Strong public support for ecocide law

As the scale of environmental risks become more apparent, discussions around legal accountability have intensified. One major focus has been around ecocide, but a missing part of the puzzle has been whether there is public support for criminalising environmental damage.

Now, the results are in: there is strong support across those surveyed for criminalising actions likely to cause serious damage to nature and the climate. The survey covered 18 of the G20 countries plus four additional countries, including Sweden.

• 72% of those surveyed in the G20 agreed that it should be a criminal offence for leaders of large businesses or senior government officials
to approve or permit actions they know are likely to cause damage to nature and climate that is widespread, long term or cannot be
reversed.

The survey also reveals widespread concerns for the current state of nature and the state in which we will leave nature for future generations. More than 7 out of 10 are concerned about the state of nature and see a link between human health and wellbeing and the health and wellbeing of nature.

Highlights from the results for Sweden  

• 71% of those surveyed in Sweden support criminalising actions approved or permitted by leaders of larger businesses or senior government officials that cause widespread, long-term or irreversible environmental damage –  ecocide.

• 76% of those surveyed are worried (extremely/very/somewhat worried) about  the state of nature today and 77% about the state in which we will leave nature for future generations. Women are more likely to be worried than men (82% vs 71% worried about state of nature today, 83% vs 72% about the future).

• 60% agree that because of human activities, the Earth is close to environmental ‘tipping points’, where climate or nature, such as rainforests or glaciers, may change suddenly or be more difficult to stabilize in the future.  Women are more likely to agree with this than men (66% vs 55%).

• 64% believe the world needs to act immediately, within the next decade, to reduce carbon emissions – higher agreement among women (70%) than men (59%)

Says Owen Gaffney, co-lead of the Earth4All initiative:

“The majority support (72%) for criminalising actions which allow serious damage to the climate surprised us.

The majority of people want to protect the global commons; 71% believe the world needs to take action immediately. Our survey demonstrates that people across the world’s largest economies are acutely aware of the urgent need to safeguard our planet for future generations.“

Says Nina Macpherson, chair Ecocide Law Alliance:

“The message from the Swedish people is clear: reckless and extensive environmental crimes should be punishable in exactly the same way as, for example, war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the same positive response that we get when we speak with Swedish companies.

Swedish companies are already at the forefront when it comes to sustainability. This law would protect nature, ourselves and future generations. Such strong popular support is heart-warming and sparks even stronger commitment.”

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Oo60Vl/manga-svenskar-vill-att-miljomord-blir-ett-brott