Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa are calling on the International Criminal Court to recognize ecocide, the destruction of ecosystems, as a crime, hoping to hold corporations and nations accountable for severe environmental harm.
Rachel Pannett reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa have asked the International Criminal Court to make ecocide an international crime, alongside genocide and war crimes.
- The proposed law could prosecute companies and nations for knowingly causing environmental damage, though countries like the U.S., China and Russia might resist ICC jurisdiction.
- Belgium, the EU and other countries have already made ecocide illegal, but enforcement challenges remain due to legal definitions and economic interests.
Key quote:
“Criminal law creates powerful moral as well as legal boundaries, making it clear that extreme levels of harm are not just unlawful but totally unacceptable.”
— Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International
Why this matters:
Recognizing ecocide as a crime would deter large-scale environmental damage and help vulnerable nations fight the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and stronger storms.
Related: Growing calls to recognize 'ecocide' as an international crime in light of Israel-Gaza conflict
