http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/9cb577e494c7079a https://verfassungsblog.de/a-right-to-defend-the-environment/ A Right to Defend the Environment - Legal Protection for Environmental Advocacy in the IACtHR’s Climate Advisory Opinion Alizadeh Marandi, Nina Schönberger, Philipp eng 2025-09-16 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 Advisory Opinion Climate Crisis climate litigation IACtHR Right to Protest Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 In a remarkable yet underexplored section, the IACtHR establishes a right to defend the environment, along with corresponding duties of States to protect environmental defenders. By recognizing environmental defenders as essential actors in democratic climate governance, the IACtHR’s advisory opinion advances a bold vision of environmental democracy that positions civic engagement as a vital precondition for legitimate and effective climate action.