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COP16 - official side event: “Ecocide law as enforceable protection for biodiversity: how business and civil society can support state leadership”

COP-16 Official Side Event
Monday, 21st October at 13:20 (local time)
Malpelo - Contact Group 1 meeting room, Plaza One (Blue Zone)

A growing number of states are actively engaging in discussions and the adoption of criminal laws aimed at protecting nature from the most severe harms. These legislative measures are being considered in response to the increasing recognition of the urgent need to safeguard the environment. Such laws are seen as essential in preventing ecological degradation and ensuring the health and sustainability of natural ecosystems.

Non-state actors, including businesses, non-governmental organizations, and community groups, have a crucial role to play in this process. By driving and supporting this 'guardrail' legal framework, they can help facilitate a transition that is both safe and just. This involves promoting nature-safe investments and fostering innovation that does not harm the environment. These actors can also advocate for and implement practices that align with the new legal standards, thereby contributing to broader environmental protection efforts.

Policymakers and legal experts are deeply engaged in examining the implications of these legislative developments. They are analyzing how new laws can be effectively integrated into existing legal systems and what impacts they might have on various sectors. Their discussions often result in comprehensive roadmaps that guide the private sector on how to engage with and support these legal initiatives. This includes recommendations for collaboration with civil society organizations, which can enhance the effectiveness and reach of environmental protection measures.

The collective efforts of state and non-state actors, guided by informed policy and legal analysis, are crucial for the successful implementation of laws that protect nature. This panel of policymakers and legal experts discuss the implications of these legislative developments and offer a roadmap for private sector engagement and collaboration with civil society. 

Co-hosted by Stop Ecocide Foundation & Republic of Vanuatu

Panelists:

State Representative of the Republic of Vanuatu

European Union Representative - (Marie Toussaint TBC)

Jojo Mehta, Stop Ecocide International 

Sophie Dembinski, Head of Public Policy and UK Country Manager, Ecosia UK (Business Representative)

Aresio Valiente López (Panama), Professor of the University of Panama, Executive Director of the Popular Legal Assistance Center, President of the National Union of Indigenous Lawyers of Panama, Vice President of the Institute of Agrarian, Environmental and Indigenous Law and member of the legal team of the General Guna Congress, autonomous government of the Guna people.

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October 21

COP16 - official side event: “The crime of ecocide after the peace agreements in Colombia"

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COP16 - Blindspots of the energy transition: reconciling the need for critical raw materials and nature