Ecocide: A Discussion of Law and Ethics

In this time of climate change, environmental harm is a matter of international concern, even if the damage is inflicted within national borders. Ecocide–which an international panel this year defined as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”–concerns us all.

“Ecocide: A Discussion of Law and Ethics” brought together key perspectives to focus on the legal and ethical issues of creating an international legal framework for ecocide.

Speakers included the following

– Michael Burger, Executive Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
– Fred Davie, Senior Strategic Advisor to the President, Union Theological Seminary
– arenna Gore, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary
– Kate Mackintosh, Inaugural Executive Director, Promise Institute for Human Rights, UCLA School of Law
– Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director, Wildlife Justice Commission
– Hugo Echeverria, Constitutional Attorney; The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), Ecuador

This event was sponsored by the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, the Promise Institute for Human Rights at the UCLA School of Law, and the Wildlife Justice Commission.