Legal and cultural impacts of ecocide law: a view from the legislative frontlines

This article examines the rapidly accelerating global uptake of ecocide law and argues that its legal and cultural significance is widely underestimated. Once marginal, the concept now appears in legislative proposals worldwide, reflected in regional instruments, supported by states such as Vanuatu and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and acknowledged in recent advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice and Inter-American Court of Human Rights. While contributors to this Special Issue emphasise limitations of criminalisation, we highlight that governments and civil society increasingly view it as a pragmatic measure addressing a legal gap rooted in Western cultural separation from nature. The article contends that a significant part of ecocide law’s power is its expressive and systemic impact: redefining societal boundaries, influencing corporate and financial decision-making, and reinforcing obligations to prevent severe environmental harm. As such, criminalising ecocide represents a foundational legal shift essential to safeguarding ecosystems and global stability.