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While most human interaction with the environment creates some level of impact, ecocide refers only to the very worst harms, usually on a major industrial scale or impacting a huge area.
Legal recognition of ecocide as a serious crime
Criminalisation of ecocide creates enforceable accountability for these key decision-makers, so that where there is a threat of severe and either widespread or long-term damage, the dangers will be better researched and taken very seriously. Appropriate safety protocols will be employed or alternative approaches developed in order to protect nature, climate and people, and in order to avoid criminal liability.
Scientific and on-the-ground knowledge
Detailed knowledge of risks to nature, climate and people in specific contexts is extensive, and readily available to decision-makers in policy and industry.
Route to justice for the severest environmental harms
Ecocide law provides a route to justice for the worst harms inflicted upon the living world in times of both peace and conflict, whenever and wherever they are committed.
For history of ecocide law and academic articles, see our sister site www.ecocidelaw.com
Some examples of large-scale destruction that ecocide law could address:
Destruction of endangered species or habitats
Mass Deforestation
Severe water and land contamination
Chemical disasters
International Criminal Court
While we wholeheartedly support ecocide legislation at national and regional levels, our work aims ultimately to support recognition of ecocide as a standalone crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
At present, the Statute lists four crimes: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes and the Crime of Aggression. The Statute can be amended to include a fifth crime of Ecocide.