Environmental Justice Foundation

09/08/2026

🌎 On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate the frontline guardians of the Brazilian Pantanal.

Did you know over 50% of all federally hired firefighters in Brazil are Indigenous? Recruited for their deep territorial knowledge, they are the first line of defence against catastrophic wildfires.

This year, their preparedness is more urgent than ever: climate experts warn of a high probability of a Super El Niño event in late 2026, which would prolong the dry season and intensify fire risks.

EJF is proud to support these efforts by blending cutting-edge tech with ancient wisdom. Together, we have:

🚒 Trained more than 150 Indigenous firefighters across 10 brigades in drone use and specialised equipment.
🌱Helped protect over 600,000 hectares of native grasslands, savannas and forests.

Our work continues year-round. Outside fire season, brigades conduct prescribed burning to reduce fuel buildup of dry, dead vegetation, and prevent the spread of future wildfires.

Drones are a game-changer, enabling early outbreak detection, mapping fire paths, and identifying safe escape routes to reduce human risk.

By keeping these skills sharp, we’re building a safer, more resilient future for the Pantanal and its traditional custodians.

08/08/2026

🚨 This is how the global squid fleet operates when no one is watching ⬇️

Forced labour, shark finning, and crew deaths are all too common on board squid vessels. Violence is systemic, while debt bo***ge and document seizure allow crew to be exploited and abused.

This system of injustice has been revealed by the testimony of hundreds of fishers who worked on board squid vessels in the Northwest Indian Ocean, Southeast Pacific, and the Southwest Atlantic.

60% of the world’s squid supply comes from these three fisheries, yet none are effectively regulated.

Opaque supply chains allow tainted catch from these vessels to flow onto the plates of consumers who have no way of knowing where it came from or who paid the price for it.

To protect the rights of fishers and the health of our ocean, we need strong enforcement, international cooperation, and transparency from governments now.

Learn more about our investigation in the comments ⬇️

06/08/2026

🚨 Ongoing fires and heatwaves across Europe are a stark reminder of the climate catastrophe at our doorstep.

Record-breaking heatwaves and drought conditions have scorched much of the continent, resulting in devastating fires in France, Spain, and Greece. This has forced thousands from their homes, put vulnerable populations at risk, and threatened food security.

June was Western Europe’s hottest on record. 10,000 excess heat-related deaths were recorded in Europe during the June heatwave - over 9,000 deaths were people aged 65 and over.

Supercharging the green transition is the greatest cost-saving action we can take to reverse the climate crisis and protect lives across the globe.

We have a lot of work to do to reduce our emissions. World leaders must reject incremental climate action and end our reliance on fossil fuels. They must also scale up climate finance and prioritise nature-based solutions in their climate commitments.

We cannot lose hope. It is vital to acknowledge that we have the solutions to the crisis - we just need the political will to implement them.

05/08/2026

It’s time to end the pile-up of plastic in our bodies and planet 🚨

Plastic shapes daily life in ways we often hardly notice. The food we eat, the bottles and utensils we use to eat this food, the air we breathe - it all contains plastic particles that make their way into our system and risk serious damage to our health.

A study has found that plastic food and drink packaging is the most common form of litter found on shorelines. We are not only choking ourselves, but also our seas, all for the throwaway convenience of plastics.

Major fossil fuel companies see plastics as their growth strategy as renewables displace their fuels, and plan to expand their production significantly in the coming years. As long as production continues to rise, no amount of individual recycling or consumer choice will be enough to reverse the tide.

We’re fighting for our “Right to Reduce”. People must have the genuine freedom, backed by policy and law, to live without unnecessary plastic exposure.

The only way we can protect future generations and ourselves is to swiftly start to reduce, and eventually end, plastic production for good.

04/08/2026

🌱 Are you a communications professional with a passion for environmental justice?

We're a Senior Communications Manager to join our growing international team!

They will manage colleagues in the communications team and oversee the implementation of EJF’s content and digital communications, ensuring our investigations and advocacy are presented with clarity and impact.

We are looking for someone who is a skilled writer and storyteller with a strong grasp of digital platforms. They must understand how to translate complex evidence and investigative findings into clear, engaging communications for diverse audiences.

This role is based in our London office. Apply by 6pm BST, 11 September:

Senior Communications Manager Position: Senior Communications Manager Based: London (hybrid) Contract: Full-time, permanent Salary: £50,000–£60,000,…

02/08/2026

🦈 Sharks are among the ocean's most threatened animals.

An estimated 80 to 100 million are killed by fishing every year, and around 70% of pelagic shark species are now threatened with extinction.

Their loss threatens the health of marine ecosystems and, ultimately, the fisheries that millions of people depend on for food and their livelihoods.

We found that many of these vessels were alleged to have engaged in shark finning: the cruel practice of slicing off a shark's fins, often while it is still alive, before discarding the body at sea.

