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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Fiona Harvey Environment editor

Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime

The Pacific island of Vanuatu: aerial view of lush forestation with a small, scattered settlement towards the edge of the coast and blue sea
The Pacific island of Vanuatu, along with Fiji and Samoa, has proposed formal recognition of the crime of ecocide. Photograph: Christopher Malili/The Guardian

Three developing countries have taken the first steps towards transforming the world’s response to climate breakdown and environmental destruction by making ecocide a punishable criminal offence.

In a submission to the international criminal court on Monday, they propose a change in the rules to recognise “ecocide” as a crime alongside genocide and war crimes.

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