The world is in the throes of unprecedented repression regarding climate activists, human rights defenders, journalists, academics and others who express opposing views to their government. The problem is widespread and three leading civil society networks – Climate Action Network, Publish What You Pay and Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice assert this as an epidemic impeding crucial climate action and violating human rights laws across the world. Without these voices of civil society, the fight for climate justice cannot succeed, jeopardising the integrity of climate summits themselves.