441-02548 (Environment)

Canada works both domestically and internationally to address climate change and biodiversity loss, and advance environmental protections while ensuring sustainable, resilient, nature-positive and inclusive global economic development. Protecting Canada’s environment serves as an immense source of pride, and is foundational to ensuring healthy communities, a clean environment, and economic opportunities for Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Canada is aware of the increased interest related to the concept of ‘ecocide’ and appreciates that the proposal to include ‘ecocide’ as a crime within the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) remains an active discussion.

Further, Canada understands that, at the domestic level, a few countries have included the notion of ‘ecocide’ in their legislation. The European Council has adopted a new environmental crime directive in March 2024, which includes criminal offences which “can encompass conduct comparable to ‘ecocide’,” although the directive does not provide a definition of this concept.

As of now, there is, however, no recognized definition of the concept under international law. 

Canada continues to closely monitor the discussions on ‘ecocide’, whether in the context of the Rome Statute of the ICC, where States Parties have been called on to begin preparations to adopt a resolution on the establishment of a working group on this issue, or other proposals aimed at creating a stand-alone treaty relating to ‘ecocide’. The Government of Canada is committed to action that protects and restores nature so Canadians can live within a healthy environment that sustains livelihoods for future generations.

Given that this petition is addressed to the House of Commons, the Government will make sure to bring both the petition and this response to the attention of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.