NEWS FROM Ecocide law alliance
Why is international ecocide law so important to business?
Level playing field, innovation and ethics were three of the reasons emphasized for why ecocide law is so important to business. Here are the highlights from the seminar on ecocide law hosted by leading law firm Vinge, the Swedish Bar Association, and Ecocide Law Alliance.
‘A Sustainable Tomorrow’ Features Ecocide Law
The fight against environmental destruction requires systemic change at the highest levels of international law. This message resonated powerfully at A Sustainable Tomorrow’s recent Nordic sustainability event, where Monica Schüldt from Ecocide Law Alliance took the stage to discuss how best to mobilise support to protect the environment.
Stellar line-up in Almedalen
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Scania, SPP, Swedbank, The Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association, TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Svenskt Näringsliv (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise) – representatives discuss the pros and cons of international ecocide law from a business and employee perspective.
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.
Joining forces globally
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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.
Exponential Roadmap Initiative declares support
ERI, whose members’ revenue total more than one trillion dollars, welcomes ecocide law as progress in the rule of law. The ERI 1.5°C Business handbook includes a recommendation that ERI members should support ecocide legislation on all levels: national, regional, international.
Bar Association event on Ecocide and Corruption
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A recent Swedish Bar Association event on ecocide and corruption featured Kate Mackintosh, a professor and director of the UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe; Parul Sharma, Secretary-General of the Swedish Anti-Corruption Institute; and Alf Blomqvist, Chair of Scandinavian Enviro Systems; – and a packed auditorium.
Fourteen business leaders in Dagens Industri
In a timely op-ed in Dagens Industri, just ahead of the annual meeting of International Criminal Court members in the Hague, fourteen Swedish business leaders encourage the Swedish government to take a pioneering role in the EU, by engaging for ecocide to be made a crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Human rights and the environment – increasingly important issues for companies and their advisors
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On March 7, 2024 the Swedish Bar Association and Ecocide Law Alliance, together with law firms Cirio and Mannheimer Swartling, hosted solicitors and commercial lawyers at a seminar on human rights and the environment.
Swedish companies urge criminalizing ecocide
Swedish companies from a broad range of industries now back the Ecocide Law Alliance initiative to criminalize mass environmental destruction – ecocide – within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, ICC. Thus, the companies are increasing the pressure on the Swedish government to work towards an international law against serious environmental crimes. The initiative is backed by Exponential Roadmap Initiative and We Don’t Have Time.
Swedish Prime Minister support
On October 25th, Rebecka le Moine (MP, Swedish Green Party) asked Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson a question regarding accountability for the huge environmental destruction in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Kristersson expressed his support for Ukraine’s demand for accountability for environmental crimes.
Exponential Roadmap Initiative recommends ecocide law
The Exponential Roadmap playbook recommends companies to support ecocide legislation at all levels. The playbook is supported and used by some of the world’s major and innovative companies. Taken together, their annual revenue is more than one trillion dollars.
Well attended event at PRI
Ecocide law was in focus at a recent event at Principles for Responsible Investment, PRI. The PRI, a UN-supported network of investors, works to promote sustainable investment through the incorporation of environmental, social and governance factors into their investment and ownership decisions.
European Law Institute report on ecocide for the EU
The prestigious European Law Institute has released a new report: “Report on Ecocide: Model Rules for an EU Directive and a Council Decision”. The report is based on the definition of ecocide from Stop Ecocide International, with adjustments to fit EU legislation.
The talk of the town – ecocide law!
At the Stockholm+50 Conference, ecocide law was the talk of the town. It heads the Youth Task Force Policy Paper, Faith leaders demanded that their stand for ecocide law go on record, the topic kept cropping up in side events, more than 1000 conference participants picked up ecocide law badges.
Swedish Bar Association ecocide law event
The Swedish Bar Association supported by Advokatfirman Vinge, Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå and Ecocide Law Alliance Stiftelse invited a select group of business leaders to a seminar on June 1st, to introduce the proposal to make ecocide an international crime and the reasons why the Swedish business community should be involved.
Protecting humans through ecocide law – New report
Protection of humans and protection of environment are interrelated. The destruction of the environment is a major threat to humans, and current law to protect humans is inadequate, says a new report from The Asser Institute. Criminalizing ecocide will help protect humans.
Ukraine to prosecute Russia for ecocide following attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has launched criminal proceedings over an ecocide following Russia’s seizure of the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant and missile attack and seizure of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Human Rights and Ecocide Law
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Dagens Industri (the Swedish Financial Times) is hosting an event on November 23 where Nina Macpherson, member of the Board of eg TRATON SE and former chief legal officer at Ericsson, and Camilla Goldbeck-Löwe, VP Corporate Responsibility, Epiroc, will address the topic “Ecocide and human rights – what can you do as chief legal officer?”
New international business network to safeguard ecosystems
Responsible businesses across the world are currently struggling with legislation. More specifically – the lack of it. Adding Ecocide law to the Rome Statute will level the playing field for business, and at the same time make it possible to prosecute those responsible for serious environmental crimes.
