Broad Political Support for Ecocide
Representatives from all non-government parties are calling for ecocide to be criminalised as a stand-alone international crime, demonstrating remarkable cross-party agreement on environmental protection. All parties in opposition— Sweden’s largest political party the Social Democrats, the Centre Party, the Green Party, and the Left Party—have proposed adding mass environmental destruction to the Rome Statute, and a member of the Liberals, from the governing coalition, proposes trials for crimes, including ecocide, committed during the war in Ukraine.
A number of Social Democrats, including former ministers Morgan Johansson and Annika Strandhäll, argue that “mass environmental destruction (ecocide) is a deliberate strategy in war” and call for Sweden to take the initiative at the International Criminal Court. The Center Party has submitted several private member’s bills with similar demands, with former party leader Muharrem Demirok and colleagues seeking to enable prosecution of “countries, leaders, and individuals who violate international law by deliberately causing environmental damage on a catastrophic scale.”
Both the Green Party and Left Party, whose leader Nooshi Dadgostar co-signed one bill, emphasize that ecocide should gain “similar status to war crimes or crimes against humanity.” The Green Party specifically calls for ecocide provisions in any future tribunal for war crimes in Ukraine.
Liberal member Joar Forsell also advocates using ecocide legislation in legal proceedings after Russia’s war in Ukraine, stating Sweden should “push for legal prosecution of both violations of international law, the crime of aggression itself, and ecocide.”
This convergence of independent proposals from across the political spectrum signals growing momentum in Sweden for recognizing mass environmental destruction as a prosecutable international crime.
– Momentum for ecocide law is buil
dng fast. It is only ten years since the first association for ecocide law was formed in Sweden. At the time, making ecocide a crime was seen as unrealistic. Five years ago, when I joined the efforts, many had still not heard of ecocide law. Today, momentum is building fast, both in the business community and in political circles, says Monica Schüldt, co-founder of Ecocide Law Alliance.
Footnote: How Swedish Parliament Works
The Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) consists of 349 members representing eight political parties. Each year during the autumn, typically between September and mid-October, members can submit private member’s bills proposing new legislation or policy changes.
Cover photo: Melker Dahlstrand/Sveriges Riksdag
Photo of Monica Schüldt: Photo87
