The concept of 'ecocide' refers to extensive damage, destruction or loss of the ecosystems of a given territory and includes both natural (for example, pest infestation of an ecosystem) and anthropocentric (that is, as a result of human activity) causes tor the harm. From a legal and criminological perspective, it is argued that if such harms occur as a result of human agency, then these acts or omissions should be defined as a crime against humanity (Higgins, 2010, 2012). The reason why detailed descriptions, definitions and histories ofecocide are once again emerging - and why the efficacy of the concept is currently being debated in various forums at the international level - is due to the sheer scale of environmental degradation now occurring worldwide. The concept of ecocide has been around since at least the 1970s (Gray, 1996; Teclaff, 1994) and for a time was under consideration for inclusion in the Rome Statute as a 'crime against humanity' (Higgins et al., 2013). But the impetus for ecocide to be officially recognised as a bona fide crime at the present time has been heightened by the current inadequacy of government responses, individually and collectively, to global warming.
History
Publication title
Greening Criminology in the 21st Century
Editors
M Hall, J Maher, A Nurse, G Potter, B South and T Wyatt
Pagination
11-24
ISBN
9781472467560
Department/School
School of Social Sciences
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Extent
13
Rights statement
Copyright 2017 selection and editorial matter, Matthew Hall, Jennifer Maher, Angus Nurse, Gary Potter, Nigel South, and Tanya Wyatt; individual chapters, the contributors