Frontline Climate Defenders: A Call for Recognition, Inclusion and Protection

Apr 30, 2026 | World Resources Institute; Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders
Online
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Defenders stand on the front lines of the global climate fight while facing corruption, intimidation, threats and even murder (Global Witness reports that at least 2,253 defenders were killed or disappeared between 2012 and 2024). Yet recent WRI research shows they remain largely shut out of decision-making and formal climate governance - while often facing criminalization in their home countries. As a result, governments and multilateral institutions lose out on crucial local knowledge and decades-old ecosystem expertise that can improve climate outcomes, while defenders are left to brave risks alone.

Join this webinar – co-convened by World Resources Institute and the Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders (LEAD) initiative – to hear from real-world defenders and explore ways to catalyze their meaningful participation in climate decision-making while ensuring their protection around the world.