Stop Ecocide International

‘Ecocide’: when harm to nature becomes a crime

In April, Parliament created an offence new to our law: ecocide. This significant step was made through the Anti-Money Laundering, Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act

Students — Stop Ecocide International

German parties push for new crime of ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Two of Germany’s main political parties, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) , have called for Germany to go further than the federal government’s May 2026 draft reform of environmental criminal law, which implements the EU’s revised Environmental Crime Directi

Global Implications of the EU’s Environmental Crime Directive — Stop Ecocide International

Environmental crime is one of the most pressing threats to the natural world and all of us who rely on it. Damage to the earth cannot be separated from damage to humans, and human prosperity cannot be conceived without a functioning biosphere. Environmental crime destabilises communities and economi

I will end the factional infighting in Scottish Labour

Writing for The Scotsman, Scottish Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon vows to let ideas flourish.

A Model Ecocide Law for Latin America

--Rodrigo Lledó, Director for the Americas at Stop Ecocide International, Chilean lawyer and former Head of the Legal Department of the Human Rights Program at

International Criminal Justice Day: ACU’s Prof. Okwezuzu Canvasses Criminalisation of Ecocide

Raising Godly Intellectuals

Ecocide is a crime against humanity

The ICC and its member states must treat environmental destruction as seriously as other international crimes

Where the Wildflowers Went: Protecting Living Farmland with Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

We have had ecologists from the UK in this field, who cried when they counted the amount of species they found per square meter. I have been told that in the UK there are only 6000 hectares left of such rich biodiversity, most of them created and maintained with high financial input. I try to ex

Legal and cultural impacts of ecocide law: a view from the legislative frontlines

Jojo Mehta & Anna Maddrick

Young African Women, Climate Justice and Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

To mark the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, Youth for Ecocide Law (Y4EL) and the Vital Crest Foundation (VCF) are convening a strategic panel discussion exploring the nexus of land governance, environmental degradation, and emerging legal frameworks.  This webinar

Why ecocide laws could be coming far sooner than many predict

Should the world adopt a law to recognise ecocide as a global crime?

From the Vietnam War to the crisis in West Asia, the environment is no longer just collateral damage. It is becoming a target in its own right

Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime

Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa want international criminal court to class environmental destruction as crime alongside genocide

El camino participativo hacia una Ley Modelo de Ecocidio

Hace más de diez años, durante mi investigación doctoral, un libro transformó mi comprensión sobre los orígenes del derecho: La

Deutscher Bundestag - Anhörung zur Änderung des Umweltstrafrechts

Der Ausschuss für Recht und Verbraucherschutz hat sich am Montag, 6. Juli 2026, in einer zweistündigen öffentlichen Anhörung mit dem Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung zur Änderung des…

How the EU’s New Ecocide Law Binds National Courts

The EU Environmental Crime Directive has moved from the statute book toward the courtroom, with the deadline for member states to write its tough new offences into national law having fallen on 21 May 2026.

Stop Ecocide International | Substack

The Substack for Stop Ecocide International, the driving force behind the movement to make ecocide an international crime. Click to read Stop Ecocide International, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Llaman a tipificar al ecocidio como genocidio en América Latina

Rodrigo Lledó, director para las Américas de Stop Ecocidio Internacional, detalló que sólo algunos estados, como Ciudad de México, Jalisco y Chiapas,

Ecocidio, «noi lottiamo perché sia legge ovunque» - Vita.it

“Stop Ecocide International” è l’organizzazione internazionale che lotta perché il disastro ambientale sia riconosciuto crimine internazionale, come attualmente accade solo alle Mauritius dall’aprile scorso. Parla Dani Spizzichino che ha fondata la sede italiana: «Tribunali, opposizioni, diritti costituzionali: la cassetta degli attrezzi esiste, ma c’è un vuoto nel diritto penale internazionale. Secondo lo Statuto di Roma, per esempio, la grave distruzione ambientale è perseguibile solo come crimine di guerra»

Mangrove forests are healing after decades of human destruction

Swampy mangrove forests are staging a surprise comeback - which is good news for coastal communities and the climate.

The Congress - UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026

Who controls the weather? — Stop Ecocide International

As geoengineering progresses, ecocide law offers a credible framework to protect the Earth

Argentina: Ecocide Bill Advances Following Senate Committee Approval — Stop Ecocide International

On Tuesday, 9 June, Argentina took a significant step towards criminalising ecocide and other serious environmental crimes when the Senate’s Justice and Criminal Affairs Committee and Environment and Sustainable Development Committee approved a Bill ‍ that would, if passed by the full Senate and

Exhibition for the built environment | Building Centre London

The Building Centre hosts a selection of curated exhibitions in its 3 galleries. Featured on state-of-the-art immersive video walls, the exhibition calendar is ideal for the architectural and construction industries.

What is ecocide and could it become a crime under international law?

Classing grievous acts of environmental harm as crimes against peace may hold states and corporations to account

Ecocide Law Can Protect the Earth As Geoengineering Booms | Earth.Org

Ecocide law offers a credible legal framework to protect the Earth and outer space from unpredictable geoengineering projects.

Finland’s Largest Party Backs Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

At its 2026 party congress, Finland’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted the criminalisation of ecocide as party policy.

Our Ocean Conference 2026: Gallifrey Foundation Exhibition — Stop Ecocide International

Our Ocean Conference is an invitation-only conference, bringing together leaders from government, science, civil society and the private sector to accelerate Ocean action and turn collective ambition into meaningful progress.  With a group of other Ocean-focused allies, co-ordinated by Ga

Change the Rules — Stop Ecocide International

A Fifth Crime of Ecocide: Opening Considerations

OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT, 23rd Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Legal recognition of ‘ecocide’ continues to advance, with national crimes proposed around the world; an EU directive requiring member states to criminalise “conduct comparable to ecocide”; and increasing acknowledgement that severe environmental harm should stand among “the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole”. Environmental crime plays a central and under-acknowledged role in both armed conflict and the climate crisis, affecting development, peace and security and human rights. In the the context of the ICC’s Working Group on Amendments, on the 9th September 2024, Vanuatu, with co-sponsorship from Fiji and Samoa, tabled a proposal to include an independent crime of ecocide in the Rome Statute. This has now also been supported by the Democratic Republic of Congo. While too soon for such an amendment to be explicitly considered at the ASP this year, this official side event set out some useful considerations of which States Parties will appreciate being aware, as they begin to engage with this important subject in the coming months and beyond. Topics covered by the distinguished panellists included: overall rationale and timing; human rights implications; relationship with parallel legal initiatives; civil society support; youth perspective from the global South; and definitional considerations. Moderated by: Madam Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor, International Criminal Court Speakers: H.E. Volker Türk - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Professor Philippe Sands KC - Lawyer, 11 King's Bench Walk; Professor of Laws, Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals, University College London. Professor Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh - Associate Professor of Sustainability Law, Amsterdam Law School Sandrine Dixson-Declève - Co-President, Club of Rome Debbie Buyaki - Co-Lead, Youth for Ecocide Law Professor Darryl Robinson - Queen's University Faculty of Law (Canada) Hosted by: Republic of Vanuatu, Independent State of Samoa, Republic of Fiji, Democratic Republic of Congo Language: English, with interpretation in Arabic, French, Spanish In association with partners: Stop Ecocide International, Stop Ecocide Foundation, UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe, Climate Counsel www.stopecocide.earth

Young People Shaping Ecocide Law: Keynote Address by Jojo Mehta, CEO of Stop Ecocide International — Stop Ecocide International

About Youth for Ecocide Law Youth for Ecocide Law (Y4EL) is the youth constituency within the global movement to recognise ecocide as the fifth international crime at the International Criminal Court. Founded in 2021, Y4EL operates under Stop Ecocide International and unites youth advocates acros

Survey: Over 70 per cent of people support making ecocide a crime

Survey of people in 22 countries shows more than three in five support the prosecution of business leaders and governments who cause serious damage to the environment

Artwork submissions: help us bring ecocide law to life!

