
Ecocide and Its Place in the System of International Crimes (Status as of 2026)
Introduction Within the system of international criminal law, only the gravest and most dangerous conduct is defined as international crimes. These crimes are generally considered threats to peace, security, and the conscience of humanity. At present, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes four core crimes. The fundamental question is whether large-scale environmental destruction should be placed at the same level. The concept of ecocide has emerged precisely in response to this question. The Relationship Between Ecocide and International Crimes