
Environment and Human Rights
People around the world increasingly experience the devastating effects of environmental crises – from extreme weather, food insecurity, and health issues linked to water and air pollution, to the loss of land, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Inadequate regulation and enforcement of environmentally destructive sectors of the economy – including agricultural commodities, mining, and heavily polluting fossil-fuel industries – drives human rights violations. Governments still fall short of urgent and ambitious actions to keep global warming below 1.5 degree Celsius and prevent further devastation to the global environment. The primary victims of environmental harm are often impoverished and marginalized communities with limited opportunity to meaningfully participate in decision-making and public debate on environmental issues, and have little access to independent courts to achieve accountability and redress. Activists and ordinary citizens defending their rights to land and the environment face intimidation, legal harassment, and deadly violence. Human Rights Watch champions human rights law to force governments to protect people and prevent corporations from continuing to cause extreme environmental degradation.
Videos
Videos-
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May 4, 2025
Facing the Bulldozers
Iban Indigenous Resistance to the Timber Industry in Sarawak, Malaysia
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March 17, 2025
“There’s Just No More Land”
Community-led Planned Relocation as Last-resort Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Solomon Islands
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March 5, 2025
Poisonous Profit
Lead Waste Mining and Children’s Right to a Healthy Environment in Kabwe, Zambia
News
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July 2, 2025
Guatemala: Water Law Urgently Needed
Inadequate Access to Water, Sanitation; Indigenous People Especially Affected
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July 1, 2025
EU Council Turning Supply Chain Law into Window Dressing
Parliament Should Prevent Gutting Corporate Accountability Directive
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June 25, 2025
New Global Coalition Urges Rights-Based Climate Relocation Policies
Coastal Communities Most Affected by Climate Crisis Should Lead the Way
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June 16, 2025
Bonn Climate Talks Should Make Progress on Fossil Fuels
Ambitious Climate Plans Needed to Implement Fossil Fuel Phaseout
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June 10, 2025
Brazil Should Reject Bill Gutting Environmental Licensing
New Law Would Be Biggest Environmental Rollback in Decades
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June 5, 2025
World Environment Day Spotlights Communities Fighting Climate Crisis
Around the Globe, Local Solutions Already Bearing Fruit
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June 4, 2025
Australia Extends License for Nation’s Biggest Fossil Fuel Project
Gas Expansion Undermines Indigenous Cultural Rights, Right to a Healthy Environment
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May 28, 2025
EU Commission President Receives Award for Green Deal Laws She is Undoing
Von der Leyen Should Uphold EU Supply Chains Law, Green Deal
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May 9, 2025
Vietnam: End Persecution of Human Rights Activist
Trinh Ba Phuong Faces Further Imprisonment for Criticizing Party
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