Push to criminalise environmental destruction
September 9, 2024
Over 70% of people globally support criminalising large-scale environmental damage, citing rising climate risks.
A Global Commons Survey 2024, conducted by Ipsos UK and commissioned by Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA), reveals that over 70% of respondents across G20 nations support criminalising large-scale environmental damage, reflecting a growing call for stricter environmental legislation. This sentiment, highlighted in the 2024 Global Commons Survey, underscores rising concerns over the deteriorating state of the planet. According to the survey, 59% of participants worry significantly about nature’s health, and 69% believe human activity pushes the Earth toward critical tipping points. As the impacts of climate change become more evident, the demand for legal frameworks to punish environmental destruction continues to grow.
Emerging economies, disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, show robust backing for these policies. Countries like Belgium and France have already taken steps to criminalise severe environmental damage, signalling a shift towards international recognition of environmental crimes. This move reflects growing frustration over the perceived inadequacy of existing mechanisms to hold corporations and governments accountable for environmental harm.
Some countries have already started addressing these concerns. Belgium and France, for example, have enacted legislation that criminalises severe environmental damage. Spain is also on the verge of adopting similar laws. In July 2023, the Catalan Parliament proposed an amendment to the Spanish Penal Code to include the crime of ecocide, a legal category that refers to large-scale environmental destruction. This bill, backed by numerous environmental organisations, is expected to pass through regional and national legislative bodies.
The European Union has also stepped up its environmental governance. In early 2024, the EU finalised a new Environmental Crime Directive to criminalise irreversible and large-scale ecosystem damage across its member states. Although the directive stops short of explicitly labelling these offences as “ecocide,” it draws heavily on the concept by targeting activities that cause long-term or irreversible harm to ecosystems. Member states must align their national laws with the directive, further strengthening Europe’s role in advancing environmental protections.
The broader conversation surrounding the concept of ecocide has gained significant traction internationally. The idea of treating large-scale environmental destruction as a crime akin to war crimes or genocide is being debated in forums like the International Criminal Court (ICC). While the ICC has yet to formally include ecocide in its statutes, the push for this designation is gaining momentum.
Public opinion is solidly in favour of such reforms, particularly in the G20 countries. A striking 72% of respondents in the Global Commons Survey believe that individuals and corporations responsible for significant environmental harm should face legal penalties. This rising demand for accountability signals a shift in how environmental issues are viewed, from policy debates to potential criminal matters.
As the global climate crisis escalates, the movement to criminalise environmental destruction is expected to grow. With increasing public support and legislative momentum, the world may soon see a new era of environmental justice, one in which those who harm the planet face legal consequences as severe as those for other major crimes. This shift could pave the way for more stringent and enforceable global standards to safeguard ecosystems for future generations.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : Business Consumers Ecocide Environment Global Commons Survey Sustainability
