Developing ecocide law.
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 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.
19th June 2025
Argentina Advances Ecocide Legislation with New Senate Bill
On June 19, Argentina advanced further toward criminalising the gravest forms of environmental destruction, with Senator Edith Terenzi (Chair of the Senate Environment Committee) presenting a comprehensive ecocide bill "Ley De Formas Especiales De Criminalidad Ambiental" (Law on Special Forms of Environmental Crimes) to the Senate, marking the third legislative initiative currently under consideration.
The new bill defines ecocide as "irreversible or especially serious damage caused to the environment in violation of minimum environmental protection standards, compromising the rights of present and future generations". It establishes severe penalties for both individuals and corporations, with imprisonment ranging from 3-10 years, escalating to 5-15 years for irreversible environmental damage, and up to 25 years if deaths result.
Read about other recent developments:
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised."
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."
Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential".
Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide."
Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.”
Dr Jane Goodall - “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.”
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised." 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." Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential". Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide." Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.” Dr Jane Goodall - “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.” Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
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