The Climate Docket

WHAT WE COVER:

  • Liability Litigation
    • Baltimore Lawsuit
    • California Climate Lawsuits
    • Colorado Lawsuit
    • Mass. v. Exxon
    • New York City Lawsuit
    • Rhode Island Lawsuit
    • Other Suits
  • Access to Courts
    • Liability Waivers
    • State Legislation
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Powered by Genesis

You are here: Home / International / Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime
Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime

Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime

December 6, 2019 Filed Under: International

print

By Isabella Kaminski

The Pacific island of Vanuatu has called for ecocide— wide-scale, long-term environmental damage—to be considered an international crime equivalent to genocide.

At a meeting of the International Criminal Court in the Hague on Tuesday, ambassador John Licht of Vanuatu said the court should consider an amendment to the Rome Statute, which sets the court’s legal framework, that would “criminalize acts that amount to ecocide. We believe this radical idea merits serious discussion.”

The International Criminal Court is currently responsible for prosecuting four internationally recognized crimes against peace: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. A fifth could be included through an amendment to the Rome Statute.

The court’s authority extends only to the 122 nations that have ratified the Rome Statute, a list that does not include the United States, China, India and Israel. 

Vanuatu, which is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise, has been an advocate of climate justice at international forums for many years, but has been more vocal since 2015, when Cyclone Pam devastated the island, an example of a major storm whose impact was made significantly worse by climate change.

Vanuatu’s statement is a major victory for the Stop Ecocide campaign, which was launched by British lawyer Polly Higgins two years ago. The organization wants any agreed-upon criminal definition of ecocide to include the impacts of climate change as well as other forms of environmental harm.

Until now, Vanuatu was the only state to have formally announced it was working with the campaign, which provides diplomatic and practical help for countries to get to the negotiation table. The Republic of Maldives announced on Thursday that it was adding its support as well.

Ahmed Saleem, member of the Maldives parliament and chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environment, said in a statement the “time is ripe” to consider an ecocide amendment, emphasizing how serious a threat climate change posed to his nation.

“We see little or no concrete action at multilateral level to bring about transformative

changes necessary to prevent the repercussions of climate change,” Saleem said. “It is time justice for climate change victims be recognised as part and parcel of the international criminal justice system.”

To change the Rome Statute, the head of a state that is party to the International Criminal Court must submit a formal amendment. If a two-thirds majority approve the change, it can be adopted into the Rome Statute and countries can formally ratify it.

The idea of ecocide has been around for nearly 50 years and had been under serious consideration in early drafts of the Rome Statute. But it was dropped due to resistance from a few countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to the Stop Ecocide campaign, it is the first time since 1972 that a state representative has formally called for ecocide to be recognized at this kind of international forum. 

Jojo Mehta, spokesperson for Stop Ecocide and co-ordinator of its international diplomatic and campaign teams, said she is optimistic that a formal amendment could be submitted as early as next year, although others believe it is unlikely to happen until at least 2021.

“This is an idea whose time has not only come, it’s long overdue,” said Mehta. “It’s committed and courageous of Vanuatu to take the step of openly calling for consideration of a crime of ecocide, and it was clear from the response today that they will not be alone. The political climate is changing, in recognition of the changing climate.  This initiative is only going to grow – all we are doing is helping to accelerate a much-needed legal inevitability.”

Pope Francis has lent his support to the idea of making ecocide a crime, proposing in November that ‘sins against ecology’ be added to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: International

Don't Miss a story
Subscribe 
We promise not to spam you. Unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Trackbacks

  1. Vulnerable nations call for ecocide to be considered an international crime - Climate Liability News - G20 Intel says:
    December 6, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    […] Vulnerable nations call for ecocide to be considered an international crime – Climate Liability News […]

  2. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – News Blog says:
    December 8, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    […] Article URL: https://www.climatedocket.com/2019/12/06/ecocide-international-criminal-court-vanuatu/ […]

  3. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime | Blog says:
    December 8, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    […] by robert, at December 8, 2019 This post was originally published on this […]

