Calls for international criminal court to end ‘impunity’ for environmental crimes

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🗞️ Driving the news: A collective of academics, lawyers, and campaigners have proposed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should begin prosecuting individuals responsible for serious environmental harm, emphasizing the urgent need to address the current "impunity" for environmental crimes

🔭 The context: The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, revealed plans to develop a policy paper on environmental crimes by year-end, aiming to incorporate environmental treaties and laws into the ICC’s framework
• This initiative follows a recognition of the inadequacy of the Rome statute to comprehensively cover environmental damage, especially outside the context of war

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Addressing environmental crimes at the level of the ICC could significantly impact global efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation
• It underscores the intersection of human rights and environmental protection, as severe environmental harm often also entails human rights violations

⏭️ What's next: The development of the ICC’s policy paper on environmental crimes and its potential to redefine legal accountability for environmental harm could pave the way for prosecuting individuals, including politicians and corporate leaders, for actions that contribute to environmental degradation and climate change

💬 One quote: “Addressing the impunity of those propagating deliberate disinformation on global warming is an essential step to stopping the ongoing expansion of fossil fuels, which is threatening humanity and the living planet,” (World Council of Churches)

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