Could nature itself hold the solution to climate change?

Technological interventions face huge financial or practical challenges. Why not embrace the Earth’s feedback loops?

Kate Mackintosh — Defending Tomorrow #4 — @StopEcocideInternational Podcasts

The Legal Architecture of Ecocide Law: International Perspectives with Kate Mackintosh In this episode of Defending Tomorrow, we are joined by Kate Mackintosh, a leading figure in the international movement to recognize ecocide as a core crime under the Rome Statute. Drawing from her extensive background in international criminal tribunals and her work with Doctors Without Borders, Kate provides an in-depth analysis of the legal structures required to protect our global commons. We explore the complexities of the 2021 ecocide definition, the path toward an International Criminal Court amendment, and the technical support provided by the Ecocide Law Advisory (ELA) to states seeking to implement these laws domestically. Resources and Links: Ecocide Law Advisory (ELA): https://www.promiseeurope.law.ucla.edu/ecocide-law-advisory Lawyers Network: https://es.stopecocide.earth/lawyers Audio only version: https://defendingtomorrow.podbean.com/e/kate-mackintosh-en/ Subscribe to stay informed on the evolution of international environmental law. #DefendingTomorrow #EcocideLaw #KateMackintosh #InternationalCriminalLaw #RomeStatute #EnvironmentalJustice #UCLALaw

Lawyers — Stop Ecocide International

Why ecocide laws could be coming far sooner than many predict

The Scottish Ecocide Bill failed to become law before the Scottish Parliament dissolved for the recent local elections, but some lawyers think ecocide laws could be coming to the UK far sooner than many predict. Stuart Spray outlines why this should make board members sit up…

Mauritius Criminalises Ecocide

On 18 April 2026, the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 (Act No. 3 of 2026) came into force.

Notable Supporters — Stop Ecocide International

EU Parliament votes to criminalise cases “comparable to ecocide” — Stop Ecocide International

The European Parliament has today voted through a new environmental crime directive , which includes provision to criminalise cases ‘comparable to ecocide’. The European Parliament, along with the Parliament’s rapporteur on the directive, Netherlands MEP Antonius Manders , have been at the centre

Rainforests Can Bounce Back Much Faster Than Thought, Researchers Say

Scientists long believed it would take more than a century for animals to return to deforested land. New research shows that’s not always the case.

Ecocide: Understanding the Global and Indian Fight Against Environmental Destruction - Legal Service India - Articles

Ecocide explained: global laws, India cases, and why environmental destruction must become an international crime.

mailing list — Stop Ecocide International

Students — Stop Ecocide International

Ökozid: Das fünfte Kernverbrechen

Auf der gleichen Stufe wie Kriegsverbrechen: Ökozid soll als internationales Verbrechen in das Völkerrecht aufgenommen werden. Jurist*innen haben eine erste internationale Definition vorgestellt.

“This is a moment to seize, not to seize up” - Jojo Mehta (Stop Ecocide International)

Jojo Mehta is the Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International. In conversation with Matthew Monahan at New York Climate Week 2024. Stop Ecocide International: https://www.stopecocide.earth/ Proposal into International Criminal Court (ICC): https://www.stopecocide.earth/2024/mass-destruction-of-nature-reaches-international-criminal-court-icc-as-pacific-island-states-propose-recognition-of-ecocide-as-international-crime Season 2 Episode with Jojo Mehta: https://youtu.be/VtTwaUbzBv8 TOPICS 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Understanding Ecocide 02:50 New Legal Milestones 06:46 The Role of Small Nations in Climate Leadership 08:47 Public Awareness 15:04 Challenges and Opportunities 19:35 The Pact for the Future 28:48 Conclusion and Call to Action MA EARTH https://maearth.com THE REGENERATION WILL BE FUNDED Ma Earth Studio: https://maearth.com/studio YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maearthstudio SOCIAL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maearth/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maearthstudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maearthstudio PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Fkf8ZqPx5RRkeXTbuojCJ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-regeneration-will-be-funded/id1706728107

No jail time for “Brazil’s worst environmental disaster”? This is exactly why Brazil needs to criminalise ecocide. — Stop Ecocide International

Ten years after the collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, London’s High Court has finally reached a decision. In November 2025, the Court recognised the liabilityof mining company BHP, under Brazilian law, for what is widely considered the largest environmental disaster in the country’s history.

Forests for Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

Ecocide, the first step towards a fully integrated eco-centric legal framework?

Through an amendment to the Environment Act, the Bill voted by the National Assembly on Tuesday 14th April 2026 to improve the country’s anti-money laundering strategy, gives recognition to the crime of ecocide, announcing Mauritius’ support to t…

Is ecocide a crime on the same level as genocide?

« Avec l’écocide, ce qui dépasse l’entendement, c’est la destruction des conditions essentielles de la vie, de l’habitabilité et du monde. »

Mauritius criminalises ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Mauritius has introduced a domestic crime of ecocide, with penalties including fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The new law defines ecocide as “an unlawful or wanton act committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term environment

UK intelligence services just made the case for criminalising ecocide

By Jojo Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International.

Should we treat environmental crime more like murder?

Serial killers and violent criminals dominate the headlines. What if we covered ecocide and pollution in the same way?

A growing global movement is seeking recognition of #ECOCIDE as a serious crime

2021 Expert Panel: SEVERE & either WIDESPREAD or LONG-TERM damage to the environment (i.e. the MOST serious cases of harm)!

LA SITUATION LÉGALE ENVIRONNEMENTALE ACTUELLE AU SÉNÉGAL, ET LES IMPLICATIONS DE L’ADOPTION DE LA LOI SUR L’ÉCOCIDE AU SÉNÉGAL — Stop Ecocide International

24 avril 2026, 18h00 - 19h00 MN GMT Youth for Ecocide Law (Y4EL) représente la voix des jeunes au sein du mouvement mondial visant à ériger l’écocide en cinquième crime international relevant de la Cour pénale internationale. Créé en 2021, Y4EL est né d’une frustration croissante parmi les jeunes

Mother Earth Day: Young People Shaping the Future of Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

23 April, 15:00 - 16:15 GMT In keeping with Y4EL’s strategy, which makes Earth Day a key moment for local and global mobilization, Y4EL is organizing a series of virtual events in Africa and internationally throughout the week of April 20–26, 2026. International Mother Earth Day 2026 gives Youth

Criminalising Ecocide in Zimbabwe: Environmental Justice Implications and the Role of Youth Advocacy — Stop Ecocide International

April 22nd, 11:00 -12:30 Central African Time (CAT) The Earth Co-Existence Initiative (ECI) and Youth for Ecocide Law will co-host an international webinar on 22 April 2026 to explore ecocide law and youth-led advocacy for its recognition in Zimbabwe. The webinar will bring together Zimbabwean,

No prison time for "Brazil's worst environmental disaster"?

This is exactly why Brazil needs to criminalise ecocide.

Ghana: MPs urge Parliament to criminalise ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Calls have been made in Ghana’s Parliament for legislation to criminalise ecocide, amid growing concern over the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey . In a statement to Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh , Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Min

EcoAfrica Network Climate Justice Conference: Galamsey and the Environment — Stop Ecocide International

Plan to jail bosses of polluters backed by Scottish Parliament

The ecocide bill would allow for people to be jailed for up to 20 years for damaging the environment.

