Climate Whistleblowers is a non-governmental organization (BGO) that claims to promote the protection of whistleblowers while litigating on their behalf on climate-related issues. The organization is based on the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PLAFF), a whistleblower protection group operating in Africa and founded in 2017. Climate Whistleblowers is based in Paris, France. ¹ Climate Whistleblowers was launched on June 5, 2023, on World Environment Day. ²

Activities

Climate Whistleblowers claims to assist whistleblowers by advising them on risks, providing methods of passing along their information to media outlets, and filing lawsuits against involved entities such as corporations and government bodies. The group also provides legal protection for said whistleblowers. ³

Partner Organizations

Climate Whistleblowers is a sister organization with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), which pursues litigation against corporations and governments across Africa on climate related issues. Partner and supporter organizations that work with Climate Whistleblowers include the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Global Witness (funded by George Soros’s Open Society Foundations ⁴), Fridays for Future, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the Human Rights Law Centre, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Blueprint for Free Speech, the European Investigative Collaboration, ARIA, and the Signals Network. ²

Financials

In 2023, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations donated $410,000 to Climate Whistleblower, for general support over a three-year term. ^{5 6}

People

Anna Myers is the chairperson of Climate Whistleblowers. She is also the founding executive director of the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN), an NGO based in Scotland. ^{7 8} Myers has also worked as the deputy director of Public Concern at Work (now called Protect) and has advised the Council of Europe’s Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ). ⁷

Gabriel Bourdon-Fattal is co-director at Climate Whistleblowers, as well as the co-founder of the organization, along with the other co-director Henri Thulliez. ^{7 9} Bourdon-Fattal is also the co-founder of SolarBox, a solar energy company based out of Boston, MA which operates in Europe and the Middle East. ⁹ Both Bourdon-Fattal and Thulliez also work with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF). ⁷

1. “Mission – Whistleblowing Policy.” Climate Whistleblowers, July 17, 2023. https://www.climatewhistleblowers.org/mission-whistleblowing-policy/.
2. “New NGO Aims to Protect Climate Whistleblowers and Increase Their Impact.” Climate Whistleblowers, August 21, 2023. https://www.climatewhistleblowers.org/new-ngo-protect-climate-whistleblowers/.
3. “FAQ.” Climate Whistleblowers, June 29, 2023. https://www.climatewhistleblowers.org/faq/.
4. “Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed March 8, 2023. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Global%2Bwitness&grant_id=OR2016-26260.
5. “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed October 14, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=Climate%2BWhistleblowers.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF; multiple). Foundation to Promote Open Society. 2008-2018. Part I. Line 26.
7. “Who We Are – Environmental Whistleblowers.” Climate Whistleblowers, March 25, 2024. https://www.climatewhistleblowers.org/whoweare-environmental-whistleblowers/.
8. “Funding and Financials.” Funding and Financials – Whistleblowing International Network. Accessed October 14, 2024. https://whistleblowingnetwork.org/About/Funding-and-Financials.
9. “Gabriel Bourdon – Aequido Expertise.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 14, 2024. https://fr.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-bourdon-38b018180.