See here for web version. Sign up here

EU supports recognition of ecocide

Dear friends - after a break in January we’re back with news a-plenty!

• EU - Parliament votes to encourage EU members states to recognize ecocide, while environment committee votes to examine the possibility of EU ecocide legislation

• Canada & Luxembourg both state that they will follow international ecocide law conversation with interest

• Ecocide expert drafting panel - meetings get under way, public consultation takes place

• Netherlands - Crimes Against Humanity communication with strong ecocide focus filed at the ICC in The Hague by French lawyer Bourdon on behalf of indigenous Chief Raoni

• France - Affaire du Siècle case landmark ruling says government has failed its climate obligations and can be held accountable by victims, while trial continues on ecocidal Agent Orange chemical case

• UK - Dasgupta report says economy must protect nature, while Supreme Court ruling says Shell can be held accountable for damage by subsidiaries

EU: taking ecocide seriously

In an amendment to its report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2019, the European Parliament voted to urge “the EU and the Member States to promote the recognition of ecocide as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)”.   

And In its opinion on the liability of corporations for environmental damage, the European Parliament’s ENVI (environmental) Committee echoed that vote - and also asked “the Commission to study its relevance for EU law and EU diplomacy”.

Canada & Luxembourg to follow ecocide law developments

More about states leading on ecocide law at our dedicated web page

Definition drafting & consultation

In January the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide had its first full meeting and drafting is now under way.  The panel session was supported around the globe with ceremony held by Elders of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Original Nations, “lighting our sacred fires, standing with Mother Earth so Her voice can inform this panel of Her laws of nature.” (Grandmother Jyoti Ma)

A public consultation was launched in January to encourage diverse input to the panel. Reports and background considerations have also been sought from respected scientific, indigenous, youth, corporate, faith and climate policy voices. The closing date on the consultation has been extended to Sunday 21st Feb.

UK Treasury landmark report

The UK Treasury’s Dasgupta report marks a sea-change in economic thinking in the government context.  While still using the financial language of “natural capital” and “ecosystem services”, there is nonetheless a genuine and significant shift towards acknowledging our interconnectedness with, and responsibility towards, the natural world. 

Share!

Excited about our work? Help fund us

We are uniquely placed to both influence and amplify worldwide momentum on ecocide law, and your help can make all the difference.  So please consider:

• Setting up a regular donation via Paypal or credit/debit card today

• Recommending us to organisations or individuals you know who could help fund our work

Change the law, protect the Earth

with love and unshakeable persistence, 

The Stop Ecocide Team

PS - Cyprus campaign now active! 
We’re delighted to welcome Evi heading up our Cyprus campaign, as we gradually reach around the Mediterranean… website in Greek in the pipeline - watch this space.

This is the newsletter of the STOP ECOCIDE campaign- you are receiving this as a signatory donor to the Earth Protectors Trust Fund at www.stopecocide.earth or if you signed up for our newsletters there or via our law information portal, www.ecocidelaw.com.

We will never disclose or pass on your details, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Our mailing lists are managed by Stop Ecocide International Ltd (SEI) on behalf of the Stop Ecocide Foundation.