Belgium Ecocide Law
In February 2024, Belgium’s Federal Parliament approved a new penal code that includes recognition of the crime of ecocide at national and international levels.Read More →
Europe
This page identifies ecological jurisprudence initiatives that exist in Europe. For the purposes of delineating boundaries, we define Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan as constituting the Eastern boundary of Europe.
Spain court case applies legal personality of Mar Menor lagoon
August 31, 2023 – For the first time, a court in Spain applies the Law that grants rights to the Mar Menor and calls on its representatives to appear in court Read More →
Netherlands Ecocide Bill
In July 2023, a bill to criminalize ecocide (Ecocide Criminalization Act) was officially proposed in the Parliament of the Netherlands.Read More →
Poland Citizen Draft Law on the Rights and Legal Personality of the Oder River
In 2023, citizens in Poland created a draft bill on the legal personality of Odra/Oder River aimed to stimulate discussion and possible legislative solutionRead More →
EU Environmental Crime Directive criminalizing environmental harm comparable to ecocide
In 2023, the EU included a new offense to the EU Environmental Crime Directive punishing the most serious crimes against the environment, comparable to ecocide.Read More →
Lewes, England Motion on the Rights of the River Ouse
February 2023, Lewes District Council passed the first Rights of River motion in England – the first step towards creating a Rights of River Ouse CharterRead More →
EU Council of Europe Resolution on codifying ecocide
January 2023, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a Resolution calling on member states to codify ecocide in national and international lawRead More →
Netherlands Petition to Recognize the Rights of the Maas / Meuse River
Citizens in the Netherlands have a petition calling on the House of Representatives to recognize the Maas River as a subject with rights.Read More →