WeMove Europe is an independent and values-based organisation that seeks to build people power to transform Europe in the name of our community, future generations and the planet.
WHAT IS ECOCIDE?
ECOCIDE is a word to describe what is happening to our planet; the mass damage and destruction of the natural living world. It literally means “killing one’s home”. It’s any human activity that causes severe and either widespread or long-term damage to our environment, like deforestation, deep-sea trawling, water and soil contamination, air pollution, and large oil spills and other environmental disasters related to mining.
WHY ECOCIDE SHOULD BE A CRIME?
The current climate and ecological emergency is the result of many years of harmful industrial activities that have destroyed our environment, i.e. ecocide. Most of the risks have been known for decades by the companies choosing to continue these practices. But it’s proven difficult to hold those damaging the environment accountable. Most of the time, no one is held responsible. Making ecocide a crime would sanction actual or threatened harm to the environment. It would mean environmental protection will be taken seriously. And individuals or companies would be much less likely to harm nature. They could end up in jail if they do so.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW IN THE EU?
The European Union has a chance to make ecocide a crime. As part of the revision of the Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law, they could recognise ecocide as a crime. This would be very significant: all EU countries would have to create this new crime in their national laws.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
With our partners Avaaz and Stop Ecocide, more than 600,000 people have already asked the EU to make ecocide a crime. Join the fight and add your signature! As negotiations take place, the more support we show from across Europe, the more our representatives will take this issue seriously and protect our planet.