ECOCIDE: the network, the news, the story

Dear friends and supporters

Stop Ecocide International is more than a campaign - we are fast becoming a communications hub for the growing global movement to establish ecocide as an international crime. We work with diplomats, politicians, lawyers, corporate leaders, NGOs, indigenous and faith groups (see below), influencers, academic experts, grassroots campaigns and individuals to this end.

So much has happened since the launch of the legal definition of ecocide in June that we’ve decided to provide you with a concise “round-up” of key moments over the last 3 months. We trust this will give a flavour of the political momentum gathering around ecocide law.

TUES, JuN 15

Baroness (Natalie) Bennett of Manor Castle, former leader of the UK Green Party, submits an ecocide amendment to the UK Environment Bill. This is the first time a potential crime of ecocide has been been recorded in a UK government bill,

Sun, Jun 20

Bangladeshi parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change recommends adding a provision to the Code of Criminal Procedure or drafting a new legal framework to

Wed, Jun 23

Cross-party support has been gathered for a motion to the Scottish parliament submitted by MSP Monica Lennon welcoming the new definition of ecocide.

Sat, Jul 03

Antigua & Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US Sir Ronald Sanders and Sir Shridath Rampal, international lawyer and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, welcome the legal definition of ecocide.

Sat, Jul 03

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced his support for an international crime of ecocide.

Tue, Jul 06

A second amendment has been submitted by Baroness (Natalie) Bennett of Manor Castle to the UK Environment Bill, this one using the full definition elaborated by the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition .

Wed, Aug 18

Chilean parliamentarians launch bill consisting of an amendment to the Chilean penal code to introduce a new crime of ecocide which is directly based on the new definition.

Tue, Aug 24

France’s Climate & Resilience Act, passed this week, includes ecocide in not one, but two contexts.

Guardrail and guidance system

Progressing this law is about more than politics. It serves to reflect, in the global legal system, a simple factual truth: when we damage the Earth, there are consequences. We see it as a legal guardrail, a health and safety law for the planet, if you will. And as the law approaches, whatever our age, work, or walk of life, we can treat it as a guidance system, supporting healthy innovation and adjustment in all sectors of industry, society and education.

We already know that profound changes are needed to bring humanity back within a safe operating space. Ecocide law provides a clear parameter to help that happen.

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WATCH: Jojo Mehta on Ecocide.
This piece was recorded by invitation for the Commonwealth Law Conference: Sustainable Justice held in Nassau, The Bahamas from 5th – 9th September 2021.

Faith for Ecocide Law: Launch

Interfaith call for Ecocide Law. September 16th. ONLINE conference.

Gathering voices from faith communities and spiritual traditions calling for Ecocide law: a practical and powerful step for a duty of care for the Earth.

Hosted by End Ecocide Sweden in cooperation with Stop Ecocide International, Christian Council of Sweden, the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, Sigtuna Foundation and Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University. Register to attend