France is alleged to be intensifying its crackdown on climate activists, according to Amnesty. - France Cracks Down on Climate Activists, Says Amnesty Report
In recent times, France has been under scrutiny for an apparent escalation in the suppression of climate activists. This troubling trend has been highlighted by several notable incidents and reactions.
In a significant incident in June 2025, French police were accused of using excessive force, including stun grenades, against protesters opposing road construction. This violent response led to the banning of another protest scheduled for August, signifying a concerning pattern of state repression against environmental activism in the country [1].
Climate organizations in France, such as Greenpeace France, have not been spared from this repression. They have faced strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) from major oil companies like TotalEnergies, aimed at silencing or intimidating activists. However, Greenpeace France demonstrated resilience by successfully defeating a SLAPP filed by TotalEnergies in March 2024 [2].
This repression is not unique to France but reflects a broader global trend where activists face mass arrests and violence for opposing fossil fuel projects [1].
Civil society groups and international climate organizations are calling for reforms to ensure civil society can fully participate in climate action, particularly ahead of important global summits like COP30. They emphasize the necessity of protecting activists from attacks by states and corporations to enable effective climate response [1].
Greenpeace International has taken a proactive approach, initiating legal actions utilizing the new European Union Anti-SLAPP Directive to combat abusive lawsuits and protect environmental advocacy groups from corporate intimidation [2].
Amnesty International believes that the withdrawal of public subsidies for the Alternatiba movement was a violation of international law. The organization also criticized the threatened dissolution of Les Soulevements de la Terre, stating it would have been a breach of international law [3].
The Action Justice Climat organization has confirmed Amnesty International's allegations of suppression. During protests against a large water reservoir project in Sainte-Soline, security forces reportedly used over 5,000 tear gas grenades, 89 stun grenades, and numerous rubber bullets [4].
Margot Jaymond, Amnesty International France's climate justice coordinator, expressed concern that France, once a driving force in the fight against climate change, is now setting an example of how environmental activists are suppressed [5].
A spokesperson for the Action Justice Climat organization stated that they are currently under increased pressure [6]. This pressure is not limited to France, as environmental activists worldwide face similar challenges in their struggle against climate change.
Sources: [1] Amnesty International, "France: Increased Suppression of Climate Activists," (2025). [2] Greenpeace International, "Greenpeace France Wins Legal Battle Against TotalEnergies," (2024). [3] Amnesty International, "Amnesty International Condemns Suppression of Climate Activists in France," (2025). [4] Action Justice Climat, "Statement on Police Violence During Protests," (2025). [5] Margot Jaymond, "Statement on Climate Activism in France," (2025). [6] Action Justice Climat, "Current Pressures Facing the Organization," (2025).
- The community policy of France, in response to environmental protection activism, has been under scrutiny due to increasing suppression incidents, as seen in the June 2025 clash between protesters and French police, where stun grenades were used.
- The global environmental science community, including organizations like Greenpeace France, have experienced repression, with climate activists targeted by strategic lawsuits (SLAPPs) from corporations like TotalEnergies, intending to silence them.
- The health and the environment, as well as the health and safety of the environment, are at stake as the international community watches the ongoing climate-change conflicts and politics, with activists facing mass arrests and violence globally, particularly in war-and-conflicts prone areas.
