Mass damage or destruction of an ecosystem, caused with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long term harm to the environment resulting from the conduct. The term was proposed as a potential fifth international crime alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. It has not been adopted as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, but a number of countries, including France and Belgium, enacted a domestic criminal offense of ecocide in national law during the early 2020s, and international legal bodies have continued to study its adoption as a standalone international crime.
Facts
Classification CodeCriminal offense of ecocide created in France in 2021 1 Typical PenaltyUnder an EU directive, large-scale intentional environmental damage comparable to ecocide can be punished by up to 10 years in prison 1 Elements of OffenseUnlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge of a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long term damage to the environment 1 Notable ExampleThe Vietnam War herbicide spraying, including Agent Orange, is cited as a historical example of large scale environmental destruction discussed under ecocide 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Ecocide (Wikipedia)
France section
In 2021, the French National Assembly approved the creation of an "ecocide" offence as part of a battery of measures aimed at protecting the environment and tackling climate change.
International law section, EU directive penalty
large-scale, intentionally caused, environmental damage "comparable to ecocide" a crime that can be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
Definition section
unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.
Vietnam War section
20 million gallons of toxic herbicides (like Agent Orange) were sprayed on 6 million acres of forests and crops by the U.S. Air Force.
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