Global push to recognize ecocide as an international crime

From government officials to CEOs of major energy sectors, this legal instrument demands accountability for the harm their decisions can cause to the environment.

Exploring the definition of ecocide

Ecocide refers to widespread, severe or repeated environmental destruction and is proposed as an international law to protect the environment in times of peace and conflict.

Although it has not yet been recognized in peacetime, it is currently recognized as a war crime under the Rome Statute.

The definition of ecocide proposed by a panel of independent experts in 2021 is “unlawful or wanton acts committed with the knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood that those acts will cause serious and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment.” .

This concept encompasses various causes, including war, pollution, overuse of natural resources, and major industrial accidents.