Intelligence Squared COP26: What is Ecocide?
Nov 12, 2021
Jojo Mehta, co-founder of the Stop Ecocide Foundation, tackles the urgent issue of ecocide and its potential recognition as an international crime. She discusses the need for legal frameworks to hold corporations and governments accountable for environmental destruction. The conversation contrasts formal negotiations at COP26 with grassroots movements advocating for ecological justice. Mehta also highlights historical lessons from past trials, emphasizing a collective call for legal reforms to address the escalating climate crisis and ensure accountability.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
COP26 Atmosphere
- Jojo Mehta noted a sense of learned helplessness and a trade-show vibe at COP26.
- She felt the most interesting discussions happened outside the official "Blue Zone".
Ecocide Definition
- Ecocide, a term coined in 1970, aims to criminalize environmental destruction.
- It re-emerged recently through the work of Polly Higgins and Jojo Mehta.
Legal Basis of Ecocide
- The proposed ecocide law isn't a dramatic shift but builds on existing legal precedents.
- It criminalizes environmental harm itself, not just harm to humans.