Frontline defenders for peace? Exploring the role of environmental human rights defenders in the era of environmental transformation

This three-year research project, led by University of Gothenburg, aims to provide theoretical insights into the capacities for environmental human rights defenders to build local peace, through focusing on peace as situated, embodied, and political.

In tandem with increasingly unsustainable global resource extraction, we are seeing friction between extraction interests, local communities and ecosystems. This friction has intensified with global climate change and the deepened imperative of seeking sustainable solutions. A key role on the protecting side is played by civil society, at times vigorously defending local communities and ecosystems in what, sometimes, turn into violent conflicts. Some of these civil society actors, in this application called “Environmental human rights defenders” advocate for resisting destructive extraction and defending communities’ human rights in relation to the environment.

This three-year research project, led by University of Gothenburg, aims to provide theoretical insights into the capacities for environmental human rights defenders to build local peace, through focusing on peace as situated, embodied, and political.

Case studies in Cambodia, Lebanon and Myanmar

Empirically it studies the agency and impact of defenders’ activities in achieving peaceful transformations of environmental conflicts. It works qualitatively with three case studies: Cambodia, Lebanon and Myanmar, through identified defenders challenging resource extraction and unsustainable practices.

The project is policy-relevant since both the number and intensity of such conflicts are on the rise, with little protection for defenders and local communities. Also, global climate change is set to enhance this further with the role of civil society actors increasingly emphasised in fragile contexts.