Ecocide: a crime against nature

• The main areas of ecocide
• Ecocide in the oceans
• Declare ecocide an international crime
• The role of Switzerland
• Worth knowing: International movements

The main areas of ecocide

Ecocide has created the ecological and climatic emergency we now face. Massive destruction of ecosystems is occurring in a variety of ways everywhere, on land and at sea. The main areas of ecocide are: ocean damage, deforestation, land and water contamination and air pollution.

Ecocide in the oceans

The damage to the oceans occurs at various levels. A major threat to marine life comes from industrial fishing. The oceans are overfished, marine habitats are destroyed by bottom trawls and millions of marine animals are killed as bycatch. Marine plastic pollution also leads to the death of countless marine animals and devastates marine habitats. In addition, oil pollution and deep-sea mining are also among the harmful human activities in the oceans.

Declare ecocide an international crime

Today we are experiencing the greatest extinction of species since the end of the dinosaurs. If global warming alone continues without any mitigation, it could lead to the extinction of more than two thirds of marine species. The global environmental problems are the result of decades of destructive industrial activities. Corporate leaders have long been aware of the environmental risks. It is about time that industry, investors and governments take responsibility for their ecocidal actions and decisions. The environmental laws and penalties that have been in place until now are not effective in halting the ongoing destruction of the environment. An international judiciary anchoring of ecocide as an international crime could change this. This would make it possible to prosecute those responsible (through their actions or decisions) for serious environmental damage.

The task of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, which has been in place since 2003, is to prevent and punish the most serious crimes affecting the international community as a whole. The ICC lists the following four crimes up to now:

1. Genocide;
2. Crimes Against Humanity;
3. War Crimes;
4. Crimes of Aggression.

Ecocide as serious damage to the natural living environment that severely impairs the use of certain territories and thus also endangers peace, among other things, should be listed as the fifth item and thus be considered a serious international crime.

The role of Switzerland

KYMA is campaigning for Switzerland, as one of the 123 states that have ratified the Rome Statute as the legal basis of the ICC, to support the listing of ecocide as a fifth crime and to vote for ratification at the ICC’s annual assembly.

An ecocide law would hold companies accountable and make them, as well as investors, refrain from environmentally harmful practices.

Together against ecocide

KYMA sea conservation & research is committed to ensuring that ecocide is recognised and discussed by a broad public. We are committed nationally and internationally to bringing about change in the way we deal with this form of environmental destruction.

Worth knowing: International movements