Make ecocide a crime!

Why is this important?

Mass destruction of nature should be a crime. 

Currently, individuals in the most senior positions of power are not held legally accountable when their decisions lead to ecocide - mass environmental destruction, such as vast oil spills or the pollution of an entire river system. 

Existing regulation has failed to curb the most harmful environmental practices.

Ecocide legislation aims to prevent mass environmental damage by encouraging decision makers to take the law seriously. If those in power fail to fulfil their environmental obligations and risk committing ecocide, they could face large fines, criminal charges and even jail time.

Member States are legally obliged to bring domestic legislation in line with the EU’s newly revised Environmental Crimes Directive. [2] The Directive identifies 18 specific acts that can be ‘comparable to ecocide’, including illegal logging and habitat loss.  

A list of prohibited acts is a big step in the right direction, but it cannot adapt to changes in technology or advancements in scientific understanding. It can also be circumvented when companies and policymakers redefine their activities to avoid falling foul of the law, instead of re-examining their practices as they should to ensure safety.  

This is why we need Member States to make ecocide a standalone crime, and go beyond the minimum requirements of the EU’s revised environmental crimes directive. 

Make your voice heard today. Sign the petition and call for EU Member States to demonstrate true leadership and introduce a standalone crime of ecocide and support efforts to establish ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court.

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