17 July 2025 – REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

At AMCEN 2025, a speech delivered on behalf of Her Excellency Mrs. Arlette Soudant-Nonault, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin, reaffirmed the Republic of the Congo’s call to recognise ecocide as a crime. Quoting the Independent Expert Panel's definition of ecocide, the statement highlighted its potential as a legal tool to 'deter environmental destruction, hold polluters accountable, and protect affected communities'. The Republic of the Congo stressed that criminalising ecocide would strengthen existing legal frameworks and promote environmental justice. Watch the statement here.