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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

To accelerate, via diplomatic convening and building of cross-sector networks and collaborations, the introduction of enhanced and enforceable legal protections for water (“ecocide law”) into international, national and regional legislative frameworks

Stop Ecocide Foundation (
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#SDGAction51671
Description
Description

Our key objective is to accelerate legal recognition of ecocide as an international crime as an essential protective and preventive deterrent to severe and either widespread or long-term harm to ecosystems (including water ecosystems). We do this by actively driving the global conversation around ecocide law and its potential; and by convening and mapping diplomatic collaboration and progress towards adoption of the law.  In the last 4 years we have been instrumental in bringing this topic from a virtually non-existent conversation to one being discussed in parliaments and governments in dozens of countries, as well as the EU and Council of Europe.

Our core strategy involves cultivating organic global webs of relationships and expertise, nurturing and galvanizing cross-sector collaborations; impactful high-level convening; and providing compelling and appropriate communication around ecocide law in all these contexts. We are well positioned to do this, as our activities straddle legal developments, diplomatic advocacy and public narrative.

Progress on this is measured by: state interest in ecocide law and use of the international legal definition emerging from the Independent Expert Panel convened by us; political and influencer support; discussion and support at the International Criminal Court and (eg) UN contexts; funder support; media coverage; public, academic and professional discussions on ecocide law; cross-sector partnerships, networks and high-level events around the subject of ecocide law.

Ultimately it is “followed up” by observing legislation being considered or actually in progress.

In close partnership with the government of Vanuatu, we expect to gather broad global diplomatic support over 2023-4, leading to a) a multi-state announcement of support for an international crime of ecocide simultaneously at COP28 in Dubai and at the International Criminal Court’s Assembly of States Parties in New York and b) formal steps towards negotiation of an amendment text to the Rome Statute to include ecocide by the end of 2024.

Expected Impact

This intiative will accelerate - either directly or indirectly, a great many of the SDG targets:

Targets 3.9, 6.3, 11.5, 12.4, 14.1 - ecocide law will assist in preventing deaths, reducing disasters and pollution incidents by deterring unlawful or wanton acts leading to pollution levels causing severe and either widespread or long-term harm.

Targets 6.6, 15.1-15.5 - ecocide law will directly protect and conserve ecosystems by deterring unlawful or wanton acts leading to severe and either widespread or long-term harm to any entire ecosystem or including wanton extinction of species.

Targets 12.6, 12.c, 13.2, 16.b, 17.13, 17.14 - ecocide law will encourage sustainable practices and policies and their coherence regionally and globally, including encouraging reduction of harmful subsidies and supporting macroeconomic stability, by creating parameters which assist in stabilising investment, operational and reputational risk while preventing and deterring dangerous and destructive practices.

Targets 14.c, 15.7, 16.3-5 - ecocide law will support and strongly reinforce existing national, regional and multilateral agreements, criminal laws and regulatory frameworks pertaining to the environment and wildlife. Where severe environmental harms are implicated, ecocide law will also assist in addressing bribery, corruption, and organised crime.

Partners

- Republic of Vanuatu
- Stop Ecocide International (including many local and associate teams, see countries in which this commitment will be actively pursued below)
- Multiple NGO partners, for example on events (see https://www.stopecocide.earth/stop-ecocide-at-un-/-international-events)

Additional information

https://www.stopecocide.earth/press-releases
https://www.stopecocide.earth/leading-states
https://www.stopecocide.earth/stop-ecocide-at-un-/-international-events
https://www.stopecocide.earth/legal-definition

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Timeline
22 June 2017 (start date)
20 December 2024 (date of completion)
Entity
Stop Ecocide Foundation
SDGs
Region
  1. Africa
  2. Europe
  3. Asia and Pacific
  4. North America
  5. Latin America and the Caribbean
  6. West Asia
Other beneficiaries

Beneficiaries will be Earth's vital water ecosystems and all aspects of the environment under threat from severe and either widespread or long-term damage, including communities threatened by such damage. All living beings will ultimately benefit from this legal guardrail being put in place at the International level, since it will steer all high-level decision-making in government and industry away from the most destructive practices.

Countries
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Argentina
Argentina
Australia
Australia
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Belgium
Belgium
Brazil
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Canada
Canada
Chile
Chile
Colombia
Colombia
Croatia
Croatia
Cyprus
Cyprus
Denmark
Denmark
Finland
Finland
France
France
Germany
Germany
Ghana
Ghana
Greece
Greece
Iceland
Iceland
India
India
Climate Emergency Institute
Ireland
Ireland
Italy
Italy
Kenya
Kenya
Latvia
Latvia
Liberia
Liberia
Mali
Mali
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mexico
Mexico
Netherlands
Netherlands
New Zealand
New Zealand
Nigeria
Nigeria
Norway
Norway
Panama
Panama
Peru
Peru
Portugal
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea
Samoa
Samoa
South Africa
South Africa
Spain
Spain
Sweden
Sweden
Switzerland
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkey
Ukraine
Ukraine
Ibero-American Network of Life Cycle Assesment
United States of America
United States of America
Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Zambia
Zambia
Contact Information