Silencing Dissent: The Criminalization of Climate Protest

​The urgency of the climate crisis, and growing frustration with the failure of their governments to act, are driving many to use protest to press for necessary change. Peaceful protests and civil disobedience empower individuals to advocate for change, monitor governments’ climate commitments, and participate in public affairs to drive climate solutions. Yet the response of many governments, including the UK government, has increasingly been to pass new laws to criminalize protests and silence dissent. This panel discussion, featuring speakers from Climate Rights International, Human Rights Watch, and English PEN, will explore the important role of freedom of protest in pushing for climate action, and the increasing restrictions on and criminalization of such protest in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

​Speakers will include Linda Lakhdhir, Legal Director at Climate Rights International, Tom Bell, Acting UK Director at Human Rights Watch, and Dan Gorman, Director at English PEN. The panel will be moderated by Brad Adams, Executive Director at Climate Rights International.