 Around the world, people and communities are experiencing the devastating impacts of disasters. Although we commonly say natural disasters, disasters are not in fact natural, but are shaped by pre-existing social, economic and political contexts. Specifically, disasters are compounded by vulnerability, the conditions and processes that increase susceptibility of an individual, a community, system or asset to the impacts of hazards. So, people are affected differently by hazards based on their intersecting identities. However, far from being passive victims, many people affected or at risk mobilize to address factors and practices that lead to vulnerability and disasters. They are called environmental human rights defenders. Defenders mitigate disaster risk and contribute to community resilience. So, it's crucial to acknowledge and amplify defenders' efforts through recognizing their rights, providing financial and technical support and ensuring the states and businesses accountability in development projects.