These vessels can land their tuna and illicit fins in the port of Dakar without meaningful inspection. Products are then shipped to markets across the globe - meaning consumers may unknowingly be buying seafood linked to shark finning.

We are calling for stronger port inspections and full implementation of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which would make it far harder for illegal fishing to remain hidden, and help ensure that the seafood reaching global markets is legal, sustainable and ethical.

Learn more about the investigation: https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/exposing-senegal-as-a-gateway-to-the-illegal-shark-fin-trade

In our new report and film , Cut & Run: Exposing Senegal as a gateway for the illegal shark fin trade , we have uncovered widespread evidence of illegal…

31/07/2026

🌱 Mangrove forests bring life to the planet.

They shelter animal species, nurture fisheries, guard shorelines from erosion and storms, and sequester vast amounts of carbon - up to five times more than tropical rainforests.

In Ghana, the rapid destruction of mangrove forests threatens the health of coastal ecosystems and community livelihoods. This loss is largely driven by agriculture, salt mining, development, pollution and overharvesting by the communities that rely on them.

However, their destruction is not inevitable. There is a growing movement of community-led restoration projects, from planting new seedlings to monitoring ecosystem recovery. This, combined with stronger policies, can help restore and protect these vital ecosystems.

Alongside Hen Mpoano - Our Coast, as part of our Sustainable Oceans Project, we have released a short documentary on mangrove restoration in Ghana.

30/07/2026

🚨 Today is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Human rights abuses and illegal fishing are fundamentally intertwined.

Overfished and under pressure, global fish populations are declining. To remain profitable, unscrupulous operators turn to illegal fishing, human trafficking, slavery and other abuses to cut costs. This is facilitated by the complex, opaque nature of global fisheries.

This exploitation of fishers starts from the moment of recruitment. Many rogue recruiting agencies promise high wages for work abroad, but end up withholding or cutting salaries without transparency.

The reality of life on board is also very different from what is presented to them.

At sea, workers often experience physical violence, threats, and inhumane and dangerous working conditions. Often, food is rotten or unsafe to eat, and medical care is withheld.

Isolated and abused, the mental and physical damage is severe, even driving some people to tragically take their own lives.

🌊 Today, we are calling for greater transparency, which can help to expose and stop those responsible for human trafficking and exploitation at sea.

🎥 We have also partnered with Pejuang Suara Pelaut Indonesia (PSP Indonesia) to help people looking for work at sea to identify the danger signs. Hear the powerful testimony of a former crew member, who speaks about his experience on a Chinese vessel.

29/07/2026

We’re an AI Innovation Lead to join our team 🚨

We’re looking for someone to lead the careful, responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across the organisation. The ideal candidate combines a strong technical understanding of AI with sound judgement on ethics, governance, and data security.

We recognise that AI may offer significant opportunities to strengthen our work, but we are committed to adopting it only on the basis of a structured assessment of its relevance, benefits, and risks.

In this role, they will design systems, including secure, air-gapped environments, that protect the identities and safety of the people we work with while preserving EJF’s rigorous culture of human verification. They will be equally comfortable advising on strategy, evaluating vendors and tools, and training non-technical colleagues in confident, responsible day-to-day use.

Apply by August 21st:

First, you will deliver a clear, actionable assessment of how AI could further EJF’s objectives, including a review of current and emerging tools and…

28/07/2026

🦈 Présentation des résultats de notre enquête sur le commerce illégal de requins à Dakar

La semaine dernière, nous avons présenté les résultats de notre dernière enquête, intitulée « Couper et disparaître: le Sénégal, plaque tournante du commerce mondial des ailerons de requin », à l’université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar.

Cet événement a réuni plus de 40 représentants des pouvoirs publics, acteurs du secteur de la pêche, ONG partenaires, journalistes et organisations de la société civile. Nous avons présenté nos conclusions, projeté notre film et engagé les parties prenantes dans des discussions sur les moyens de renforcer la gouvernance des pêches et de lutter contre le finning illégal.

Entre 80 et 101 millions de requins sont tués chaque année par la pêche. Pourtant, 70 % des requins pélagiques sont menacés d’extinction. Dakar est une plaque tournante cruciale.

Notre rapport et notre film révèlent comment Dakar sert de plaque tournante majeure pour les ailerons de requins liés aux flottes thonières hauturières. En nous appuyant sur les témoignages de 124 pêcheurs, nous avons mis en évidence la pratique généralisée du finning illégal, les tactiques de dissimulation et les lacunes critiques dans les inspections portuaires qui permettent à des produits de la mer d’origine illégale d’entrer sur les marchés mondiaux.

Le message délivré lors de cet événement était clair : cette enquête vise à identifier les défis et à proposer des solutions. Des systèmes de contrôle portuaire renforcés, une législation actualisée et une mise en œuvre efficace de l’Accord sur les mesures de l’État du port sont essentiels pour éliminer le finning illégal et préserver la biodiversité marine.