Agenda item

Consideration was given to the following motion, notice of which was given by Councillor Wright and which was seconded by Councillor De Ayala Parker:-

This Council notes:

Camden Council has declared a Climate Emergency and is committed to implementing an ambitious Climate Action Plan. But meanwhile global destruction of ecosystems continues. These global issues require global solutions but current global environmental laws and governance are clearly inadequate.

In June 2021, an international legal working group, convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation, adopted a definition of ecocide as an international crime, to serve as an amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The definition has received broad support, including from the UN Secretary General and the European Parliament.

The inclusion of ecocide in the Rome Statute would add a new crime to international criminal law, the first since 1945, building on the existing crime of severe damage to the environment during armed conflict, reflecting that today, most severe environmental damage occurs during times of peace, and is currently outside ICC jurisdiction.

This Council resolves:

·       To recognise the definition of the crime of ecocide as “…unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”.

·       To support the concept of ecocide as defined above and calls for the introduction of the crime of ecocide into international law as an amendment to the Rome Statute.

There were no amendments moved in response to the motion.

There was a short debate,  the motion was then put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED –

This Council notes:

Camden Council has declared a Climate Emergency and is committed to implementing an ambitious Climate Action Plan. But meanwhile global destruction of ecosystems continues. These global issues require global solutions but current global environmental laws and governance are clearly inadequate.

In June 2021, an international legal working group, convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation, adopted a definition of ecocide as an international crime, to serve as an amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The definition has received broad support, including from the UN Secretary General and the European Parliament.

The inclusion of ecocide in the Rome Statute would add a new crime to international criminal law, the first since 1945, building on the existing crime of severe damage to the environment during armed conflict, reflecting that today, most severe environmental damage occurs during times of peace, and is currently outside ICC jurisdiction.

This Council resolves:

·       To recognise the definition of the crime of ecocide as “…unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”.

·       To support the concept of ecocide as defined above and calls for the introduction of the crime of ecocide into international law as an amendment to the Rome Statute.

Motions 2 and 3 were not considered due to lack of time.