UNFCCC Faces Censorship Allegations Over Palestine Solidarity at Bonn Climate Talks: What It Means for Environmental Advocacy

Civil society groups are raising serious concerns about censorship at UN climate negotiations. They accuse the UNFCCC Secretariat of silencing expressions of solidarity with Palestine.

On June 20, 2025, CAN International highlighted this issue in a special newsletter. They pointed out the Secretariat’s demand to remove the phrase “End the Siege” from a peaceful protest focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Interestingly, a similar protest was allowed to use that phrase just days later, raising questions about consistency.

Historical Context
The ongoing situation in Gaza has drawn attention from various UN leaders and human rights organizations. They’ve repeatedly characterized the conditions there as a “siege.” Among those speaking out are UN Secretary-General António Guterres and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The UNFCCC informed CAN International that the phrase “end the siege” could not be used in their actions. This led many civil society groups to pause future solidarity actions within the UNFCCC framework, calling such demands a severe political failure.

Rachitaa Gupta, from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice, expressed frustration at the UNFCCC’s approach. She noted that “censorship of words like genocide and occupation” amidst the suffering in Gaza is a political choice.

Connecting Climate and Justice
Activists argue that climate justice cannot be separated from human rights issues like those in Palestine. Hajar al-Betalji of the Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youth stressed the inseparability of colonialism and climate injustice.

In the past, civil society has successfully used the UN climate space to draw attention to their demands. However, new restrictions have led to increased censorship of phrases central to expressing solidarity with Palestine.

Jacobo Ocharan from Climate Action Network International emphasized that true climate justice cannot coexist with the erasure of marginalized voices. He noted, “When a Palestinian cannot even say ‘I am Palestinian’ in a UN space during a genocide, we are not dealing with neutrality.”

Response from Activists
Activists also criticized the Secretariat for hiding behind terms like “neutrality” and “party-driven process.” Gina Cortés from the Women and Gender Constituency highlighted that labeling such censorship as neutral only protects those committing injustices.

This situation sparks a larger conversation about how power dynamics affect activism. Many believe that climate movements must advocate for broader social justice, recognizing that issues like militarization and racism intersect with environmental crises.

As civil society groups face increased challenges within official UN settings, the call for transparent dialogue and real action continues to grow louder. Their fight for justice is not just a local issue. It’s a global one, reminding us that all movements need to be interconnected.



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Bonn Climate Change Conference,Palestine solidarity,State of Palestine,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)