Ambassador of Belgium to The Hague. Diplomatic intervention at the ICC official side event: Ecocide:: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'.

'Belgium is continuing internal discussion with a view to a possible criminalisation of the crime of ecocide in its penal code, complemented by efforts at the international level to raise awareness.'

Fountain—founder, Delegate of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Original Nations

“We are living in unprecedented times directed by prophecy. The Mother Earth is calling us all into action—to unify and stand up to protect her and all life. The Original Peoples are her voice and live by Nature’s law. Stop Ecocide understands such wisdom. In this action, we are stepping away from those who are destroying Life, and stepping with those that protect the sacredness of Life. Our very survival is at hand. We must be mindful, as we choose our next steps!”

Founder President of the Club of Budapest

“In these days when the human impact on the environment is becoming everyday more evident and proves to be not only damaging to our surroundings but a serious threat to human life and survival, it is imperative that we should declare Ecocide a Crime Against Peace.

Author, speaker, co-founder of Pachamama Alliance

“An international law of ecocide is long overdue and absolutely must happen. It is an essential component of protecting life on Earth. I fully support the Stop Ecocide movement.”

Founder Director and Trustee of Forum for the Future

“The idea of establishing the crime of Ecocide is both timely and compelling... I am now a fully signed-up Earth Protector! I agree with the analysis that ‘only criminal law can stop the harm’, as it’s clear that existing legal sanctions are totally failing to do what we so urgently need them to do.”

Former ICC judge. Panelist, Independent Expert Panel for the legal definition of Ecocide Speaking at the ICC official side event: ‘Ecocide: a fifth crime defined.’

‘The scientific evidence and authoritative assessments are overwhelming… For small, vulnerable countries, there is little other option…. it is the rule of law that provides the most effective protection.’

Member of the European Parliament

"The recognition of ecocides has been discussed since the 1960s and the use in Vietnam of the Agent Orange on ecosystems and the population. More than 50 years later, the gravest environmental crimes remain unpunished, and justice has still to come for the Vietnamese, and all the other victims of ecocides, humans or non-humans. We still have the choice to save our planet, or not. It is time to recognize ecocide."

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."

Environmental Activist

On 16th July 2020, Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, anuna de Wever and Adélaïde Carlier demanded, in an open letter, that all EU leaders and heads of state’ must #FaceTheClimateEmergency​’ and “advocate to make ecocide an international crime at the International Criminal Court.”

Author, spiritual leader, politician, and activist

“Polly Higgins did something extremely important. She changed the way our civilization now looks at the rights of the earth itself. By bringing the notion of ecocide into legal question, she has expanded the way we think of what is happening around us.”

Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation

“I fully believe in this cause. Making ecocide a recognised law will place a cap on the irresponsible actions of fat cats who hide behind corporate shields to destroy lives and harm the planet.”

UCL/Matrix Law. Co-chair, Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide. Speaking at the ICC official side event: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'

'We have a responsibility to the next generation… I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.'

Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal, Belgium

“The inclusion of ecocide as a crime in the Rome Statute would mean that the International Criminal Court would have the power to try these crimes just as it can today condemn a crime of genocide or a crime against humanity.....Agreeing on ecocide as a crime could contribute to a change of mentality and to increased environmental protection."

Former Commonwealth Secretary General and author of ‘Our Country, the Planet’

“I urge serious global support for the work of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, organised by the Stop Ecocide Foundation. Their ‘Commentary and Core Text’ of a definition of ‘ecocide’ as an international crime deserve humanity’s urgent attention.”

Former UN Special Rapporteur, Professor Emeritus of International Law, Princeton University

Richard A. Falk drafted an Ecocide Convention in 1973, explicitly recognizing at the outset "that man has consciously and unconsciously inflicted irreparable damage to the environment in times of war and peace.”

Congolese lawyer, politician, and human rights activist

"The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a solution country in the face of the climate crisis: with 62% of the Congo Basin’s forest cover, it is home to the planet’s largest remaining tropical rainforest and extraordinary biodiversity. Yet this natural wealth is threatened by massive and unregulated destruction. Recognising ecocide as a crime is a vital legal tool to protect the DRC’s ecosystems, defend its communities, and build truly sustainable development."

Environmentalist, model, actress

“Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide. That's why I signed up to the Stop Ecocide campaign, working with lawyers, researchers and diplomats to make Ecocide a crime at the International Criminal Court.”

First Vice President of the European Commission

“Within 2-3 years our citizens will have the same sense of urgency pertaining to the risk of ecocide as they have now with the climate crisis, and its right to have that.”

Former President of Finland (2000-2012)

"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."

Speaking at the ICC official side event: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'

'Ecocide would need to be a true ICC crime inline with the Rome Statute and in harnessing the power of international criminal law for the protection of our shared global government.'