The number of environmental activists being killed has doubled worldwide over the last 15 years, a stark new report has found.

The University of Queensland study, prepared on behalf of the global environmental activist group Global Witness, found at least 1558 people died between 2002 and 2017 while acting as “environmental defenders”.

Relatives of farmers killed by Brazilian police attend their burial in 2017. Credit:Lunae Parracho

That group included a large number of indigenous people, the study found, as well as community activists, lawyers and journalists.

The study shows about two people were dying every week while engaged in environmental activism in 2002, rising to about four people a week in 2017.