A Platform for Change
For its 12th event, A Sustainable Tomorrow (AST) brought together 35,000 participants in hubs across four countries, creating an unprecedented platform for dialogue about societal challenges. Among the diverse voices calling for action across a broad range of sustainability issues, the Ecocide Law Alliance’s participation highlighted a crucial legal pathway that could fundamentally transform how we approach environmental protection globally.
In a panel focused on mobilisation strategies, Monica Schüldt shared insights that go to the heart of creating lasting change. “Influencing people’s values,” she explained, “is one of the most powerful ways there are to affect society’s direction of travel.”
Moderator Catarina Rolfsdotter, Monica Schüldt, Nour Habib and Frida Berry Eklund in action.
Targeting Corporate Support: A Strategic Imperative
The main objective outlined by Schüldt during the panel was clear and ambitious: to reach as many companies as possible to secure their support for making mass environmental destruction a crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (the ICC). This focus on corporate engagement represents a strategic recognition that businesses are not just one of the potential perpetrators of ecocide—they are powerful allies in preventing it.
While some organisations invest heavily in sustainable practices and environmental protection, others may cut corners, externalise environmental costs, or operate in jurisdictions with weaker regulatory frameworks. This creates competitive disadvantages for responsible businesses and enables continued environmental harm.
The Preventive Power of Law
The Ecocide Law Alliance’s advocacy for ecocide legislation serves three fundamental purposes that Schüldt highlighted during her presentation. First and foremost, it aims to protect the environment by creating strong legal deterrents against large-scale environmental destruction. When ecocide becomes a recognised crime at the international level, the pros and cons for environmentally destructive activities change dramatically. Corporate decision-makers must weigh not just potential profits against environmental costs, but also consider the risk of criminal liability.
The second objective addresses a critical market failure in environmental protection: the uneven competitive landscape. Currently, companies that prioritise environmental protection may find themselves at a disadvantage compared to competitors willing to externalise environmental costs. Ecocide legislation would help level this playing field by ensuring that all companies operating internationally face the same legal standards for environmental protection.
This levelling effect could unleash significant business innovation and investment in sustainable practices. When environmental protection becomes a legal requirement globally, rather than an optional corporate social responsibility initiative, market forces can work in favour of sustainability rather than against it.
Third, making ecocide a crime will shift our values, raising awareness of the value of nature and our fundamental dependence on it.
Building Momentum Through Dialogue
Events like AST’s Nordic gathering demonstrate the growing momentum behind initiatives to safeguard the environment. With 35,000 participants engaging in conversations about sustainability, the audience for messages about ecocide legislation continues to expand. The participation of organisations like Ecocide Law Alliance in high-profile sustainability events helps bridge the gap between grassroots environmental activism and institutional change.
Looking Ahead
The strategic approach outlined by Monica Schüldt at the AST event offers a roadmap for creating systemic change. By focusing on values transformation, corporate engagement, and the dual goals of environmental protection and market fairness, the Ecocide Law Alliance is working to ensure that future generations inherit a world where large-scale environmental destruction is not just discouraged—it’s a criminal offence and disgraceful to be involved in it.
Events like AST’s Nordic gathering demonstrate that the conversation is gaining momentum, reaching new audiences, and building the foundation for transformative change.
All speakers on stage after the event.
All photos on this page by Photo87