Ecocidio y personas defensoras del ambiente: herramientas jurídicas para prevenir la violencia y la destrucción ambiental en América Latina y el Caribe — Stop Ecocide International

4/21/2026 18:00 – 19:30 (GMT-4) Hosted by: Stop Ecocidio International, CEMDA (Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental)( https://cemda.org.mx )  Language: Español Webinario organizado por Stop Ecocidio Internacional y el Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA), que se desarrollará

The Recognition of “Ecocide” as an International Crime: A New Frontier in Global Jurisprudence - Legal Service India - Articles

Ecocide is emerging as the fifth international crime. Explore its legal definition, global impact, and future in environmental justice.

Existing international environmental laws are not enough. Ecocide law is an important part of the puzzle. — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Paola Vitale, a law graduate from the University of Bologna, who is now committed to environmental and climate law advocacy and collaborates with Youth for Ecocide Law as a core team member.

The Other 70%: New legal paradigms to halt extinction, recognise ocean rights, and confront ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Thursday April 9 , 1500 UK , 0900 Panama

A Silent Casualty of War: The Rising Risk of Ecocide in the Gulf - AGSI

In one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, the threat to the environment will extend far beyond the “day after” the war.

Ghana: MPs urge Parliament to criminalise ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Por qué llamar ‘ecocidio’ a lo que Israel está haciendo en Irán no sirve para (casi) nada

Cosechas envenenadas, tierras y aguas contaminadas, y una población históricamente asfixiada. El ecocidio no es un crimen reconocido a nivel internacional, pero el contexto geopolítico parece pedirlo a gritos

What is ecocide and could it become an international crime like genocide?

GESETZE ÄNDERN - UNSERE ERDE SCHÜTZEN

Wenn die Natur klagen könnte, würde sie die Menschheit verklagen - wegen massiver Schädigung und Zerstörung der lebensnotwendigen Ökosyst…

The Other 70%: New legal paradigms to halt extinction, recognise ocean rights, and confront ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Thursday April 9 , 1500 UK , 0900 Panama

Change the Rules — Stop Ecocide International

Lebanon Condemns Israeli Chemical Spraying as “Ecocide” — Stop Ecocide International

In a joint official statement , Lebanon’s Ministries of Agriculture and Environment have condemned Israeli military aircraft spraying chemical substances over southern Lebanese regions as “ecocide”. The country’s president, Joseph Aoun , condemned what he called “an environmental and health crime

How wars ravage the environment – and what international law is doing about it

International law is starting to reflect a growing global consensus on the need to recognise the climate effects of armed conflicts.

Vote to put Ecocide Law on the Abstimmung21 ballot!

Wenn die Natur klagen könnte, würde sie die Menschheit verklagen - wegen massiver Schädigung und Zerstörung der lebensnotwendigen Ökosyst…

Make ecocide a serious crime in France: Sign the petition here!

Iran’s Environment Chief Calls Oil Depot Strikes “Ecocide” — Stop Ecocide International

Iran’s Vice President and head of the country’s Department of Environment, Shina Ansari , has described strikes on oil storage facilities in Tehran as a “clear manifestation of ecocide”.  In a public statement posted on social media , believed to be the first by a state official to expli

Coalition DRC — Stop Ecocide International

Ghana: MPs urge Parliament to criminalise ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

Calls have been made in Ghana’s Parliament for legislation to criminalise ecocide, amid growing concern over the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey . In a statement to Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh , Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Min

Philippines: Ecocide bill introduced in Congress — Stop Ecocide International

Lawmakers in the Philippines have introduced new legislation that would criminalise ecocide, marking a significant step toward stronger protection for the country’s ecosystems and communities. The bill adopts language closely aligned with the 2021 definition of ecocide proposed by the Independe

Join - Faith for Ecocide Law

Join Faith for Ecocide Law Support making Ecocide an international crime JOIN THE INITIATIVE What else can you do to support? Invite people and organisations to be a part of Faith for Ecocide law Download the book Faith voices for Ecocide law and share it Learn more and sign the petition at Stop Ecocide International

Hoop in tijden van ecocide - Uitgeverij Noordboek | Sterck & DeVreese | HL Books | Bornmeer | Noordboek-Van Gorcum

Moeder Aarde is door vervuiling en roofbouw aangetast. Als reactie hierop klinkt de roep om ecocide – het grootschalig beschadigen of vernietigen van natuur – strafbaar te stellen. Dit boek laat zien hoe verschillende religieuze, inheemse en spirituele tradities deze roep ondersteunen en ons aanspor

Efforts to criminalise ecocide gather pace

Before the lawyer Polly Higgins died of cancer in 2019, she entrusted Jojo Mehta with an intimidating task that many would have viewed impossible.For ten years Higgins had been campaigning to

mailing list — Stop Ecocide International

Learn more about the Stop Ecocide France Coalition

Paulo Busse — Defending Tomorrow #2 — @StopEcocideInternational Podcasts

Can ecocide law stop the destruction of the Amazon? In the second episode of Defending Tomorrow, host Rodrigo Lledó Vásquez sits down with Paulo Busse, a titan of environmental and criminal law with over two decades of experience on the front lines of Brazilian and international justice. Recorded on-site in Cali, Colombia, during the historic COP16 (the UN Biodiversity Conference), this conversation captures the urgent energy of global leaders and advocates gathered to "Make Peace with Nature." As a Senior Counsel at Climate Counsel and a key member of the Ecocide Advice Centre, Paulo explores the legal scaffolding required to protect the Amazon and why traditional domestic laws are often no longer enough to curb environmental destruction. Connect with Us Follow Paulo Busse’s work: https://www.busseferreira.com.br/eng Lawyers Against Ecocide Network site: https://es.stopecocide.earth/lawyers-against-ecocide Audio only version: https://defendingtomorrow.podbean.com/e/paulo-busse-en/ Subscribe to join the movement for global environmental justice. #DefendingTomorrow #COP16 #CaliColombia #Ecocide #AmazonRainforest #EnvironmentalJustice #PauloBusse #ClimateLitigation

UCLG

The Power of We is the strength of the municipal movement to break through, ensuring a future for humanity from the local sphere, that guarantees public services and that brings transformation by our communities.

Stop Ecocide International | Substack

The Substack for Stop Ecocide International, the driving force behind the movement to make ecocide an international crime. Click to read Stop Ecocide International, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Palme Stockholm Conference 1972

Selective Justice is Not a Flaw of International Law. It’s the Feature.

International law was built to constrain the weak more than the powerful, and today vulnerable states are using tools like ecocide law to push back against that imbalance.

Let’s Change the Rules! Choirs for Ecocide Law Concert (Stockholm) — Stop Ecocide International

12 April 2026, 7pm (local time) Place Berwaldhallen, Stockholm

New treaty could be a ‘game-changer’ for environmental crime in Europe

There is now a robust legal framework to tackle serious environmental crimes, but experts say the Council of Europe missed a chance to protect human rights.

What is ecocide and could it become a crime under international law?

Classing grievous acts of environmental harm as crimes against peace may hold states and corporations to account

The Case for Ecocide Law: In Conversation with Gerard Forlin KC and Jojo Mehta — Stop Ecocide International

05 Mar 2026, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Cornerstone Barristers, 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square, Gray’s Inn, London, WC1R 5JH

Politician leading Ecocide Bill ‘confident’ landmark legislation will beat May election deadline

The politician leading a bill through the Scottish Parliament that could see directors of polluting companies jailed for up to 20 years has said she is “confident” but “under no illusions” about the challenging timescale facing the bill as elections loom.

Legal Panel: Innovating Justice – Ecocide and the Future of Climate Law — Stop Ecocide International

Dr Angela Sherwood (Queen Mary University of London) - Specialist in international law and human rights, Dr Sherwood will focus on how legal frameworks can protect activists and environmental defenders, ensuring those on the frontlines of climate justice are safeguarded.

Methodological assessment of the impact and dependency of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (business and biodiversity assessment) | IPBES secretariat

At the twelfth session of the IPBES Plenary, held in Manchester, UK, from 3 to 8 February 2026, the IPBES Methodological assessment of the impact and dependency of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (Business and Biodiversity Assessment) was accepted, and its summary for policymakers was approved.

