against climate-related harm. This bolsters protections for environmental defenders.

This year’s COP30 climate summit will take place in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon. This setting offers a unique opportunity to emphasize the importance of protecting those who strive to defend this vital ecosystem. The Amazon is a key regulator of the global climate, yet its defenders, particularly Indigenous groups, face significant threats from illegal mining and deforestation.

It’s essential that the COP30 organizers ensure that the voices of frontline activists are heard. This includes supporting initiatives like the Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders (LEAD), which advocates for the protection of environmental defenders and their communities.

If activists are imprisoned or silenced, their vital contributions to climate discussions are lost. Governments in the Americas must take immediate action to respect and protect environmental defenders. Releasing Kenia Ines Hernández could serve as a powerful statement that advocating for land and environmental rights is not a crime—it’s a critical endeavor that deserves protection.

By recognizing and valuing the work of those like Hernández, we can foster a safer environment for activism, ultimately benefiting the planet and its people.



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