Canadian Government to “follow closely” global conversation on Ecocide.

In its official response to a parliamentary petition submitted last November, the Canadian government has stated that it is “committed to be a world leader for climate, both in terms of environmental action and peace promotion, and will continue to follow closely the discussions on ecocide at the international level.”  Full details of the petition and response HERE.

The petition, initiated by Amita Kuttner and submitted by Jenica Atwin (Green Party) on 19/11/2020, called on the Canadian government to “declare its support for an [ecocide] amendment to the Rome Statute and advocate its adoption internationally in the knowledge that many countries must stand together for the long-term protection of all life on Earth”.  

Stop Ecocide Canada was instrumental in providing background research for and raising awareness of the petition. Co-founder and environmental award-winning young spokesman Jamie Hunter commented: “We're delighted that the Canadian government has signaled its intent to watch the developments of an International Crime of Ecocide. While the end result, of course, must be that the Canadian government actively supports this goal, their interest in, and knowledge of, the subject is a very important first step.”

Discussions on ecocide are picking up pace across Canadian politics. Stop Ecocide Canada has also been in dialogue with Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Bloc Quebecois representatives, and the team is engaging with Indigenous rights advocates and lawyers and organizing public events. MP Leah Gazan (New Democrats) recently spoke at a webinar focusing on ecocide in relation to indigenous rights. Meanwhile, Green Party Leader and lawyer, Annamie Paul, joining UN rapporteur David Boyd and science broadcaster David Suzuki in a public talk hosted by the Peter Allard School of Law (University of British Columbia), commented on the “increasing movement and push to recognize ecocide, that being the mass damage and destruction of ecosystems, and harm to nature that is both widespread and systematic” which is emerging “well beyond” her own party.