Burn rate: Can we pass a global law against ecocide, and would it help?

When ecological devastation crosses a threshold, can it be declared an international crime? See how countries and lobbyists are fighting to reframe the rules.

Ecocide Bill seeking 20-year jail terms for major polluters passes to next stage in race against May elections

The Scottish Parliament has voted to progress an ecocide bill that could see directors of polluting companies jailed for up to 20 years, as the politician spearheading the bill says she will “move mountains” to get the bill passed before this year’s May elections.

From environmental threat to international crime: why ecocide law is now a global security issue

Hace dos semanas, una alerta inusual y trascendental llegó desde uno de los Servicios Secretos de Inteligencia más potentes del

Plan to jail bosses of polluters backed by Scottish Parliament

The ecocide bill would allow for people to be jailed for up to 20 years for damaging the environment.

Scottish Parliament Votes to Advance Ecocide Bill — Stop Ecocide International

The Scottish Parliament has voted to a dvance the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, placing Scotland on t rack to become the first UK nation to criminalise severe environmental destruction.

David Attenborough’s Scots cameraman urges MSPs to back Ecocide Bill

Documentary legend Doug Allan – known for BBC shows such as Planet Earth and The Blue Planet – said Scotland should ‘lead by example’.

Criminalising Ecocide as a Long-Term Macroeconomic Strategy — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Rafael Kemelmajer, an economist and co-founder of RITA (Regional Impact Trade Alliance).

UK Intelligence Services Made the Case for Criminalizing Ecocide

Ecosystem collapse threatens the foundations of security, prosperity, and human rights. The proportionate response is ecocide law.

The New York Times Magazines - Philippe Sands

India: Ecocide Bill introduced in Parliament — Stop Ecocide International

India’s Parliament has seen the formal introduction of a Private Member’s Bill proposing the criminalisation of ecocide in domestic law. The Bill addresses severe environmental harm caused by both individuals and companies, and sets out a detailed framework for investigation, punishment and ecologic

Proponen incorporar la figura del “ecocidio” al Código Penal argentino

Tras los incendios en Chubut, la senadora Edith Terenzi pide tratar el proyecto en extraordinarias. Especialistas explican de qué se trata esta figura.

Ghana: National crime of ecocide proposed in state-mandated constitutional review — Stop Ecocide International

In a far-reaching package of reforms presented to President John Dramani Mahama , Ghana’s Constitution Review Committee has proposed establishing a domestic crime of ecocide, stating: “In order to express society’s revulsion and opprobrium to illegal mining in Ghana, the Committee will be remis

Time to Upgrade the Rule Book: The Case for Recognising Ecocide in International Law| Law.com

The international criminal law rulebook needs upgrading, write a former Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union and a co-founder of the Ecocide Law Alliance.

Monica Lennon MSP's opening statement during Ecocide (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 evidence session.

DRC: National Ecocide Bill Lodged in Parliament — Stop Ecocide International

Senator Cédric Ngindu Biduaya of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has formally lodged a bill in the national Parliament to establish ecocide as a domestic criminal offence, marking a decisive step towards strengthening legal protection for ecosystems across the country and the Congo Basin.

Ecocide and Environmental Crimes – International Developments and Italy’s Transposition of EU Directive 2024/1203 — Stop Ecocide International

🗓 Friday, 30 January 2026⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 13:00 p.m. 📍 Aula Magna Regina, John Cabot University, Via della Lungara 233 - Rome

Minister backs ecocide Bill as environmental crime ‘important to public’

Gillian Martin expressed her support for the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill proposed by Monica Lennon MSP.

The Rise of Ecocide Law: A New Chapter in Environmental Accountability? - Aldersgate Group

Sophie Dembinski, Head of Global Public Policy and of the UK and Americas at Ecosia, explains the global progression of ecocide legislation

Should we treat environmental crime more like murder?

Serial killers and violent criminals dominate the headlines. What if we covered ecocide and pollution in the same way?

Criminalizing Ecocide: An Opportunity to Embed the Inseparability of Humans from Nature Into the Law

The Climate Dictionary: Nature Edition | UNDP Climate Promise

Do you want to get involved in environmental action? We’ve compiled an index of nature terms to help.

Ökozid: Wird Umweltzerstörung bald wie Völkermord bestraft?

Aktivisten wollen schwere Umweltverbrechen vor den Internationalen Gerichtshof bringen. Wie realistisch Ökozid als Kernverbrechen ist, verrät ein Experte.

International Criminal Court puts corporate polluters on notice

By Isabella Kaminski and Molly Quell Polluters have long faced civil litigation for the harm they cause to the environment. Now the International Criminal Court could be coming for them - although climate change is probably out of its grasp People working for corporations now risk criminal prosecution in The

Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC), representing 17 states, calls for ecocide to be recognised as an international crime — Stop Ecocide International

At the United Nations Environment Assembly, the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC) signalled firm support for recognising ecocide as an international crime. In a meeting with Stop Ecocide International, Her Excellency Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Republic of the Congo Minister of the Environment, Sust

Germany moves to criminalise cases “comparable to ecocide” as EU Directive begins entering national law — Stop Ecocide International

Germany has published a draft reform of its environmental criminal law, making an early move to translate the EU’s Environmental Crime Directive into national law. The Directive requires all Member States to introduce stronger criminal provisions for serious environmental destruction by May 2026

Moldova, Portugal and the EU Sign New Council of Europe Convention Criminalising Harm ‘Tantamount to Ecocide’ — Stop Ecocide International

The Council of Europe has opened for signature its new Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law , a landmark instrument enabling states to prosecute intentional conduct resulting in environmental disasters “tantamount to ecocide” . 

Earth Songs by Jehanne Mehta — Stop Ecocide International

Little Toller Books presents Earth Songs by Jehanne Mehta , a new illustrated volume of 50 contemporary English folk songs by the talented Stroud-based singer-songwriter, inspired by “seasons and legends, landscapes and heartscapes” with all royalties going to Stop Ecocide Inter

The new Stop Ecocide France Coalition

If We Criminalise Ecocide, It Should Apply from Earth to Orbit — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl , President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and Anna Maddrick , Legal Adviser on Climate Matters to the Permanent Mission of Vanuatu to the United Nations.

Historic ICC Policy Puts Ecological Harm at the Centre of International Criminal Law — Stop Ecocide International

In a landmark step for the International Criminal Court, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) has issued a comprehensive policy devoted entirely to environmental damage, signalling a marked shift in how international justice will engage with ecological harm.

Double your impact with match-funding!

Stop Ecocide International is the driving force at the heart of the global movement to develop ecocide law. We work with states, NGOs, …

Course Details

LMS Course detail page

Back to Business: Criminalizing Ecocide would shift the burden from Victim to Corporate Decision Makers — UCLA Law The Promise Institute Europe

The criminalisation of ecocide is coming, both domestically and internationally. The real question for us, especially in the business and human rights community, is: what difference will it make? How will the emergence of ecocide as a crime strengthen and complement businesses’ obligations to cond

Kate Mackintosh at the UN Business and Human Rights Forum, Geneva — Stop Ecocide International

Kate Mackintosh is the Executive Director of the The Promise Institute for Human Rights (Europe).

Friendship Wins the Earthshot Prize 2025 in the “Fix Our Climate” Category

FRIENDSHIP WON THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE!!! We are pleased to announce our win in the “Fix Our Climate” category in 2025

Country & Town House Introduces Future Icons Power People 2026

A Life in Balance

Countries are starting to recognise ‘ecocide’ as a crime – should New Zealand do the same?

If someone were to cause harm solely to nature, but not people, New Zealand has very few legal tools available to hold them accountable.

