BY EMMA WILson
April 22, 2025
Figure 1: Global climate leaders meeting at UN headquarters in April 2025
The Accountability Paradox
In this thought-provoking column, award-winning journalist Emma Wilson dismantles the misconception that contemporary social accountability is somehow antithetical to the very notion of free speech.
"To claim that someone is censored for espousing harmful views is to misunderstand the core function of free speech: to challenge power structures, not to Shield them."
The term "cancel culture" has become a lazy umbrella term used by those who fear criticism. It's a phrase that obscures the nuance of social accountability while simultaneously justifying the actions of bad actors who seek to drown out their critics.
This historical moment demands not only policy changes but a fundamental cultural shift in how we relate to our global environment.
Emma Wilson has covered international climate policy for 18 years. She has reported from the ground during every major climate summit since 2009.