  4. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – protipsss says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 3 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  5. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Hckr News says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:06 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 3 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  6. Top story HACKER NEWS: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime - Nate's Blog says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 3 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  7. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Outside The Know says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 4 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  8. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Latest news says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 4 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  9. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Ultimate News says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 5 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  10. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Golden News says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:23 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 6 by ciconia | 1 comments on Hacker News. […]

  11. New top story on Hacker News: Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Golden News says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    […] Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime 14 by ciconia | 0 comments on Hacker News. […]

  12. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized as an International Crime – Hacker News Robot says:
    December 8, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    […] https://www.climatedocket.com/2019/12/06/ecocide-international-criminal-court-vanuatu/ […]

  13. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime – Info News says:
    December 8, 2019 at 8:32 pm

    […] /u/leonerdo_ submitted by /u/leonerdo_ [link] […]

  14. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime - OPERNAL says:
    December 8, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    […] submitted by /u/leonerdo_ [link] […]

  15. Vulnerable nations call for ecocide to be considered an international crime - TechBits says:
    December 8, 2019 at 10:41 pm

    […] bao – December 8, 201910Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest […]

  16. Vulnerable nations call for ecocide to be considered an international crime - Lapcity says:
    December 8, 2019 at 10:50 pm

    […] By Isabella Kaminski The Pacific island of Vanuatu has called for ecocide wide-scale, long-term environmental damageto be considered an international crime equivalent to genocide. At a meeting of the International Criminal Court in the Hague on Tuesday, amb… Read More […]

  17. Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime says:
    December 9, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    […] by /u/leonerdo_ [link] […]

  18. The claim that genocide and massive environmental destruction " ecoside '' should be regarded as the same level of international crime | Japan Top News says:
    December 9, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    […] Vulnerable nations call for ecocide to be considered an international crime https://www.climatedocket.com/2019/12/06/ecocide-international-criminal-court-vanuatu/ […]

  19. The Quiet Start Of Brazil’s War On The Amazon | Lokol Buzz says:
    January 30, 2020 at 11:05 am

    […] International Criminal Court, where countries facing existential threats from climate change are pushing for ecocide to be recognized as a crime against humanity and an influential group of Brazilian lawyers and […]

  20. The Quiet Start Of Brazil’s War On The Amazon – AccessPressMag.com, welcome you! says:
    January 30, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    […] International Criminal Court, where countries facing existential threats from climate change are pushing for ecocide to be recognized as a crime against humanity and an influential group of Brazilian lawyers and […]

  21. The Quiet Start Of Brazil’s War On The Amazon | CURRENT WORLD WIDE says:
    January 30, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    […] International Criminal Court, where countries facing existential threats from climate change are pushing for ecocide to be recognized as a crime against humanity and an influential group of Brazilian lawyers and […]

  22. The Quiet Start Of Brazil's War On The Amazon | csbnnews says:
    February 1, 2020 at 6:48 am

    […] International Criminal Court, where countries facing existential threats from climate change are pushing for ecocide to be recognized as a crime against humanity and an influential group of Brazilian lawyers and […]

  23. The Quiet Start Of Brazil’s War On The Amazon – Oligarchs In Charge says:
    February 1, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    […] Criminal Court, where countries facing existential threats from climate change are pushing for ecocide to be recognised as a crime against humanity and an influential group of Brazilian lawyers and […]

  24. French citizens’ assembly votes to make ecocide a crime | EnviroNews Nigeria - says:
    June 21, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    […] ball is already rolling… climate-vulnerable states we have been working with have called for ecocide crime to be considered at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.  This vote is a huge pointer for France to move in the right direction, and will […]

  25. French residents’ assembly votes on ecocide - says:
    June 24, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    […] ball is already rolling … climate-vulnerable states now we have been working with have called for ecocide crime to be considered at the International Criminal Court within the Hague.  This vote is a big pointer for France to maneuver in the fitting path, and can […]

