Examining the Potential for International Criminal Justice to Address Ecocide in the Context of Climate Change

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
sobhan Tayebi 1
Majede Magholi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of International Law, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 Master's student in International Law, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
10.22034/lc.2026.585852.1790
Abstract
Crimes against nature, or ecocide, are among the most prominent harms facing the biosphere and a serious threat to human life. In this regard, given the fragile conditions confronting the biosphere due to climate change, it appears that widespread hazards, which are among the factors threatening human life, have practically remained unaddressed. The punitive approach and justice-oriented perspective are among the strategies considered for suppressing these crimes. However, the approach of international actors in this regard must also be clear in order to make an accurate decision. The current approach of the international community in accepting the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court indicates that achieving environmental criminal justice is a long path. This research, aiming to explain the realization of this important matter, employs a descriptive-analytical method to present frameworks for combating climate crimes. The present study seeks to answer the question: To what extent is the resilience of the international criminal law system close to achieving the criminalization of climate hazards in light of environmental justice? Our finding in this research is essentially the confirmation of the hypothesis that existing capacities indicate the feasibility of climate criminalization, but international commitments and state responsibility are not adequately aligned with this process.
Keywords
Climate Change
Environmental Justice
International Criminal Law
Subjects