Ecocide

Belgium has become the first country in Europe to criminalise ecocide on a national and international level. A new penal code backed by Belgium's federal parliament yesterday provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years for individuals guilty of ecocide, and fines of up to €1.6 million for corpo

Legal experts have agreed on a definition of the crime of 'ecocide', which they hope will be adopted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The draft law defines the offence as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and widespread

International lawyers are drafting a plan for a new offence of ecocide. The panel organising the initiative is chaired by Professor Philippe Sands QC, of University College London and Florence Mumba, a former Internation Criminal Court judge.