Sweden to discuss ecocide law
Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party submit motions
Sweden has become the latest European state this year to discuss criminalising ecocide (mass destruction of nature). Two separate motions have been submitted to the Swedish parliament by a combination of three political parties.
The Left Party motion, submitted by MP Elin Segerlind and colleagues, stated: “It would send an important signal to make destruction of nature in itself a crime. Sweden should, within the UN and EU, act to update the legal framework so that it becomes a powerful tool to prohibit crimes against nature (ecocide) through including ecocide in the Rome Statute.”
The Greens/Social Democrats motion, submitted by MP Rebecka Le Moine and colleagues for the Greens and Magnus Manhammar for the Social Democrats, recalled that: “All countries which have signed the Rome Statute have the power to propose an amendment. Sweden should take the initiative together with other states which have expressed interest. Let us complete the circle that Olof Palme started and initiate the process towards an international ecocide law.”
Both motions refer to Sweden’s particular history on the subject: Olof Palme was the first Head of State to refer to mass destruction of nature as “ecocide” (at the 1972 UN Conference on the Environment in Stockholm) and to declare that it “requires urgent international attention.”
Nearly 50 years later, both parliamentary motions underline that those suffering the most from ecocide are often least responsible for creating it - “An international law on ecocide is especially urgent for poorer countries which are socio-economically vulnerable since that often implies weak environmental legislation. It is these countries whose populations are the ones contributing least to the problem, who are hit hardest by the dark sides of globalization like exploitation and pollution” (Greens/Social Democrats).
Last week as her motion was submitted, Ms Le Moine hosted a meeting in the Swedish parliament building bringing together delegates from Original (Indigenous) Nations and youth activists, MPs and representatives of Stop Ecocide International and End Ecocide Sweden to discuss the global ecological crisis, its colonialist origins and how ecocide law can help restore harmony with nature.
Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International and Chair of the Stop Ecocide Foundation said: “It was a huge privilege to be in dialogue with this remarkable gathering. Ecocide law has a particular resonance in the context of indigenous wisdom. It speaks to a universal law of reciprocity which is deeply understood by the Original Peoples of the world. If you damage Mother Earth, there are consequences. This is simply a fact - one we are now tragically witnessing on a global scale. It’s high time for our legal system to recognise and reflect this reality, and it’s fitting that Sweden should be picking up the baton of former premier Olof Palme to discuss this.”
VIDEO (2 mins): Mother Earth Delegation and Stop Ecocide at the Swedish Parliament (Jojo Mehta introduces meeting in Swedish Parliament with Elders, Youth & MPs)
Expert panel to draw up “ecocide” definition
An expert panel of international criminal lawyers, advised by top climate and environmental scientists, is currently being convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation in response to requests from parliamentarians. The panel’s remit is to draft a legally robust definition which can be proposed at the International Criminal Court by interested states.
There is growing state support for the move to make 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 movement urged Sweden to lead on proposing it; in June President Macron of France promised to champion it on the international stage. Pope Francis has also stated that he believes ecocide should be added to the list of international crimes; he received Stop Ecocide’s Advisory Board member Valérie Cabanes for an audience recently. Last month the newly formed Belgian government pledged to “take diplomatic action to halt ecocide crime”.
Photo credits: Magnus Åkerlind
Video credits: Tommy Gärdh, Visionary Films Stockholm