By Prior Beharry
MORE should be done by small island states to protect their people and the planet.
This according to Diplomatic and Advocacy Liaison at the Stop Ecocide International Nesha Abiraj.
In a release on Tuesday, she said, “Small Island States should take this long overdue step to protect our people and planet. Human beings are the only the species on the planet that can legally apply to exploit, extract and abuse the earth and its resources without consequence.”
Abiraj said that island states should unite to support amending the Rome Statute to criminalize ecocide to prevent unlawful and wanton acts committed which would result in widespread or long-term damage to the environment.
She said that 23 International Criminal Court (ICC) member states, as well as the European Parliament, the global interfaith community including Pope Francis, indigenous communities and youth activists such as Greta Thunberg have recorded interest in ecocide law.
Abiraj called on CARICOM and the Organization of American States (OAS) to make this a priority in partnership with all small island states across the globe given the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change.
Ecocide is the human impact that causes mass destruction to that environment
The climate crisis directly threatens the physical and cultural integrity, and economic functioning, of island nations, she said.
Abiraj said, “The overwhelming evidence is that Small Island Developing States are the lowest contributors to global warming, yet according to scientific projections, Ocean States are likely to be among the first to become uninhabitable and to feel the worst effects of Climate Change. Ecocide is happening globally and no one is being held accountable.
“We are in desperate need of a law of this nature. I urge all heads of state to attend the High Level Legal Briefing and High Level Panel Events on the 28th and 29th of September at the Virtual Island Summit ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Egypt in November.” The event is co-hosted by the Republic of Vanuatu and the Stop Ecocide Foundation
In 2020 Chair of the Stop Ecocide Foundation Jojo Mehta convened an independent panel of top international criminal and environmental lawyers to draw up a robust legal definition of ecocide which could be considered by states for proposal at the International Criminal Court.
Abiraj said, “We urge Island Nations to unite behind this law and to sign on to the international petition to stop ecocide”
She said, “United we can close the door on dangerous industrial activity, which is undermining the fundamental human rights of all people.”
For more information on the events co-hosted by the Republic of Vanuatu and the Stop Ecocide Foundation, please visit: https://islandinnovation.co/events/virtual-island-summit/?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=VIS2022%20-%20Attendee%20Guide%20Registered%20audience&utm_medium=email#agenda
