Developing ecocide law.
Imagine a world where our Earth's vital ecosystems are legally protected from the severest harms.
This is the vision behind ecocide law: providing an enforceable framework to deter destructive practices, safeguarding the natural world and all our futures.
We develop recognition of ecocide as a serious crime, working at diplomatic level and across all sectors of civil society to share knowledge and inspire positive legislative change.
4th December 2025
Historic ICC Policy Puts Ecological Harm at the Centre of International Criminal Law
In a landmark step for the International Criminal Court, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) has issued a comprehensive policy devoted entirely to environmental damage, signalling a marked shift in how international justice will engage with ecological harm.
Crucially, the policy sets out in detail how severe environmental damage can underpin some crimes already within the ICC’s jurisdiction, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression (pp.14–24). This systematic analysis is new and creates a clear legal pathway for addressing various types of large-scale ecological destruction under existing international criminal law.
It also strengthens the broader foundations on which a dedicated core crime of ecocide can continue to be built, and gives states a more explicit understanding of how environmental devastation can already constitute or result from existing international crimes.
Read about other recent developments:
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised."
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium - “It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity."
Antonio Guterres - It is "highly desirable" to include ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court.
Paul McCartney - "The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet."
Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential".
Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide."
Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.”
Dr Jane Goodall - “The concept of Ecocide is long overdue. It could lead to an important change in the way people perceive – and respond to – the current environmental crisis.”
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
Pope Francis - "This is a fifth category of crimes against peace, which should be recognised." Princess Esmeralda of Belgium - “It is time to make ecocide a crime against humanity." Antonio Guterres - It is "highly desirable" to include ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court. Paul McCartney - "The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet." Tarja Halonen - "Stopping Ecocide through international criminal law is essential". Cara Delevingne - "Mass damage and destruction of nature is called Ecocide and it should be an international crime, just like genocide." Professor Philippe Sands KC - "I’m absolutely convinced that this crime of ecocide will be adopted. The only issue is not whether, but when and in what form.” Dr Jane Goodall - “The concept of Ecocide is long overdue. It could lead to an important change in the way people perceive – and respond to – the current environmental crisis.” Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - “recognition of environmental crimes, including the crime of ecocide … would strengthen accountability for environmental harms”
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