Growing number of countries consider making ecocide a crime

Ecocide is a word to describe what is happening to our planet …. the mass damage and destruction of the natural living world.  It literally means “killing one’s home”.

Right now, throughout most of the world, including the UK, no-one is held responsible.  

It is time to change the rules. It is time to protect our home.

Stop ecocide: change the law, protect the earth.

A growing number of countries are, at last considering introducing laws to make ecocide a crime.

The Guardian - Growing number of countries consider making ecocide a crime

While damaging the environment is already an offence in most countries, recognition of ecocide elevates the most egregious cases to a crime with accompanying penalties.

Only a few states around the world have criminalised ecocide, including Vietnam, Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s public prosecutor is already investigating a possible case of ecocide against Russia for breaching the Nova Kakhovka dam.

France became the first EU country to put ecocide into law in 2021 although the wording is not as strong as campaigners had hoped for. Similar draft laws have been submitted in other countries, including the Netherlands, whilst Belgium is poised to finalise its own version of the law while the Catalan parliament is leading efforts to criminalise ecocide within the wider Spanish penal code.

In Scotland, Labour MSP Monica Lennon is trying to introduce an ecocide bill and will launch a public consultation on the matter in autumn 2023.

In January 2023, the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution calling on member states to update their laws to codify a crime of ecocide. Two months later, the European Parliament supported the inclusion of ecocide-level crimes into the EU’s revised environmental crimes directive. If this passes unscathed through the EU’s full legislative process, then member states will be required to make ecocide a crime through national law.

And where is our climate change ignoring and environment and nature trashing UK Government? Nowhere to be seen. Not a word. What a surprise (not).

SS15 wildlife watching: World Day for International Justice

SS15 wildlife watching: Stop Ecocide: change the law, protect the earth

SS15 wildlife watching: Stop Ecocide: change the law

Stop Ecocide

“The rules of our world are laws, and they can be changed. Laws can restrict or they can enable. What matters is what they serve.  Many of the laws in our world serve property - they are based on ownership. But imagine a law that has a higher moral authority… a law that puts people and planet first. Imagine a law that starts from first do no harm, that stops this dangerous game and takes us to a place of safety….” – Polly Higgins

#DefendNature .... Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife 

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