  26. Greta gives prize money to Stop Ecocide - says:
    July 24, 2020 at 9:02 pm

    […] of crimes against peace”; in December the small island states of Vanuatu and the Maldives called for serious consideration of ecocide crime on the International Criminal Court’s meeting; earlier this yr the Swedish employees motion urged […]

  27. Activistas del FFF junto a científicos vuelven a enviar carta a miembros de la UE – Tiempo Noticia says:
    August 6, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    […] contra la paz”; en diciembre, los pequeños estados insulares de Vanuatu y las Maldivas pidieron que se considerara seriamente el delito de ecocidio en la asamblea de la Corte Penal Internacional; a principios de este año, el movimiento obrero […]

  28. Ecocide law in Brussels - says:
    October 6, 2020 at 1:04 pm

    […] to make ecocide a world crime: final December the small island states of Vanuatu and the Maldives called for serious consideration of ecocide crime on the International Criminal Court’s meeting; earlier this yr the Swedish employees motion urged […]

  29. Webinar: Will Ecocide as an international crime help protect biodiversity? | Naturens Rättigheter says:
    November 28, 2020 at 10:42 am

    […] ecocide an international crime: last December the small island states of Vanuatu and the Maldives called for serious consideration of ecocide crime at the International Criminal Court’s assembly; earlier this year the Swedish workers […]

  30. The Earth Needs a Lawyer Too: Making Ecocide an International Crime – MIR says:
    December 21, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    […] to criminalize ecocide have particularly increased in the last year. In December 2019, Vanuatu Ambassador John Licht became the first state representative since 1972 to suggest serious consideration of an […]

  31. Why Ecocide Should be an International Crime | Earth.Org – Past | Present | Future #Ecocide #ClimateCrisis #auspol #qldpol Demand #ClimateAction #SDG13 #SDGs #TellTheTruth Listen to the scientists! – Climate Action Australia says:
    January 17, 2021 at 4:52 pm

    […] the Maldives and Vanuatu acknowledged that an ecocide amendment was still somewhat of a “radical idea,” the time was ripe, given how serious the threat of climate change is to their soon-to-be […]

Don't Miss a story
Subscribe 
We promise not to spam you. Unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Latest News

Justice Dept. to Argue on Side of Oil Companies in Supreme Court Hearing

By Karen Savage The acting solicitor general will be allowed time to argue in support of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and nearly two dozen other companies next week during oral arguments before … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Supreme Court Questions Oil Companies’ Tactics to Shake Climate Cases
  • Will Amy Coney Barrett, Whose Father Was a Shell Attorney for Decades, Recuse from Climate Suit?
  • Justice Dept. to Argue on Side of Oil Companies in Supreme Court Hearing
  • Oil Companies Ask Supreme Court to Decide Jurisdiction of More Climate Cases

Most Popular

  • Shell Claims It Has Not Lobbied Against Climate Action, Despite Ties to Anti-Climate Groups
  • Vulnerable Nations Call for Ecocide to Be Recognized As an International Crime
  • Exxon Continues to Fund 'Science' Group Steeped in Climate Denial and Delay
  • Fossil Fuel Lobbying Group Floats Model Legislation to Limit Climate Suits
  • Oil Industry Ally Accuses NY Attorney General of Ethics Violations

Categories

  • Access to Courts
  • Baltimore Lawsuit
  • California Climate Lawsuits
  • Charleston, S.C. Lawsuit
  • Colorado Lawsuit
  • Connecticut Lawsuit
  • Delaware Lawsuit
  • Exxon Climate Investigation
  • Featured
  • Hoboken Lawsuit
  • International
  • Latest News
  • Liability Litigation
  • Liability Waivers
  • Mass. v. Exxon
  • Minnesota Lawsuit
  • New York City Lawsuit
  • Other Suits
  • Politics
  • Rhode Island Lawsuit
  • State Legislation
  • Uncategorized
  • Washington DC Lawsuit

Follow us

  • View climatedocket’s profile on Facebook
  • View climatedocket’s profile on Twitter

RSS

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.