Also in August, a group of Chilean parliamentarians launched a Legislative initiative It is proposed to amend the new law of Chile’s criminal law to introduce the crime of ecological extermination based directly on the new definition.
It’s not just the government that supports this idea. Before COP26, International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), Of which $59 trillion Assets under management, approved to criminalize ecological extinction An open letter COP26 outlines recommendations for investors, auditors, companies, and governments.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said Express support It is the crime of international ecological extermination, calling it “very desirable.”
Wildfire
However, the movement was hit in September when the International Union for Conservation of Nature Refuse to support this idea At the World Congress in Marseille, it was said that this was neither new nor urgent.
Nevertheless, Mehta is very optimistic. She reported that the momentum has increased “substantially” over the past few years, especially the past 12 months.
“This may be partly due to the wildfires and floods we have seen in the end of the world scenes. In addition, grassroots protests and climate mobilization have also opened up media discussions on topics we have been talking about for years,” she said.
“Just three or four years ago, people told us that this was a good idea. But it’s not just a good idea-it’s already happening.
“It must be farther than it looks. And we know that when it starts to return to us in more unexpected angles, such as from ICGN. That’s great!” she said
approve
The business community is beginning to realize the importance of establishing a legal fence to enable innovation. At present, the legal obligation of enterprises is to maximize profits.
But they can only do this to the extent permitted by the criminal law, so if you change this aspect, you can make changes, she explained.
“Instead of saying’make money but don’t kill anyone who does this’, it’s better to change it to’make money but don’t kill anyone or destroy the earth?'” People who want to do the right thing can’t do it. Because there is no level playing field,” she said.
If the International Criminal Court recognizes ecological extermination as a crime, then it will have the same legal status as genocide. Mehta explained that in order to achieve this, one member state of the International Criminal Court must propose it, and most other member states need to support it.
Negotiations will follow, after which at least two-thirds of the country’s consent is required to pass. She said that then it is up to each country to approve the decision.
Chance
Once approved by the International Criminal Court, the criminalization of ecological extinction needs to be incorporated into the legislation of the member states-this may be an effective way to formulate new rules across jurisdictions, which is more important for preventing multinational companies from transferring to another supervision. Strict jurisdiction is essential. Lax, she said.
“For the government, it is safer to move forward together politically, because then they are not the only ones to take action,” she said.
Also speaking at this event was Marie Toussant, a member of the French Ministry of Environmental Protection. She is running a campaign in the European Parliament, demanding that ecological extinction be criminalized. She cited fossil fuel companies that knew about climate change decades ago, but continue to expand the mining and use of fossil fuels.
“More and more states are starting to take action. We have a huge opportunity at the European level. We need to work now, we need to build strength-this is just the beginning,” she said.
This author
Catherine Early is the chief reporter Ecologist And free environmental journalists.She is on twitter @Cat_Early76.