SEI Store

All proceeds from this webstore go directly to Stop Ecocide International, supporting the global movement to make ecocide an international crime—holding polluters accountable, protecting ecosystems, and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods that depend on a healthy planet.

Marie NYANGE NDAMBO insiste sur la reconnaissance de l’écocide dans le droit pénal international de la COP30 - Ministère de l’Environnement, Développement Durable et Nouvelle Economie du Climat - République Démocratique du Congo

Marie NYANGE NDAMBO insiste sur la reconnaissance de l’écocide dans le droit pénal international de la COP30 Belém, Brésil -12 Novembre 2025-La République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) a réitéré avec force l’urgence d’une reconnaissance internationale du crime d’écocide au même titre que les crimes de guerre et les crimes contre l’humanité. L’appel lancé par son excellence Marie Nyange NDAMBO lors d’un dialogue tenu en marge de la COP30 ce mercredi.

Conference Ecocide, Human Rights and Environmental Justice — UCLA Law The Promise Institute Europe

COP30 EVENT LIST

Y4EL POSITION STATEMENT COP30 & UNEA7 2025

“México, ¿pieza clave en la lucha por reconocer el ecocidio como crimen internacional?” - Pie de Página

La organización Internacional Stop Ecocidio visitó México para impulsar el reconocimiento del ecocidio como delito a nivel internacional. La iniciativa pretende fortalecer la protección de los ecosistemas frente a crímenes ambientales de gran escala y abrir la discusión sobre la necesidad de incluir el ecocidio en el marco jurídico mexicano Texto: Jade Guerrero Foto: Patricio

Global Youth Demand Ecocide Law Ahead Of COP30 — Stop Ecocide International

The 2025 Global Youth Statement representing thousands of young people from over 100 countries has called for the adoption of ecocide laws to hold corporations and states accountable for environmental destruction, while explicitly recognising that “wars, genocides and conflicts cause environm

A la COP 30 à Belém, Félix Tshisekedi mobilise la planète contre “l’écocide” que subit la RDC

A la tribune de la 30e Conférence internationale sur le climat (COP 30), qui se tient à Belém, au Brésil, le Chef de l’État congolais a déploré “l’écocide” [Ndlr Grave atteinte portée à l’environnement, entraînant des dommages majeurs à un ou plusieurs écosystèmes, pouvant aller jusqu’à leur destruction] que subit son pays. Félix Tshisekedi a accusé certaines personnes mal intentionnées de détruire volontairement les espaces protégés et les forêts de la RDC. Il appelle la communauté internationale à aider la RDC, confrontée à la fois au génocide et à l’écocide.

Bélem-Rio de Janeiro: Marie Nyange dénonce l’écocide et le génocide au Parc des Virunga lors d’une conférence initiée par le Prince William - LePotentiel

LePotentiel

Ecocide is the Missing Crime - Icarus Complex

Criminalising ecocide is about recognising that when ecosystems collapse, so too do the conditions for human dignity.

Faith voices for ecocide law - Faith for Ecocide Law

Faith voices for ecocide law “Faith voices for ecocide law” is a remarkable collection of texts, drawing on the vast wisdom, teachings and practices of the world religions and indigenous spiritual traditions. It focuses on the relationship between humans and nature in general, and on the need for a new international crime of ecocide in

The Earth is the Boardroom Now — Stop Ecocide International

What if every decision in your organization had to pass through the wisdom of rivers, forests, and future generations? What if the Earth itself held a seat at your leadership table? This visionary session invites intrapreneurs to reimagine governance, responsibility, and innovation through a planet

Governments Vote to Recognize Ecocide As a Serious Crime

Governments passed a motion that recognizes ecocide as a serious crime, strengthening momentum to criminalize environmental destruction.

Ecocide Law and the Rise of Ecocentric Legal Systems — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Paola Vitale, a law graduate from the University of Bologna, who is now committed to environmental and climate law advocacy.

Should we treat environmental crime more like murder?

Serial killers and violent criminals dominate the headlines. What if we covered ecocide and pollution in the same way?

Confronting the Grave Environmental Crises facing Africa and Safeguarding the Right to Environment — Stop Ecocide International

Thursday October 23rd, 13:30 EAT, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Bijilo, Gambia Africa is grappling with grave environmental crises of various scales and dimensions. The crises involve, among others, disproportionate and severe impacts from climate

Broad Swedish Parliamentary Support for Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

Representatives from all Sweden’s non-government parties have submitted private member’s bills calling for ecocide to become an international crime, demonstrating remarkable cross-party agreement on environmental protection.  All parties in opposition— Sweden’s largest political party

Peru’s Historic Lima Bar Association Grants Top Honor to Ecocide Law Advocates — Stop Ecocide International

The Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Lima (Lima Bar Association) has placed the legal recognition of ecocide at the center of its highest civic distinction, the Medalla Cívica del Derecho (Civic Medal of Law), by awarding the medal to Jojo Mehta, CEO and co-founder, and Rodrigo Lledó Vásquez, Americas

Histórico reconocimiento del ecocidio: la UICN aprueba su inclusión como crimen internacional

En un hecho sin precedentes para la gobernanza ambiental global, la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN),

Explore new open access articles on #EcocideLaw in the International Journal of Human Rights!

Register for the EVENING event HERE

Register for the DAYTIME event HERE

Governments vote for recognition of ecocide at world’s largest conservation congress — Stop Ecocide International

At its World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (9-15 October), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) , the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, comprising more than 1,400 member organisations including states, government agencies, civil society groups and I

Ghana: Civil Society Demands Ecocide Law to Combat Illegal Gold Mining Crisis — Stop Ecocide International

A coalition of Ghanaian civil society organisations has issued an urgent call to President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action against what they describe as an ongoing “ecocide” driven by illegal gold mining (galamsey) in the country.  The detailed letter from the Gh

Zimbabwe Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Potential Ecocide Bill — Stop Ecocide International

Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife has launched a formal inquiry in response to a petition [link to petition] by Kwekwe-based human rights and environmental defender Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo calling for the country to criminalise ecocide.

Llaman a tipificar al ecocidio como genocidio en América Latina

Rodrigo Lledó, director para las Américas de Stop Ecocidio Internacional, detalló que sólo algunos estados, como Ciudad de México, Jalisco y Chiapas,

Recognising Ecocide Law to Protect Nature — Stop Ecocide International

Sunday October 12th, 13:00 - 14:00 Nature Positive Pavilion IUCN World Conservation Congress A conversation between Stop Ecocide International’s CEO, Jojo Mehta, and other experts about the transformational protective potential of an international ecocide law and an opportunity to ask ques

Recognising ecocide as a crime: a vital step for nature, justice and IUCN

By Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts (IUCN Member organisation)In a compelling call to action ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Craig Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts urges IUCN Members to back Motion 061: Recognising the Crime of Ecocide to Protect Nature. Despite decades of progress, environmental destruction remains rampant - and largely unchecked. Bennett argues that existing laws fall short and that making ecocide a crime is essential to protect nature and uphold justice. With momentum growing worldwide, this motion could help shape a new legal frontier for conservation.

ECOCIDE: Supporting DRC’s Call To Make It Fifth Crime On ICC List

Store 2 — Tammam

Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here | George Monbiot

Consider the annihilation of agricultural land alongside the genocide – and grasp the chilling totality of this attempt to eliminate all life, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Stop Ecocide International | Substack

The Substack for Stop Ecocide International, the driving force behind the movement to make ecocide an international crime. Click to read Stop Ecocide International, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

DRC — Stop Ecocide International

Democratic Republic of the Congo - General Debate, 80th Session

Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, addresses the General Debate of the 80th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 23-27 and 29 of September 2025).

