French government’s apparent confusion demonstrates why ecocide should be an INTERNATIONAL crime

Shortly after voting through a domestic “ecocide” law under a weak definition as a simple misdemeanour with little probability of being properly enforced, the French parliament also supported an amendment requiring it to report on progress towards making ecocide a crime in international law.

This apparent confusion demonstrates a clear reluctance to legislate strongly at domestic level - unsurprising perhaps due to embedded economic relationships.

This is precisely why our campaign advocates for an international crime of ecocide. There is political safety in numbers. And there is economic safety in a transition period, which will be essential if corporate practices are to change.

We therefore look forward to France’s progress at the international level, despite the disappointing domestic result.