Developing ecocide law.
Imagine a world where our Earth's vital ecosystems are legally protected from the severest harms.
This is the vision behind ecocide law: providing an enforceable framework to deter destructive practices, safeguarding the natural world and all our futures.
We develop recognition of ecocide as a serious crime, working at diplomatic level and across all sectors of civil society to share knowledge and inspire positive legislative change.
17th December 2025
Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC), representing 17 states, calls for ecocide to be recognised as an international crime
At the United Nations Environment Assembly, the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC) signalled firm support for recognising ecocide as an international crime. In a meeting with Stop Ecocide International, Her Excellency Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Republic of the Congo Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin and Executive Secretary of the CBCC, confirmed that the 17-nation Commission will support efforts to advance the issue within regional and continental processes.
The CBCC is one of the three African Union Climate Commissions established by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union and comprises 17 Member States: Morocco, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Chad and Zambia. His Excellency Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo and Head of State, currently holds the presidency of the CBCC.
Read about other recent developments:
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised."
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium - “It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity."
Antonio Guterres - It is "highly desirable" to include ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court.
Paul McCartney - "The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet."
Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential".
Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide."
Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.”
Dr Jane Goodall - “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.”
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised." Princess Esmeralda of Belgium - “It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity." Antonio Guterres - It is "highly desirable" to include ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court. Paul McCartney - "The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet." Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential". Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide." Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.” Dr Jane Goodall - “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.” Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
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