DRC President Reaffirms Country’s Support for International Crime of Ecocide at UN General Assembly — Stop Ecocide International

In a landmark address to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirmed his country’s formal support for recognising ecocide as a crime under the Rome Statute of the Internationa

Evening Event: International Conference, Ecocide, Human Rights & Environmental Justice

The evening event, taking place immediately after the 'Ecocide, Human Rights, and Environmental Justice Conference', will feature a drinks reception at 5pm followed by a keynote presentation and interventions from a number of speakers at 6pm.

International Conference, Ecocide, Human Rights & Environmental Justice

Register now for a landmark gathering at the intersection of law, human rights, and the protection of the planet: the Ecocide, Human Rights, and Environmental Justice Conference taking place on 31 October 2025 in London and online.

When Peaceful Protest Is Punished but Ecocide Is Not — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Pia Björstrand , environmental lawyer and partner at Omnia Legal, Stockholm.

Scotland’s Historic Ecocide Bill: A Turning Point for Ocean Rights and Marine Protection - Blue Planet Society

Scotland is poised to make legal history with the introduction of the Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill, the world’s first national-level legislation to formally criminalise ecocide.

13th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council

60th regular session of the Human Rights Council (08 September – 08 October 2025)

fastcompany.com

Africa Climate Summit 2 Debrief- From Promise to Action To Accountability — Stop Ecocide International

Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 15:00 - 16:00 EAT

The Geographer: Voices of the Earth (Autumn 2025)

Art that Inspires the Earth

Find out how to get involved in this artistic day of action for Latin America and Africa!

Voices of the Earth by Jo Woolf

Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf shares fascinating and often jaw-dropping stories of enterprise, innovation and adventure, inspired by the RSGS visitor book.

Europe Calling ‘A New Environmental (Criminal) Law – for Germany, Europe and the World’ — Stop Ecocide International

For the first time since the 1980s, German environmental criminal law is set to be reformed, this time within the EU framework and with a major impact on international law. This is a historic opportunity for nature conservation and climate protection that we should not miss!  Wednesd

Scotland Introduces Landmark Ecocide Bill — Stop Ecocide International

Scotland is poised to become the first UK nation to criminalise ecocide - severe and reckless harm to nature - under a new Member’s Bill published in Holyrood today.  The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, introduced by MSP Monica Lennon, would make it a criminal offence to cause widespread, long-te

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by the Scottish Parliament

@Y4EL | Twitter, Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

This is Y4EL’s LinkTree. Find key links to documents, events, socials etc.

The Pearl in Peril: Making Ecocide a Crime in Uganda — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Ninsiima Louis Kandahura, a climate advocate and storyteller, and Calvin Stewart Obita, a human rights defender.

From Advisory Opinions to Accountability: Ecocide Law and Africa’s Role in Global Climate Justice — Stop Ecocide International

Africa is leading a historic global shift in environmental justice. With ecocide officially recognised as a continental priority by AMCEN, African ministers have committed to exploring its criminalisation as a vital tool to protect ecosystems and communities. A profound shift is underway in interna

A Fifth Crime of Ecocide: Opening Considerations

OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT, 23rd Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Legal recognition of ‘ecocide’ continues to advance, with national crimes proposed around the world; an EU directive requiring member states to criminalise “conduct comparable to ecocide”; and increasing acknowledgement that severe environmental harm should stand among “the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole”. Environmental crime plays a central and under-acknowledged role in both armed conflict and the climate crisis, affecting development, peace and security and human rights. In the the context of the ICC’s Working Group on Amendments, on the 9th September 2024, Vanuatu, with co-sponsorship from Fiji and Samoa, tabled a proposal to include an independent crime of ecocide in the Rome Statute. This has now also been supported by the Democratic Republic of Congo. While too soon for such an amendment to be explicitly considered at the ASP this year, this official side event set out some useful considerations of which States Parties will appreciate being aware, as they begin to engage with this important subject in the coming months and beyond. Topics covered by the distinguished panellists included: overall rationale and timing; human rights implications; relationship with parallel legal initiatives; civil society support; youth perspective from the global South; and definitional considerations. Moderated by: Madam Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor, International Criminal Court Speakers: H.E. Volker Türk - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Professor Philippe Sands KC - Lawyer, 11 King's Bench Walk; Professor of Laws, Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals, University College London. Professor Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh - Associate Professor of Sustainability Law, Amsterdam Law School Sandrine Dixson-Declève - Co-President, Club of Rome Debbie Buyaki - Co-Lead, Youth for Ecocide Law Professor Darryl Robinson - Queen's University Faculty of Law (Canada) Hosted by: Republic of Vanuatu, Independent State of Samoa, Republic of Fiji, Democratic Republic of Congo Language: English, with interpretation in Arabic, French, Spanish In association with partners: Stop Ecocide International, Stop Ecocide Foundation, UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe, Climate Counsel www.stopecocide.earth

Notable Supporters — Stop Ecocide International

Ecocide: Outlawing Environmental Damage

Essex’s Dr Matthew Gillett is playing an instrumental role in fighting to protect the natural world and encouraging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to recognise the crime of ecocide. The new law would give the ICC greater powers and jurisdiction to prosecute people causing environmental damage and ensure greater accountability around the world. Follow us on our channels: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/uniessex/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@uniofessex Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/uniofessex Twitter | https://twitter.com/Uni_of_Essex LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-essex/ #UniversityOfEssex

Africa facing ecocide: Breaking the impunity of those destroying our natural heritage — Stop Ecocide International

Road to the Africa Climate Summit 2 August 30th, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Kenyan Time) Location: Zoom Africa is undergoing accelerated environmental destruction – an ‘ecocide’ – driven by illegal logging, poaching and industrial pollution. This squandering of natural heritage benefits p

De soft law a ius cogens: el nuevo paradigma legal frente al cambio climático

Durante años los acuerdos internacionales en materia ambiental y climática fueron considerados de carácter “no vinculantes”, es decir, sin fuerza

Ecocide Law

Criminalising ecocide

Individuals should be held to account for environmental damage In May 2025, Scotland joined a growing global movement by introducing a bill to criminalise “ecocide.”1 Twelve countries have already criminalised ecocide, with Belgium becoming the first EU member state to do so in 2024.2 This followed a revision of the EU environmental crime directive, which now requires EU countries to criminalise conduct “comparable to ecocide.”3 Other countries that have introduced ecocide bills include Argentina, Dominican Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, and Peru.4567 The term “ecocide” was coined in 1970 by biologist Arthur Galston, who condemned the large scale environmental devastation caused during the Vietnam war. Between 1962 and 1971, US forces sprayed the herbicide Agent Orange across large parts of Vietnam, defoliating forests and destroying ecosystems on which humans depended. Agent Orange became associated with several serious health problems, affecting millions of US and Vietnamese civilians and war veterans, as well as their offspring.8 …

Argentina: Massacre of Penguins Underscores Need for Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

Rodrigo Lledó is Americas Director at Stop Ecocide International. He is a lawyer and has a Master’s in Public Law and Constitutional Law, as well as a PhD in Law.

Survey: Over 70 per cent of people support making ecocide a crime

Survey of people in 22 countries shows more than three in five support the prosecution of business leaders and governments who cause serious damage to the environment

Interview with Jojo Mehta | #ClimateActionLive 2025

What is ecocide and could it become a crime under international law?

Classing grievous acts of environmental harm as crimes against peace may hold states and corporations to account

Criminalising ecocide marks a turning point in human consciousness

Jojo Mehta is co-founder and chief executive of Stop Ecocide International For decades, international law has failed to recognise mass environmental destruction as a crime. But the legal tide is turning

The Ecocide Report Episode 12: August 2025

In episode 12 of The Ecocide Report, Chidi and Jojo explore the landmark ICJ Advisory Opinion on states’ climate obligations, along with the Inter-American Court's ground-breaking declaration that preventing the mass destruction of nature is a jus cogens norm under international law. They celebrate Africa's leadership at AMCEN 20, where ecocide became a continental priority, and examine the Council of Europe's new convention targeting conduct ‘tantamount to ecocide’. The episode covers domestic progress from Scotland, Argentina, Peru, and beyond. Jojo also covers Ecocide Law Advisory's global launch, while looking ahead to the IUCN Congress (where an Ecocide Law motion is live), Africa Climate Week, and COP30 in Belém.

