{"id":295258,"date":"2025-06-23T15:38:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=295258"},"modified":"2025-06-23T15:38:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:38:27","slug":"this-is-not-a-trial-a-fictional-case-on-ecocide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/this-is-not-a-trial-a-fictional-case-on-ecocide\/","title":{"rendered":"‘THIS IS NOT A TRIAL’ – A fictional case on ecocide"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A groundbreaking trial takes place in a fictional future, where ecocide has been incorporated into criminal law. On trial: the Dutch multinational Smit Refineries N.V. and its CEO. They are being sued for the large-scale destruction of an Indonesian ecosystem where nickel and other earth metals are mined. These raw materials are essential for the energy transition – but mining is at the expense of nature and biodiversity, threatening unique (native) species with extinction and driving Indigenous communities off their land. Is this punishable or not?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Headerphoto: Nickel mining in Tompotika, Sulawesi \u00a9 Stephanie Broekarts \/ IUCN NL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Ecocide as a criminal offence<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

This fictitious case is based on the bill relating to Ecocide<\/a> submitted by the Party for the Animals in late December 2023. This bill aimed to introduce a new standard in criminal law: that the environment has an intrinsic value and that the seriously damaging the environment, through human acts or neglect, should be punishable by law. This bill has not yet been debated in the House of Representatives and is therefore not in force. However, the principle of ecocide is increasingly echoed in regulations such as the European Environmental Crime Directive<\/a> . This European directive establishes that in certain circumstances, causing or threatening to cause substantial damage to the quality of air, soil or water or to an ecosystem, animals or plants, is a criminal offence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Energy transition versus Ecocide<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

The facts underlying this fictitious case are based on nickel mining in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nickel mining leads to large-scale deforestation and the pollution of water, soil and air. Local people also suffer severely from the effects of nickel mining.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

‘Although the energy transition and the earth metals such as nickel needed for it are relevant in relation to reducing CO2 emissions, the same mistakes made in fossil resource extraction must be avoided and more consideration must be given to nature and biodiversity,’ says Antoinette Sprenger, senior expert on environmental justice at IUCN NL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

The question raised in this fictitious case is whether the damage done to nature and biodiversity during nickel mining in Sulawesi qualifies as ecocide as defined in the said bill in certain circumstances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"\"
Children swim in polluted water near a mining site in Sulawesi \u00a9<\/em> Garry Lotulung<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Partners<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

This fictional case, THIS IS NOT A TRIAL, was developed by researchers and students from Utrecht University as part of the interdisciplinary project Conceptualising Ecocide<\/a> in collaboration with IUCN NL, EcoJustice<\/a> (formerly known as Stop Ecocide NL), a local Indonesian NGO and artists. Students play the roles of prosecutor and lawyer of the defendants, actors play the defendants, and nature also gets a voice through artists.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Performance dates<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

On 18 and 19 June, the theatre performance took place at the ZIMIHC theatre Stefanus in Utrecht Overvecht, where the audience could also partly participate, as a jury in a fictitious court. Find more information in this link.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Bottom Line!<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n

This performance is part of our activities under the Bottom Line! programme made possible by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. With the project Bottom Line<\/a>!, IUCN NL works with a coalition of Dutch and international civil society organisations on a fair energy transition with the least possible impact on people and nature. Both in the Netherlands and in the countries where the raw materials are extracted. Bottom Line!\u00a0is supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n \n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
Want to learn more about the Bottom Line! Programme? Get in touch with<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Antoinette\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Antoinette\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSprenger<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Senior Expert Environmental Justice<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Email:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tantoinette.sprenger@iucn.nl<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFull profile<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Linkedin\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Maartje\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHilterman<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Senior Expert Environmental Justice<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Email:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaartje.hilterman@iucn.nl<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFull profile<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Read more<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n News\n <\/div>\n\n

\n IUCN members adopt resolution to safeguard biodiversity and human rights in energy transition mineral governance\u00a0\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n Opinion\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Working towards responsible and transparent renewable energy\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n Feature stories\n <\/div>\n\n

\n ‘We cannot be fooled anymore\u2019: lessons from a mining field trip in Indonesia\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n Feature stories\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Meet the conservationist: Grizelda Mayo Anda protects the people of Palawan in the Philippines\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n