Prime Minister of Samoa
'We call on all leaders to join us as we explore pathways for addressing ecological destruction and climate breakdown… with the proposal of an amendment to the Rome Statute as a concrete first step.'
President of Vanuatu
"We call on states to join the group of nations proposing to include the crime of ecocide in the Rome statute. Acting with the knowledge of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment can no longer be tolerated.”
Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church
“By ‘ecocide’ we should understand the loss, damage and destruction of ecosystems of a given territory, so that its enjoyment by the inhabitants has been or may be severely affected. This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised as such by the international community.”
Journalist, author and activist
"We are in an environmental emergency.”
“It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity and put the rights of people and Nature first to create a healthy and sustainable planet for all species."
Singer, songwriter, co-founder Meat Free Monday
“Recently heard about this campaign to make #ECOCIDE (serious damage and destruction of nature) a crime at the International Criminal Court. The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet. I've just signed up as an “Earth Protector” to support it.”
Image © Mary McCartney
Ethologist and Founder of Jane Goodall Institute. UN Messenger of Peace
“The concept of Ecocide is long overdue. It could lead to an important change in the way people perceive – and respond to – the current environmental crisis.”
Speaking at the ICC official side event: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'
'Ecocide would need to be a true ICC crime inline with the Rome Statute and in harnessing the power of international criminal law for the protection of our shared global government.'
Former President of Finland (2000-2012)
"Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential for the survival of our cultures and economies and decisive in order to safeguard global ecosystems with their species variety, as the collective life insurance of humanity."
First Vice President of the European Commission
“Within 2-3 years our citizens will have the same sense of urgency pertaining to the risk of ecocide as they have now with the climate crisis, and its right to have that.”
Environmentalist, model, actress
“Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide. That's why I signed up to the Stop Ecocide campaign, working with lawyers, researchers and diplomats to make Ecocide a crime at the International Criminal Court.”
Former UN Special Rapporteur, Professor Emeritus of International Law, Princeton University
Richard A. Falk drafted an Ecocide Convention in 1973, explicitly recognizing at the outset "that man has consciously and unconsciously inflicted irreparable damage to the environment in times of war and peace.”
Former Commonwealth Secretary General and author of ‘Our Country, the Planet’
“I urge serious global support for the work of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, organised by the Stop Ecocide Foundation. Their ‘Commentary and Core Text’ of a definition of ‘ecocide’ as an international crime deserve humanity’s urgent attention.”
Federal Minister for the Environment
“The inclusion of ecocide as a crime in the Rome Statute would mean that the International Criminal Court would have the power to try these crimes just as it can today condemn a crime of genocide or a crime against humanity.....Agreeing on ecocide as a crime could contribute to a change of mentality and to increased environmental protection."
UCL/Matrix Law. Co-chair, Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide. Speaking at the ICC official side event: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'
'We have a responsibility to the next generation… I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.'
Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation
“I fully believe in this cause. Making ecocide a recognised law will place a cap on the irresponsible actions of fat cats who hide behind corporate shields to destroy lives and harm the planet.”
Author, spiritual leader, politician, and activist
“Polly Higgins did something extremely important. She changed the way our civilization now looks at the rights of the earth itself. By bringing the notion of ecocide into legal question, she has expanded the way we think of what is happening around us.”
Environmental Activist
On 16th July 2020, Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, anuna de Wever and Adélaïde Carlier demanded, in an open letter, that all EU leaders and heads of state’ must #FaceTheClimateEmergency’ and “advocate to make ecocide an international crime at the International Criminal Court.”
4th President of the International Criminal Court
"I’m firmly in favour of seeing ecocide made an international crime over which the ICC has jurisdiction."
Member of the European Parliament
"The recognition of ecocides has been discussed since the 1960s and the use in Vietnam of the Agent Orange on ecosystems and the population. More than 50 years later, the gravest environmental crimes remain unpunished, and justice has still to come for the Vietnamese, and all the other victims of ecocides, humans or non-humans. We still have the choice to save our planet, or not. It is time to recognize ecocide."
Former ICC judge. Panelist, Independent Expert Panel for the legal definition of Ecocide Speaking at the ICC official side event: ‘Ecocide: a fifth crime defined.’
‘The scientific evidence and authoritative assessments are overwhelming… For small, vulnerable countries, there is little other option…. it is the rule of law that provides the most effective protection.’
Founder Director and Trustee of Forum for the Future
“The idea of establishing the crime of Ecocide is both timely and compelling... I am now a fully signed-up Earth Protector! I agree with the analysis that ‘only criminal law can stop the harm’, as it’s clear that existing legal sanctions are totally failing to do what we so urgently need them to do.”
Author, speaker, co-founder of Pachamama Alliance
“An international law of ecocide is long overdue and absolutely must happen. It is an essential component of protecting life on Earth. I fully support the Stop Ecocide movement.”
Founder President of the Club of Budapest
“In these days when the human impact on the environment is becoming everyday more evident and proves to be not only damaging to our surroundings but a serious threat to human life and survival, it is imperative that we should declare Ecocide a Crime Against Peace.
Fountain—founder, Delegate of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Original Nations
“We are living in unprecedented times directed by prophecy. The Mother Earth is calling us all into action—to unify and stand up to protect her and all life. The Original Peoples are her voice and live by Nature’s law. Stop Ecocide understands such wisdom. In this action, we are stepping away from those who are destroying Life, and stepping with those that protect the sacredness of Life. Our very survival is at hand. We must be mindful, as we choose our next steps!”
Ambassador of Belgium to The Hague. Diplomatic intervention at the ICC official side event: Ecocide:: 'Ecocide: a fifth crime defined'.
'Belgium is continuing internal discussion with a view to a possible criminalisation of the crime of ecocide in its penal code, complemented by efforts at the international level to raise awareness.'
Founder, Synchronicity Earth
"It is high time we rekindle our relationship to the natural world, and embrace our deep connection. This means many things, as well as evolving our thinking about the laws that govern us to include the multitude of species and ecosystems that we share our Mother Earth with."
Award-winning geneticist, broadcaster, world leader in sustainable ecology, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation.
"Ecocide is not only a crime against life, it is suicidal for us because we are the apex predator that is utterly dependent on nature's services."
Founder, Planetari
“Thank you for this vital work. It’s unthinkable that we have no laws to prevent killing the life support system that sustains all life on Earth. Tantamount to facilitating suicide, infanticide, genocide – let's work together to stop ecocide and start looking forward to a brighter future!”
Human rights and environmental activist. Former Executive Director Greenpeace International
“Currently, we allow our political and business leaders to get aware with murder. Now is the time to change that. We need direct liability for those who are destroying our future and this planet. We need fast, profound and systemic change. History only moves forward when courageous people get up and act. That’s why I support this citizen’s initiative to recognise ecocide as the crime it is.”
UN Secretary General
“That there are only a handful of States that have criminalized ecocide is a reminder of the need to establish a crime of ecocide at the international level.”