Green grabbing implications for human rights, equity and the ecological transition

Tackling the ecological crisis requires land-based conservation and renewable energy projects, yet many face local opposition. In this context, ‘green grabbing’ —the appropriation of land and resources for environmental ends— has become a significant global concern. As the ecological transition gains momentum, this phenomenon is expected to intensify across sectors and regions. To understand why such projects may fail to obtain a social license to operate, we analysed 132 conflictive projects developed under green credentials to examine their impacts on human rights, equity, and environmental problem shifting, as well as the social responses they provoked. Paradoxically, 85% of the cases reported human rights violations linked to the environment, including threats to land and livelihoods, but also to rights over food, water, participation in environmental decision-making, Indigenous rights, and cultural and spiritual rights. 70% of cases reported profits for private actors and elites, yet only 5% directly benefited the wider local population. Surprisingly, 45% of cases documented negative environmental trade-offs, limiting their role in the ecological transition. This underscores the necessity for robust safeguards that uphold customary land and resource rights while advancing ecological goals. The findings highlight the need to shift from pro-business to pro-social justice regulatory frameworks in the governance of green land use projects to mitigate conflict. Community resistance appears not merely as opposition, but as a source of grounded, place-based alternatives that can inform more democratic, legitimate, and lasting sustainability transitions.