Reshaping of ecocide in international law

Field in Glyttinge
Photo: Ebba Nordqvist

This project aims to explore and analyse the relationship between ecocide and the complex system of environmental protection and policy, particularly in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ecocide refers to the destruction of large areas of the natural environment by human activity. Recognising it as an international crime could have significant implications for environmental sustainability and global justice.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine serves as an illustrative case for examining the arguments pro et contra the inclusion ecocide in international criminal law, as well as what such recognition would entail for both environmental sustainability and just green transformations.

This project studies the relationship between ecocide and the complex system of environmental protection and policy. The overarching aim of the project is to analyze how the context of the Russia-Ukraine war can be utilized to understand the conditions and implications of ecocide in influencing international legislation and accelerating green transformations. Secondly, in a more practical sense, the project addresses feasible avenues for the implementation of ecocide and unpacks its potential global impact.

Due to the twofold structure of the project, it is divided into two working packages: “Mapping and Perceptions” and “Feasibility and Impact,” addressing the following research questions:

  • How does the Russia-Ukraine war impact international sense-making of ecocide?
  • What are the drivers and barriers for the international community in implementing ecocide into international law?
  • How can the implementation of ecocide into international criminal law (Rome Statute) be made feasible and realistic?
  • What are the potential implications of including "ecocide" into the international criminal law as a judicial step towards renewing multilateralism?

Project strategy

The project formulates transdisciplinary research questions within the nexus of environmental law and policy, justice, climate change, and geopolitical repercussions. To address these questions, the study will employ a combination of document analysis, literature review, surveys, and interviews with key stakeholders. This approach will facilitate an evaluation of the feasibility of implementing ecocide into international criminal law, its vulnerabilities, and its potential geopolitical implications.

The project will map perceptions among government officials, legal experts, academics, and NGO representatives regarding the drivers and barriers influencing the inclusion of ecocide into international law. The International Negotiations Survey (http://internationalnegotiationssurvey.se/) will be utilized to gauge preferences among participants of UNFCCC COPs. Additionally, the Global Climate Change Litigation Database (https://climatecasechart.com) will serve as a foundational resource for tracing the nexus between environmental protection and law as embodied in multilateral agreements.

Societal relevance

By initiating the development of the project with a case study on the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a current driving force for transformation, the project aims to address long-standing societal challenges on a global scale. The planned project holds the potential to drive substantial policy changes by informing policymakers and other stakeholders about key considerations related to ecocide legislation.

The identified drivers and pathways will assist stakeholders in developing more effective strategies and policies. Furthermore, the project will introduce the novel concept of “agriecocide” as a practical and potential derivative of ecocide, contributing to the academic discourse. Beyond academic visibility, the project will generate policy contributions in the form of policy briefs summarizing the project’s key results.

Project facts

Funding

Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS, Career grant for early-career researchers 2024), grant number 2024-00299.

Project title

Reshaping of ecocide in international law: from Russian invasion of Ukraine to global green transformations

Home organisation

Linkoping University, Department of Thematic Studies, Environmental Change (Tema M)

Host organisations, as a part of planned international mobility

  • Columbia Law School, Sabin Center of Climate Change Law, USA (contact person: Prof. Michael Gerrard, Founder and Faculty Director)
  • Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Ukraine (contact person: Prof. Tetiana Kurman, Head of the Department of Land and Agrarian Law, member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Supreme Court of Ukraine)

Budget and time

Budget: 3.3 million SEK
Time: January 2025 – December 2027