100 companies are the source of over 70% of emissions. An ecocide law would stop them and hold them to account through a ‘legal duty of care’ to the planet.
Heartbreakingly, Polly Higgins passed away on April 21 before she could see the Ecocide law come to pass. Polly’s wish was to live to see a million Earth Protectors stand against Ecocide.
Polly Higgins put together a concept paper for how Ecocide could be implemented into international law by 2020, which was presented to every government in the world.
There is now a draft Ecocide Act which can be put into place by every country when this becomes an international law.
But to make that happen, governments need a public mandate.
A 2018 study by think tank Green Alliance found that politicians understand the need for action on climate change, but it’s not straightforward for them to make a case for it.
Climate change is seen as an ‘outsider’ issue – not part of the political mainstream – which means MPs might be reluctant to champion it.
According to the study, politicians also feel under very little pressure to act on climate change – reporting limited interest from their constituents.
To have a meaningful impact on climate change, we must add our voices to the movement.
124 states are currently signatories to the Rome Statute. The first step in making ecocide a crime is for one or more states to propose it.
Once presented, the amendment is then open to signatories, it cannot be vetoed, and if it achieves a 2/3 majority, it will become an international criminal law.
To make this happen, any member state can propose an amendment. This means we don’t have to persuade the nations profiting most from climate breakdown – the amendment can be proposed and supported by the member states most at risk.
The small island nations at the frontline of climate breakdown already have the power to make ecocide a crime. All they need is:
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- Expert legal support and practical assistance – which Polly’s non-profit, Ecological Defence Integrity, is providing
- The safety of public support and visibility – which is where you come in.
You can become an Earth Protector in the next 5 minutes, which would add your voice to the public mandate and help make Ecocide illegal.
You can join the Earth Protectors Map and sign their trust fund document online, by making a small one-off or monthly donation.
This carries more weight and credibility than a petition because it’s been rubber-stamped by virtually every jurisdiction in the world as a valid document which can be presented in a court of law.
By signing up as an Earth Protector you are clearly stating that you believe that damage and destruction to the Earth and its inhabitants is a crime – and you will have a unique Trust Fund document in your name to show this, which carries legal weight.
This isn’t just another petition, it’s a powerful step in the legal process of making ecocide a crime. And with just a few clicks, you can be part of it.
Declare yourself as an Earth Protector on the website here.
County Sustainability Group 
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