We urgently need to recognize that big corporations peddling toxic products commit crimes against the environment. That’s precisely the conclusion reached by the International Monsanto Tribunal, a people’s tribunal that has just found the poster child of Big Chem and Big Ag guilty of ecocide.

Environmental law could make huge strides if only international law recognized the concept of ecocide, popularized by a large number of NGOs. Corporations absolutely need to be held accountable for their devastating impact on biodiversity and indigenous populations.

Until now, top priority has been given to the economic interests of big corporations. The time has come for international law to stand on the side of human rights and respect for nature.

Ask UN Secretary General António Guterres to stand on the side of life and to recognize ecocide in international law.

The Monsanto Tribunal has reached conclusions that will send chills up your spine. The Big Chem and Big Ag leader has been accused and found guilty of participating in the destruction of the environment, of crimes against humanity —partly for marketing toxic products that have taken the lives of thousands of people— of repeated infringements on the right to food and of practices that negatively affected the right to health.

Unfortunately, this legal opinion is only consultative and has no legal value.

Imagine if Monsanto could be sued for these same counts and be judged by a tribunal that recognized ecocide and the accountability of corporations when they destroy the very conditions of life on Earth!

This is exactly the direction in which we need to push international law.

Ask António Guterres to take action to introduce the accountability of corporations in crimes against the environment in international law.

By bringing together internationally renowned judges in this people’s tribunal, civil society has opened up an extremely important subject for debate: we are now in a position to shift lines. Already knees-deep in far too many controversies, Monsanto will not emerge unscathed from this damning judgment.

This trial is an brilliant starting point: we must now use our collective power to push the UN to make environmental and human rights protection an absolute priority. Ecocide must be recognized as the crime it is, and corporations peddling toxic products must be held accountable for destroying our environment.

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