Official virtual Side Event held alongside the UN 2023 Water Conference
(22 — 24 Mar 2023, New York)
Date: 23rd March
Time: 17:00 - 18:30 GMT / 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Co-hosted by: Republic of Vanuatu & Stop Ecocide Foundation
Organized by: Stop Ecocide International
In association with partners:
Earth Law Center, Youth 4 Ecocide Law, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Mana Pacific,Gallifrey Foundation, Planète Amazone, Alliance of Mother Nature’s Guardians,
This event will be in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish (más información).
What is missing to prevent severe contamination of and damage to the planet’s waterways, from rivers systems to oceans?
Existing environmental protections are often not adhered to or are poorly enforced. Many states, as well as NGOs, lawyers, academics, scientists, grassroots movements and a growing number of voices in the corporate and finance sectors are speaking out in support of stronger legal frameworks and accountability.
In particular, the legal recognition of “ecocide” (severe and either widespread or long-term harm to ecosystems) as a crime at the international level could go a long way to shifting attitudes and guiding behaviour with regard to threats of severe pollution to the Earth’s primary life source - water in all its forms.
This event will discuss the relevance and benefits of the fast-growing ecocide law initiative in a variety of contexts pertinent to the protection of our planet’s water systems, drawing together perspectives from youth, indigenous voices, policy-making, law and sustainable business.
Our voluntary commitment to the Water Action Agenda: to accelerate, via diplomatic convening and the building of cross-sector networks and collaborations, the introduction of enhanced and enforceable legal protections for water (“ecocide law”) into international, national and regional legislative frameworks.
Speakers:
Sylvain Kalsakau
Head of UN Division, Vanuatu
Syeda Rizwana Hasan
Director, Bangladesh Environmental Law Association (Bangladesh)
Professor Gail Whiteman
Founder, Arctic Basecamp and Professor of Sustainability, University of Exeter’s Business School (UK)
Jojo Mehta
Chair, Stop Ecocide Foundation
Sasha Ternent
Founder & CEO at Bloo & SustainabiliTee
Julio Prieto
Environmental & Indigenous Rights Lawyer, Ecuador
Amalie Wilkinson
Co-Lead, Youth for Ecocide Law
With filmed intervention from
Sylvia Earle
Marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, lecturer and co-founder of Mission Blue.
Moderated by:
Grant Wilson
Executive Director, Earth Law Center