Ecocide law bid ‘not about trying to shut down oil and gas’

Stopping Ecocide in Uganda: A Call for Legal Transformation to Protect Our Environment — Stop Ecocide International

Dhikusooka Ernest is a Stop Ecocide International Student Ambassador and a student in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies at Cavendish University, Uganda.

Nigerian Labour Congress Calls for An International Crime of Ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) — Africa’s largest trade union federation, representing over six million workers — has publicly called for the recognition of ecocide as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This clear position aligns t

‘Ecocide’ Named Top Priority at UN Africa Summit — Stop Ecocide International

African environment ministers have formally agreed to include ecocide in the continent’s environmental priorities for the 2025–2027 biennium. The decision, confirmed by H.E. Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Harim, Libya’s Minister of Environment and current President of the African Ministerial Conference on the Envi

How a Call From the Pacific Is Redefining Environmental Justice

Pacific Island nations are shoring up the international legal framework to protect vulnerable ecosystems and communities and demand justice.

The Climate Dictionary: Nature Edition | UNDP Climate Promise

Do you want to get involved in environmental action? We’ve compiled an index of nature terms to help.

How the nature of environmental law is changing in defense of the planet and the climate

Approaches vary in terms of who is filing the lawsuit, against whom, and whether it is based on protecting human rights or the rights of the environment itself.

Breaking News — Stop Ecocide International

Will Scotland become the first UK nation to criminalise ecocide?

This post is by Jodie Bettis, a Grand Union Scholar at the Open University. Ecocide broadly refers to severe damage to or loss of ecosystems, and in response to the ecological emergency, campaigner…

Scotland Introduces Landmark Ecocide Bill — Stop Ecocide International

Scotland is poised to become the first UK nation to criminalise ecocide - severe and reckless harm to nature - under a new Member’s Bill published in Holyrood today.  The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, introduced by MSP Monica Lennon, would make it a criminal offence to cause widespread, long-te

Youth — Stop Ecocide International

Ecocide in Our Eyes

Germany: Legal Roadmap to Ecocide Law Published — Stop Ecocide International

A new legal opinion by Dr Stephan Sina, commissioned by Stop Ecocide Deutschland , sets out how Germany could incorporate the EU’s revised Environmental Crime Directive into national law — focusing on serious environmental harm comparable to ecocide.

Ökozid: Wird Umweltzerstörung bald wie Völkermord bestraft?

Aktivisten wollen schwere Umweltverbrechen vor den Internationalen Gerichtshof bringen. Wie realistisch Ökozid als Kernverbrechen ist, verrät ein Experte.

Republic of Congo and Burundi Endorse Legal Recognition of Ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

At AMCEN 20, the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Burundi formally declared their support for recognising ecocide as a crime.  Both countries made their announcement during ministerial statements at the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Nairobi, Kenya.

International Court of Justice Sets Out States’ Climate Obligations - Major Implications for Ecocide Law — Stop Ecocide International

In a landmark advisory opinion , the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has clarified that states have binding legal obligations under international law not only to protect the climate system and the environment, but also to prevent harm, cooperate across borders, and provide reparations where da

Leading States — Stop Ecocide International

Peru: Unified Ecocide Bill Advances — Stop Ecocide International

The Justice and Human Rights Commission of the Congress of the Republic of Peru has published a unified bill to criminali se ecocide. Dated 21 May 2025, the legal opinion consolidates three earlier proposals—submitted by Congressmembers Américo Gonza , Isaac Mita A lanoca and Ruth Luque — int

The Ecocide Report | Podcast + Q&A: LIVE | LinkedIn

What’s happening in the world of #EcocideLaw? Join Stop Ecocide International’s CEO & Co-Founder Jojo Mehta and Chidi Oti Obihara for The Ecocide Report’s FIRST-EVER live episode (including Q&A)!! From breakthrough legal developments to emerging international support, this conversation will unpack the latest progress and reveal what’s on the horizon. Get behind-the-scenes insights and analysis on the rapidly growing movement to criminalise mass environmental harm (#ECOCIDE).

Forests — Stop Ecocide International

DRC — Stop Ecocide International

DRC Joins Pacific Island Nations In Call For An International Crime Of Ecocide — Stop Ecocide International

DRC becomes first African nation to formally endorse the creation of an international crime of ecocide, following September 2024 proposal from Pacific nations to add ecocide to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Mass destruction of nature reaches International Criminal Court (ICC) as Pacific island states propose recognition of “ecocide” as international crime. — Stop Ecocide International

NEW YORK, 09 SEPTEMBER 2024: The crime of ecocide was formally introduced for consideration by member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) —an event that represents a major step forward in the global effort to enshrine mass environmental destruction as a crime under international law.

Efforts to criminalise ecocide gather pace

Before the lawyer Polly Higgins died of cancer in 2019, she entrusted Jojo Mehta with an intimidating task that many would have viewed impossible.For ten years Higgins had been campaigning to

SEI Store

All proceeds from this webstore go directly to Stop Ecocide International, supporting the global movement to make ecocide an international crime—holding polluters accountable, protecting ecosystems, and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods that depend on a healthy planet.

If We Criminalise Ecocide, It Should Apply from Earth to Orbit — Stop Ecocide International

This guest blog is authored by Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl , President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and Anna Maddrick , Legal Adviser on Climate Matters to the Permanent Mission of Vanuatu to the United Nations.

Vi skal ikke gentage Nordic Waste-skandalen i Aarhus: Straf hårdere, når naturen rammes

På trods af Danmarks mange miljølove er vores natur i alvorligt forfald. Faktisk har Danmark den mindste andel af beskyttet natur i hele EU – et alarmerende faktum, der kalder på handling. Nu.

DRC — Stop Ecocide International

Pensions for Purpose statement

Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Preventing Destruction of Nature is a Global Legal Duty — Stop Ecocide International

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights made public its Advisory Opinion on the climate emergency and human rights on 3 July, following more than two years of deliberation. Advisory Opinion No. 32, requested by the States of Chile and Colombia in 2023, affirms that the international obligation t

Scotland’s Historic Ecocide Bill: A Turning Point for Ocean Rights and Marine Protection - Blue Planet Society

Scotland is poised to make legal history with the introduction of the Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill, the world’s first national-level legislation to formally criminalise ecocide.

African Ministerial Conference on the Environment

Company directors sentenced in Italy’s first criminal conviction for PFAS pollution

Ruling adds momentum for governments to enact ecocide legislation, advocates say At a glanceHailed by campaigners as the first criminal conviction for contamination by forever chemicals, individuals were given prison sentences of up to 17 and a half yearsThe verdict could spur prosecutors to take on similar cases against company directorsThe ruling strengthens the use of the polluter pays principle in court and raises the stakes for company directors to be held personally liable for environmental crimes committed under their oversight

Events Calendar — Stop Ecocide International

Argentina Advances Ecocide Legislation with New Senate Bill — Stop Ecocide International

On June 19 2025, Argentina advanced further toward criminalising the gravest forms of environmental destruction, with Senator Edith Terenzi (Chair of the Senate Environment Committee) presenting a comprehensive ecocide bill ” Ley De Formas Especiales De Criminalidad Ambiental ” (Law on Spe

Mass Tourism, Urban Speculation, and Ecocide: El Puertito de Adeje — Stop Ecocide International

Irene Guacimara Fuentes Bauzá is an environmental advocate and Canary Islands social media reporter.

