|
Ève Bazaiba, Minister for the Environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ralph Regenvanu, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment for the Republic of Vanuatu. Dear friends & sup
|
|
|
Ève Bazaiba, Minister for the Environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ralph Regenvanu, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment for the Republic of Vanuatu. |
|
|
|
Dear friends & supporters, We're thrilled to bring you this latest ecocide law update, brimming with exciting developments from around the world! 🌍 Read on to find out about the Democratic Republic of Congo joining the call for an international crime of ecocide, Scotland's domestic ecocide bill reaching parliament, and our recent presence at the Arctic Circle Assembly and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, as well as a series of high-level meetings and academic events in Peru and Argentina! You’ll also find an invite for UK residents to respond to a live Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee consultation, some fantastic recent podcast picks, and a brief showcase of our exciting new cultural (House of Hackney) and business (Patagonia/Pensions for Purpose) partnerships. Plus a sneak peek at our most significant event yet at the upcoming annual gathering of ICC member states…
|
|
|
Thu, Oct 31
In a historic statement at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the first African nation to declare its support for establishing ecocide as an international crime. This endorsement aligns with a formal proposal from Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa to amend the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reflecting the growing global momentum to secure accountability in international law for the most severe crimes against nature. |
|
|
|
Tue, Nov 12
A bill to criminalise ecocide has been lodged in the Scottish Parliament. Introduced by Monica Lennon MSP and requiring the endorsement of at least 18 MSPs to proceed, the bill aims to prevent and criminalise the most severe forms of environmental harm. If passed, Scotland would become the first country in the UK to establish a domestic crime of ecocide and emerge as a global leader in the rapidly growing field of ecocide law. |
|
|
|
|
Do you live in Scotland? Or have friends or family that do? We’ve got until December 11 to get as many MSPs as possible to support the Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill. Email your MSP TODAY and ask them to formally register their support for the bill.
|
|
|
(L-R): Andrés Ingi Jónsson (Member of Icelandic Parliament for Reykjavík North), Kate Mackintosh (Executive Director of UCLA Promise Institute Europe), Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir (Professor Emerita of Earth and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iceland), Monica Lennon (Member of Scottish Parliament), Tinna Hallgrímsdóttir (Climate Risk and Sustainability Specialist) at 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly, Reykjavík, Iceland. |
|
|
The Arctic Circle Assembly, the largest annual international gathering focused on the Arctic, has become a key event on the ecocide law calendar. We hosted and participated in impactful sessions, including Jojo in conversation with Pertti Salolainen, former Deputy PM of Finland, and panel event "The Role of Ecocide Law in Driving Transformational Change," - see picture above for distinguished panelists. The full-length recording of the panel event is available here.
|
|
|
|
(L-R): Jojo Mehta (CEO, Stop Ecocide International), Pertti Salolainen (Former Deputy Prime Minister of Finland and Founder of WWF Finland) and Kate Mackintosh (Executive Director of UCLA Promise Institute for Human Rights) at 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly, Reykjavík, Iceland. |
|
|
|
The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, offered another valuable opportunity to connect with state representatives, NGOs, and civil society; multiple events and high-level meetings were co-ordinated by Americas Director Rodrigo Lledó, our Spanish Language Director Maite Mompó and Francophone Countries Director, Patricia Willocq. A milestone moment during the conference was undoubtedly the Democratic Republic of Congo publicly declaring its support for the creation of an international crime of ecocide at a dedicated press conference—a powerful endorsement and the first African nation to do so.
|
|
|
An official meeting with the Colombian Vice-President Francia Marquez, in the company of HRH Esmeralda of Belgium, was another diplomatic highlight. |
|
|
|
Americas Director Rodrigo Lledó went on to engage in high-level meetings and academic events on the continent in Peru and Argentina, including an expert conference in Buenos Aires and an eminent endorsement for ecocide law from Nobel prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (pictured here with Rodrigo and Miguel Ángel Asturias, Doctor and Professor of Criminal Law and Environmental Crime at the University of Belgrano and Director of the International Association of Environmental and Climatic Law). |
|
|
We of course have our own podcast - The Ecocide Report - but there has been some fantastic ecocide law coverage from other podcast providers in recent weeks. Try these three for starters:
|
|
|
‘Could Ecocide Become a New International Crime?’ With: Naima Te Maile Fifita (Executive Director at the Institute for Climate and Peace); Kate Mackintosh (Executive Director of UCLA Promise Institute Europe); Rebecca Hamilton (Executive Editor of Just Security and Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Wardrobe Crisis: ‘Is Fashion Ready for Ecocide Law?’ With: Jojo Mehta and fashion designer Lucy Tammam |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ma Earth: “This is a moment to seize, not to seize up” With: Jojo Mehta in conversation with Ma Earth Co-founder, Matthew Monahan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you a UK resident? Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard about ecocide law. The UK Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched an online survey to help guide its priorities for 2025 and beyond. Let’s ensure the UK joins the growing global conversation - get your response in before the survey closes on Monday 25 November! |
|
|
|
|
As this global movement continues to grow, so does the breadth of networks we're building. Businesses, in particular, are stepping up in support, a shift clearly reflected in the rapid expansion of our Business Network.
|
|
We’re now proud to count truly global players among our members, including the renowned outdoor apparel brand Patagonia and the asset management network, Pensions for Purpose. Take a look at Pension for Purpose CEO Charlotte O'Leary comment piece on Ecocide law (click image). |
|
|
|
|
|
We’re also seeing exciting levels of engagement from the creative sectors. Our collaboration with couture design house Tammam led to the launch of the "One Dress: Planet" at London Fashion Week in September, which made a BIG impact at COP16 in Colombia and will continue to be a powerful symbol in our advocacy work in the coming year.
|
|
|
Model Aster wearing the Tammam x SEI One Dress: PLANET at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia. |
|
|
Most recently, luxury British interiors B-corp brand House of Hackney, in collaboration with artist Andrea Zanatelli, unveiled a stunning capsule collection with profits supporting Stop Ecocide International. Be sure to check out both projects!
|
|
|
House of Hackney ‘THE MIDNIGHT SUN CEREMONY’ Velvet Medium Cushion made in collaboration with artist Andrea Zanatelli and Stop Ecocide International. |
|
|
There’s so much happening in this movement right now, and we simply couldn’t be driving this progress without the help of our amazing teams, associates, and the many allies and endorsers worldwide and of course YOU, our loyal supporters and funders. Thank you for standing with us - and staying with us. Coming soon on 3rd December: our most significant event yet in The Hague at this year’s Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC - stay tuned for live-stream details!
|
|
Right now is when your contribution really matters. YOU can ensure we rise to the momentum, advising politicians and governments, researching and supporting political developments as they arise around the world, briefing the business world and building the political will that is emerging at this critical time for the Earth and for all of us. There are many thousands of you receiving this mailing. If you can afford to, now is the moment to set up a monthly contribution. It really makes a huge difference. Our investment to impact ratio is amazing - look what we’ve done together in a few short years!!!
There really is only one side of history worth being on - the one that secures all our futures… and ecocide law is on it.
We warmly invite you to share this news, share this call, and be a part of it with us. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
