World’s largest intergovernmental security organisation calls for international ecocide law

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has called on parliaments of its participating States to enshrine the concept of ecocide in national and international law. 

The breakthrough endorsement was included in the Final Declaration of the OSCE PA’s 30th Annual Session in Vancouver (held between June 30 - July 4 2023) and was ratified via ballot by the 225 members of parliament from the 50 nations in attendance. 

The OSCE PA’s Final Declaration expressed alarm over the rising number of microplastic and nanoplastic particles found in ecosystems and urged more research on its effects on human health. On climate change, the Assembly called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions according to the Paris Agreement, and for “OSCE participating States to facilitate, within their respective societies, open and fact-based debate.” It also stressed the need to “develop ambitious strategies for the clean energy transition.”

Jojo Mehta, Co-founder and Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International said:

“We welcome this intervention from the OSCE PA. There is no doubt that ecological and climate crises pose a real and pressing threat to the stability of Europe and the wider global order. 

Recognition of ecocide as a crime in its own right, applying in both peacetime and conflict, will act as an effective deterrent to severe and either widespread or long-term environmental harm. As such, it is a goal that should be embraced, not just by those motivated by the protection of our shared environment, but by those who are moved by the long-term security interests of the nations of Europe and beyond.”