Imagine a world where our Earth’s vital ecosystems are legally protected from the severest harms.
This is the vision behind ecocide law: providing an enforceable framework to deter destructive practices, safeguarding the natural world and all our futures.
We develop global conversations around recognition of ecocide as a serious crime, working at diplomatic level and across all sectors of civil society to share knowledge and inspire positive legislative change.
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium – “It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity.”Antonio Guterres – It is “highly desirable” to include ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court.Paul McCartney – “The idea is clearly catching on… and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet.”
9th September 2024 ICC: Pacific Island States propose crime of ecocide
Today, the crime of ecocide was formally introduced for consideration by member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) —an event that represents a major step forward in the global effort to enshrine mass environmental destruction as a crime under international law.
‘Ecocide’, as proposed by Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa, is defined as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”. This definition emerged in 2021 from an Independent Expert Panel of top lawyers from around the world, convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation, and has gained significant legal and political traction..
Read about other recent developments:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
“Such recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide, by international, regional, and domestic legal systems would strengthen accountability for environmental harms.”
Co-founder of Mission Blue
“There is a real case to be made for recognising ecocide in the International Criminal Court right along with genocide. Our existence is on the line.”
Former Executive Director Greenpeace International
“History only moves forward when courageous people get up and act. That’s why I support this citizen’s initiative to recognise ecocide as the crime it is.”
4th President of the International Criminal Court
“I’m firmly in favour of seeing ecocide made an international crime over which the ICC has jurisdiction.”
Former President of Finland
“Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential for the survival of our cultures and economies and decisive in order to safeguard global ecosystems with their species variety, as the collective life insurance of humanity.”
Singer, songwriter, co-founder Meat Free Monday
“[This] idea is clearly catching on… and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet.”
Journalist, author and activist
“It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity and put the rights of people and Nature first to create a healthy and sustainable planet for all species.”
Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church
“This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised as such by the international community.”
UN Messenger of Peace
“The concept of Ecocide is long overdue. It could lead to an important change in the way people perceive – and respond to – the current environmental crisis.”
UN Secretary General
“[We] need to establish a crime of ecocide at the international level”
President of France
“I share the ambition… to ensure that this term is enshrined in international law so that leaders … are accountable before the International Criminal Court.”
7th Prime Minister of Samoa
“We call on all leaders to join us as we explore pathways for addressing ecological destruction and climate breakdown… with the proposal of an amendment to the Rome Statute as a concrete first step.”
President of Vanuatu
“We call on states to join the group of nations proposing to include the crime of ecocide in the Rome statute. Acting with the knowledge of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment can no longer be tolerated.”
Source: https://www.stopecocide.earth