Palestine Denounces Gaza Devastation as “Ecocide” — Stop Ecocide International

The Permanent Mission of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands has formally described the environmental destruction in Gaza as ecocide , citing that less than 5% of agricultural land remains suitable for cultivation and calling for international legal recognition of the long-

SEI Store

All proceeds from this webstore go directly to Stop Ecocide International, supporting the global movement to make ecocide an international crime—holding polluters accountable, protecting ecosystems, and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods that depend on a healthy planet.

Scotland Introduces Landmark Ecocide Bill — Stop Ecocide International

Scotland is poised to become the first UK nation to criminalise ecocide - severe and reckless harm to nature - under a new Member’s Bill published in Holyrood today.  The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, introduced by MSP Monica Lennon, would make it a criminal offence to cause widespread, long-te

Ecocide law: the next big moral and legal shift — Stop Ecocide International

Jojo Mehta is the CEO and Co-Founder of Stop Ecocide International.

“Cumbres Borrascosas”: las cumbres climáticas en un planeta en crisis

Desde la Conferencia de Estocolmo en 1972 hasta la reciente COP16 de Biodiversidad acabada el 28 de febrero pasado, las

15th Government Law College - SPIL International Law Summit — Stop Ecocide International

8th March 2025, 08:30 GMT / 14:30 IST, Government Law College, Mumbai

Position paper on transposition of the EU's revised Environmental Crime Directive

Ecocide Law Advisory Launch - Livestream Recording

🌍 Launch Ecocide Law Advisory and the presentation of the Manual on National Criminalisation of Ecocide. On February 12, we gathered at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague for the launch of Ecocide Law Advisory (ELA) and the Manual on the National Criminalisation of Ecocide—two initiatives dedicated to advancing the effective criminalization of ecocide at national and international levels. The event opened with a compelling address by MEP Marie Toussaint, who underscored the urgency of national criminalization to uphold planetary boundaries and ensure accountability. While the EU Environmental Crimes Directive (ECD) came into force in May 2024, critical questions remain—particularly around defining "unlawful" acts and proving corporate intent. Richard J. Rogers and Kate Mackintosh, co-founders of Ecocide Law Advisory, shared insights into the initiative’s role in shaping environmental laws, from supporting biodiversity protection in Brazil to contributing to Scotland’s proposed Ecocide Bill. The discussion also featured Judge and Professor Fausto Pocar, who emphasized the power of naming "ecocide" as a serious crime to drive prevention and deterrence. The Manual on the National Criminalisation of Ecocide, initiated by Lammert van Raan, provides lawmakers with structured guidance to navigate challenges in implementing the ECD. Lisette van der Linde (De Roos Advocaten) outlined its legal framework, while Public Prosecutor Ingeborg Koopmans explained how the ECD’s eco-centric approach will strengthen environmental protection. This launch marks a crucial step forward in the legal fight against environmental destruction. As the degradation of our ecosystems gains pace, we must strengthen our legal frameworks to prevent and penalize these crimes. 📘 Download the Manual: ecocidelawadvisory.com A huge thank you to all members of the Working Group on the National Criminalisation of Ecocide for their contributions to the manual (Vincent Delbos, Michael Faure, Laura Guercio, Stefaan Van Hecke, Ingeborg Koopmans, Laura Monnier, Prof. Dr. Hermann E. Ott, Pocar Fausto, Darryl Robinson, Julia Thibord and Marine Yzquierdo). Special appreciation goes to Richard J. Rogers, Lammert van Raan, Sjoerd Lopik and Lisette van der Linde for setting up the Working Group. Also many thanks to Urgenda for their support.

New Global Ecocide Law Advice Service Launched — Stop Ecocide International

On Wednesday, February 12, the Ecocide Law Advisory(ELA) was launched, a joint initiative between the UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe and Climate Counsel to provide expert legal advice, training, and support on the drafting and implementation of ecocide laws.

‘Two sides of the same coin’: governments stress links between climate and nature collapse

Representatives at the Cop16 summit in Colombia negotiated against a backdrop of extreme weather and ecosystem collapse

EU petition: make ecocide a crime!

The EU introduced rules that hold those who destroy our environment on a mass scale accountable. But now we need stronger national laws to make it a reality in our countries across Europe. Sign the petition to make ecocide a crime #StopEcocide

Economist Impact: Grilling economic models. What’s the best fit for a sustainable future? — Stop Ecocide International

Tuesday , March 11th, 5:20pm GMT

How does #ecocidelaw support sustainable business practices?

Transition to Agroecology — What Role Does Ecocide Law Play? - Oxford Real Farming Conference

Watch the Columbia University #ecocidelaw event

New Global Ecocide Law Advice Service Launched — Stop Ecocide International

On Wednesday, February 12, the Ecocide Law Advisory(ELA) was launched, a joint initiative between the UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe and Climate Counsel to provide expert legal advice, training, and support on the drafting and implementation of ecocide laws.

Environmental Crimes and Ecocide Prosecution in Ukraine and Internationally w Maksym Popov & Richard J. Rogers by The Human Rights Podcast

In this episode, ICHR LLM student Sonia Artesani speaks with Maksym Popov, Advisor to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and Richard J. Rogers, a lawyer and expert in international human rights and cr

Germany: Greens include Ecocide Law in Election Programme — Stop Ecocide International

The German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) has included a commitment in its 2025 Election Programme(p.55) to the consistent implementation of the recently revised EU Environmental Crime Directive(ECD) in Germany, as well as to the prevention of the most severe environmental crimes (ecocide)

SC judgment compares tannery pollution in Palar river to an ‘ecocide’

Supreme Court compares tannery effluents in Vellore to “ecocide,” orders compensation for affected families, and environmental audit.

Ecocide Law Advisory

Learn more about the initiative

Ecocidio: el crimen ambiental que busca ser tipificado en Argentina | Nota al Pie | Noticias en contexto

Mientras los incendios forestales devastan la Patagonia, ciudadanos impulsan una campaña para que el ecocidio sea reconocido como delito en el Código Penal. Buscan sancionar con penas de cárcel y multas a quienes destruyan el medio ambiente.

Argentina: sign the petition

¡La Patagonia se incendia! Los ecocidios deben ser penados YA

The Ecocide Report Episode 11: January 2025

In this episode, Chidi and Jojo recap last year’s major developments, including the inclusion of ecocide in the EU’s revised Environmental Crime Directive and the historic proposal by the sovereign states of Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa to add ecocide to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Following a public declaration at the Biodiversity COP in Colombia in October, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now also endorsed the proposal. The pair revisit December’s co-organised official ICC ecocide law side event, where the proposal was presented to the Court’s Assembly of States Parties, and discuss recent progress at the domestic level—including new ecocide legislation in Azerbaijan, key advancements in Peru, and the Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill. Jojo highlights the Ecocide Alliance of Parliamentarians events, held in English, Spanish, and French at the end of last year, which continue to foster global collaboration among elected officials. She also shares key moments from Stop Ecocide International’s delegations to New York Climate Week, COP16, and COP29. Looking ahead, Jojo outlines SEI’s strategic approach for 2025 and highlights recent and upcoming in-person ecocide law events. She reflects on key discussions from January’s Oxford Real Farming Conference and previews SEI’s participation in the Global Systemic Forum in Liechtenstein, upcoming engagements at Columbia Law School and Harvard, and GLOBExCHANGE—one of North America’s foremost climate and sustainability conferences—set to take place in Toronto in early February. 🎧 Listen to the audio-only version of this episode here: https://ecocidereport.podbean.com/e/the-ecocide-report-episode-11-january-2025/ A huge thank you to Be The Earth Foundation for so generously providing a fantastic location to record this episode.

What is ecocide law?

Learn more about ecocide.

Watch - A Fifth Crime of Ecocide: Opening Considerations

Supporters — Stop Ecocide International