Colombia: Most Dangerous Nation for Environmentalists in 2023

Colombia, the host of the UN COP16 biodiversity conference, was the deadliest country for environmentalists in 2023, with 79 killings reported by Global Witness. Despite government pledges, peace processes with armed groups involved in such killings have faltered, leading to continued violence against activists.

Colombia, the country hosting this year's United Nations COP16 biodiversity conference, was named the deadliest nation for environmentalists and land rights defenders in 2023. A record 79 activists were killed, according to UK advocacy group Global Witness. This number is the highest Global Witness has recorded for a single country in any given year since it began documenting such killings in 2012.

Senior adviser to Global Witness' land and environmental defenders campaign, Laura Furones, described the figures as 'chilling,' noting that the report's findings are conservative and potentially incomplete. Latin America stands as the region with the highest fatalities, accounting for 85% of the 196 global killings of environmentalists and land activists in 2023.

These findings contrast sharply with promises from President Gustavo Petro's government, which has vowed to end a 60-year conflict and promote environmental justice. Despite a decrease in deforestation to a 23-year low last year, upcoming threats signal an increase in 2024. Colombia's government acknowledges the 'dishonorable' ranking, attributing it to socio-ecological conflicts linked to drug trafficking and illicit economies.