ECOCIDE LAW ALLIANCE

Business Leaders for International Ecocide Law

WHAT?

Ecocide means severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment.

WHY?

Existing national and international laws are inadequate to protect the natural systems on which we depend.

HOW?

By an amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to add a fifth crime – Ecocide.

“In the long term, neither legislators nor consumers will accept products that destroy the planet. If you make adjustments early on, you have a competitive advantage.”
– Karin Bodin, CEO, Polarbrödsgruppen
"Ecocide legislation is another such parameter that provides clarity. That will in turn benefit all the committed Swedish companies that exist today."
- Mats Bjelkevik, CEO, Indoor Energy
"Since the ever increasing economic growth system – acting on a planet with finite resources – cannot self-regulate itself, we need to activate Ecocide Law. Globally. Husstainability supports this initiative at 110%!"
–Erik Huss , CEO, Husstainability
"I think every company that wants to take responsibility should be positively inclined towards international legislation in this area as well."
- Eva Karlsson, CEO, Houdini
“Reversing the negative development for climate and the environment is the question of our generation – that we succeed is crucial because our common future depends on it. This is a fight that needs to be waged on several levels and appropriate legislation should of course be part of it.”
- Fredrik Emilson, CEO, Scandinavian Enviro Systems
“Taking a stand for ecocide law is the easiest and most effective thing we can do for nature. No sensible person wants to destroy the planet, or thinks it should be allowed.”
– Anders Sundin, CEO, Sokigo
”There isn’t enough skin in the game when it comes to destroying nature to make profit. The limited liability of companies and boards is simply asymmetric to the long term damage that can be caused. This must change and full accountability be introduced.”
–David Ekelund, CEO, Icebug
“Mass destruction of the environment - ecocide - should be a crime. We support this and hope other banks will too. Banks can also redirect investments so that money flows to initiatives within planetary boundaries.”
- Maria Flock Åhlander CEO, Ekobanken
”International ecocide law is very important to address large-scale environmental destruction. Self-regulation is mostly based on incremental improvement, which for large-scale issues simply is not enough. Ecocide law opens up for progressive companies and governments to show leadership and make significant difference.”
- Niclas Ihrén CEO, Matters Group
“Ecocide law is the most important new piece of international legislation proposed so far in the twenty first century. It is essential to deliver human flourishing on a healthy planet.“
- Stewart Wallis Executive Chair, Wellbeing Economy Alliance
”Ecocide Law will provide the rules for economies that increase our wellbeing by preventing the loss of our fundamental systems of existence without which there is no economy.”
- Ian Roderic Director of the Schumacher Institute
”Establishing an ecocide law is about changing our norms about nature. It’s a no-brainer!”
- Anders Enetjärn Founder of Ecogain
”International regulation against the most serious environmental crimes should be self-evident, since the environment knows no national borders.”
- Robert Dackeskog, CEO, Duni group
”On a late autumn evening, I found a mantis beneath a lone cypress, its tail in the earth. Autumn‘s farewell, crickets whispering of winter. Years later, my Tokyo raised daughter showed no interest. I regret not bringing her closer to nature. I am very happy to support Ecocide Law to preserve our global nature.”
- Mitsuhiro Komiyaji, Impact Japan
"Legal clarity will make it easier to operate sustainable and important business. I have always been a believer in clear, long term, responsible rules. I think they are a good thing in this area too.”
- Claes Dahlbäck Former CEO and Chairman of Investor, Co-founder of Ecocide Law Alliance
”We must learn to use all resources in a proper and ethical manner and clearly, destroying ecosystems or harming people’s health is simply unacceptable. Ecocide legislation feels like an obvious step."
- Ellen Einebrant, CEO, Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association
”This is almost like an obvious, missing link in how you run the society, and it is also about creating a level playing-field.”
- Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Sustainability, Scania
”My generation has contributed to environmental challenges and bears the responsibility to actively drive solutions. We must act now to preserve our planet for future generations.”
- Dr. Albert X. Kirchmann, Chairman, A.X.K. Group
”This is a missing piece. The more I learn about it, the more obvious it is that this is a flagrantly missing part.”
- Andreas Follér, Head of Sustainability
”Destroying nature for profit is an outdated business model. The legal approach of ecocide law is one of the most efficient and concrete ways to drive real change."
- Ingmar Rentzog, Founder & CEO, We Don’t Have Time
”Making large-scale environmental destruction a crime is a key measure for us to succeed in the climate transition and protect natural ecosystems. Robust, long-term legislation is good for businesses and can help establish a necessary precautionary principle.”
- Johan Falk, CEO and Co-founder, Exponential Roadmap Initiative
”Ecocide must be recognized as an international crime for protectection of our planet’s ecosystems, especially in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle."
- Mariia Turchina, Co-founder of Griffon Socks, Kharkiv, Ukraine
"Ecocide is a form of self-destruction – a breakdown of our shared future. ... Supporting legislation against ecocide is a no-brainer.”
- Maria Erdmann, CEO, GodEl
"The environment knows no national borders. Harm done to mother nature in one part of the world is not only of local concern, but to mankind as a whole."
- Christian Heger, CEO, GodFond

LATEST NEWS

Business leader op-ed: Bring Environmental Criminals to Justice

In an op-ed published by Aktuell Hållbarhet on Earth Day, April 22nd, business leaders urge the government to take a stand on ecocide law, and to advocate internationally so that mass environmental destruction becomes a criminal offence with global reach.

Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association

“Ecocide legislation feels like an obvious step,” says Ellen Einebrant, CEO of the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association. Read more.

First Japanese business supporter

Japanese businessman Mitsuhiro Komiyaji voices support for ecocide law.

Joining forces globally

Joining forces globally is effective and gives immense power to drive change. This was one of the conclusions at a seminar on March 10, hosted by law firm Lindahl in Gothenburg in collaboration with the Ecocide Law Alliance, to discuss the value for businesses of making ecocide – mass environmental destruction – a criminal offense under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Photo shows two of the speakers: Leif Johansson and Göran Eriksson.

Business leaders demand for global ecocide law – DN

“The business community wants global rules. Without them, there is a risk of exporting environmental problems – and environmental crimes – to a country with weaker legislation”, says Göran Eriksson, CEO of The Port of Gothenburg. Read the article in major Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

First Ukrainian business takes a stand for ecocide law

Griffon Socks is a creative designer sock brand from Kharkiv, founded by Ukrainian couple Mariia and Denys. Despite the full-scale invasion, they remain in Kharkiv, continuing their work. They believe ecocide should be a crime.