Criminological perspectives on climate change, violence and ecocide

Purpose of Review: The object of this article is to review recent criminological writings on climate change and its implications for violence.

Recent Findings: Criminological literature tends to focus on either the negative consequences of climate change, such as for example an increase in violence due to increases in warm temperatures, or the causes of global warming, such as activities and omissions by nation-states and transnational corporations that foster ongoing carbon emissions.

Summary: The article provides insight into climate change-related crimes through the lens of criminology. It does this by examining the relationship between temperature changes and human behaviour, climate change and social strains, and the re-casting of crimes of the powerful as ecocide since they contribute to global warming. Related issues pertaining to contrarianism and the securitisation of natural resources, both of which protect and sustain particular sectional interests rather than the public interest, are also considered.