NEWS FROM Ecocide law alliance

Milestone for environmental justice as amendment proposed to the Rome Statute of the ICC to include a crime of ecocide. 

Major survey shows strong support for criminalising actions likely to cause serious damage to nature and the climate.

Why do businesses support that ecocide should be an international crime? Watch the recording and find out.

40 sustainability managers, including representatives from some of Sweden’s major corporations, were treated to a seminar at KPMG Stockholm. Dagens Industri was present and published an article on the value of ecocide law.

On May 15, Swedish parliament voted on whether to make an announcement to the government on taking international initiative for ecocide law.

KPMG Onsite Solutions invited us to a client event, to talk about how to address a looming threat to fair competition.

Cases comparable to ecocide will be criminal in the EU. Member states have 24 months to implement the directive “Protection of the environment through criminal law”.

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 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.

The European Parliament has today voted through a new environmental crime directive, which includes provision to criminalise cases ‘comparable to ecocide’.

Swedish pension giant SPP is calling for ecocide to be made a crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The High-Level Group on the Environmental Consequences of the War in Ukraine recommends making ecocide a crime.

The EU has agreed to enshrine in law a new offence that aims to punish the most serious crimes against the environment. 

The Nordic Council recommends Nordic governments “to participate in relevant international discussions to criminalise serious crimes against the natural environment during both wartime and peacetime.” …

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.

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.

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.

One of the founders of Ecocide Law Alliance foundation is Claes Dahlbäck, former CEO and Chairman of Swedish industrial nexus Investor AB, and former board member of international investment bank Goldman Sachs

Ecogain has joined the growing group of companies and organisations in support of ecocide law. Ecogain’s business is solutions for a living planet and responsible business.

Following a historic unanimous Legal Affairs Committee vote, the European Parliament has announced its support for the inclusion of “ecocide” in the EU’s revised environmental crime directive.

A circular economy is increasingly in focus as one key to a sustainable future. How will law on ecocide at the highest level of the international legal system help boost circular business? Why would promoters of a circular economy support such law?

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 Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, is hopeful that the upcoming leadership summit of the Council of Europe will produce some positive developments on the matter of ecocide. 

Today the EU has come a significant step closer to recognising ecocide in the revised Directive for the protection of the environment through criminal law.  

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has voted in favour of including ecocide in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

We are delighted to welcome The Wellbeing Economy Alliance among the growing number of organisations that have declared support for ecocide law.

The Schumacher Institute, an independent think tank, has declared its support for international 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.

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.

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.

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.

Debaters: Banning ecocide is like a baby egg a three-in-one solution for the planet

The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), whose members include the world’s largest public pension funds and asset management companies, recommends governments to criminalize ecocide.

A global panel of 12 top international lawyers commissioned by Stop Ecocide at the request of two Swedish parliamentarians from the governing parties propose the following amendment to the Rome Statute.

How is ecocide law a powerful tool for climate action? Check out the webinar with Pella Thiel and Jonas Roupé on September 9, at 16 CEST. Organised by We Don’t Have Time Changemakers Club.

Ecologist Pella Thiel is awarded A Sustainable Prize 2021 for her work in making large-scale environmental degradation (ecocide) an international crime.

An expert panel of international lawyers has drafted a proposal for a legal definition of Ecocide – mass destruction of ecosystems – as a potential international crime alongside War Crimes, Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and Crimes of Aggression.

Panel of top international lawyers now drafting “Ecocide” definition

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.