The crime of ecocide was formally introduced for consideration by member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa —an event that represents a major step forward in the global effort to enshrine mass environmental destruction as a crime under international law.

Two official side events focusing on ecocide were held at the International Criminal Court’s 22nd Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute held at the UN in New York. Vanuatu & Samoa joined forces with the Stop Ecocide Foundation for an event on 11th Dec focusing on victims of ecocide while Estonia & Romania joined Ukraine on 12th Dec to highlight the need to address ecocide in armed conflict.

Governments of Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Solomon Islands collectively call to phase out fossil fuels, support a rapid and just Pacific transition to renewable energy, and strengthen related legal obligations - including to “prevent Ecocide.”

UN General Assembly: President Vurobaravu urges statesto support including a crime of ecocide in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), telling the Assembly that “acting with knowledge of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment can no longer be tolerated”.

Vanuatu continues its long-standing support of the ecocide conversation at the ICC by co-hosting official side event and providing a supporting statement.

Call for serious consideration of ecocide crime at the International Criminal Court’s assembly.