As the world gathers for the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025, the focus will be on advancing global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate adaptation, boost finance for developing countries, and promote biodiversity. With its location near the Amazon rainforest, COP30 will also emphasize nature-based solutions as key to a sustainable and resilient future.
Within this framework, Club de Madrid will host the side event “Challenges for Environmental Protection in Democracies: The Struggles of Environmental Human Rights Defenders” to shed light on one of the most urgent challenges facing climate and democratic governance today — the protection of those defending our planet.
🗓 12 November 2025 | 11:30–12:30
📍 Spain Pavilion (Blue Zone), COP30 – Belém, Brazil
Since 2012, more than 2,100 environmental human rights defenders have been killed worldwide, with 146 cases reported in 2024, most of them in Latin America. Beyond these alarming figures, defenders — particularly women environmental defenders — face gender-specific risks such as sexual violence, stigmatization, and threats to their safety and participation in decision-making processes.
Organized by Club de Madrid, this session will explore how democracies can better protect environmental defenders, promote gender-responsive environmental policies, and strengthen cooperation among governments, civil society, and the private sector. It will also highlight initiatives such as LEAD (Global Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders) and the role of international agreements like the Escazú Agreement and the Aarhus Convention.
🔹 Confirmed speaker:
- Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile (2006–2010; 2014–2018) and Vice-President of Club de Madrid
- Macaé Evaristo, Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Brazil
- Michael Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention
- Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, India
- Joara Marchezini, Representative elected by the public under the Escazú agreement
Moderated by Carlos de Miguel, Chief Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Divisiom, CEPAL
By fostering dialogue and collective action, this event will reaffirm that protecting environmental defenders is essential to the protection of democracy itself — ensuring that climate and environmental policies are inclusive, rights-based, and grounded in justice.
