Justice for the Planet: SHOULD ECOCIDE BE RECOGNISED AS AN INTERNATIONAL CRIME?

This feature essay explores the urgent need to recognize ecocide—severe environmental destruction—as the fifth core international crime under the Rome Statute. Tracing its origins from the Vietnam War to modern ecological disasters like the Amazon deforestation and the Deepwater Horizon spill, the essay critiques the current legal void in addressing peacetime ecological harm. It argues that criminalizing ecocide would establish personal liability for policymakers and corporations, shift legal paradigms from anthropocentric to eco-centric, and foster global environmental justice. Written by Ishita Jain, the essay outlines legal pathways, case studies, and normative implications for integrating ecocide into international criminal law.