Review Article

Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives

Volume: 11 Number: 2 August 14, 2025
EN TR

Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives

Abstract

This article aims to take a substantive and tangible step towards bridging the aspects of International Environmental Law (IEL) and International Criminal Law (ICL) in responding to environmental harm. On this purpose, following a concise introduction to the aims of punishment and the justifications for penalties, the article firstly discusses the current approaches within the international system for penalizing and responding to environmental harm. It then critically analyzes the International Criminal Court (ICC) system, specifically its mechanisms for penalizing and responding to environmental harm, considering both its strengths and weaknesses. The analysis reveals that the ICC is not fully equipped with penalties or responses adequate for compensating environmental damage, primarily because its focus tends to be on the offender, rather than the victim. Afterwards, drawing upon alternative perspectives, the article offers several recommendations for relevant policy development and best practices. Finally, based on its findings, it underscores the importance of employing proactive, reactive and restorative tools within an ecocentric framework to develop a more robust structure equipped with more appropriate and effective penalties for adequately addressing environmental crime and the harm it engenders.

Keywords

Ecocide, Ecocrime, Environmental Crimes, Environmental Harm, International Criminal Court, Punishment, Response

References

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  2. BA, Oumar: A Truly International Criminal Court, Why the New Prosecutor Should Look Beyond Africa, 2021, (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/africa/2021-06-18/truly-international-criminal-court, ET: 07.05.2025).
  3. BANKS, Debbie / DAVIES, Charlotte / GOSLING, Justin / NEWMAN, Julian / RICE, Mary / WADLEY, Jago / WALRAVENS, Fionnuala: Environmental Crime, A Threat to Our Future, Environmental Investigation Agency, Emmerson Press, London, 2008.
  4. BASSIOUNI, Mahmoud Cherif: “International Crimes: Jus Cogens and Obligatio Erga Omnes”, Law and Contemporary Problems, 1996, Volume 59, Number 4, pp. 63-74.
  5. BENTON, Ted: “Rights and Justice on a Shared Planet: More Rights or New Relations?”, (Ed.) SOUTH, Nigel: Green Criminology, Routledge, London, 2006, pp. 1-28.
  6. BERAT, Lynn: “Defending the Right to Healthy Environment: Toward Crime of Genocide in International Law”, Boston University International Law Journal, 1993, Volume 11, Number 2, pp. 327-348.
  7. BODANSKY, Daniel / BRUNNÉE, Jutta / HEY, Ellen: “International Environmental Law, Mapping the Field”, (Ed.) BODANSKY, Daniel / BRUNNÉE, Jutta / HEY, Ellen: The Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, pp.1-28.
  8. BRACK, Duncan: “Combating International Environmental Crime”, Global Environmental Change, 2002, Volume 12, Number 2, pp. 143-147.
  9. BROWNLIE, Ian: Principles of Public International Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003.
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APA
Savaşan, Z. (2025). Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives. Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(2), 551-572. https://doi.org/10.54699/andhd.1688562
AMA
1.Savaşan Z. Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives. AndHD. 2025;11(2):551-572. doi:10.54699/andhd.1688562
Chicago
Savaşan, Zerrin. 2025. “Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives”. Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 11 (2): 551-72. https://doi.org/10.54699/andhd.1688562.
EndNote
Savaşan Z (August 1, 2025) Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives. Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 11 2 551–572.
IEEE
[1]Z. Savaşan, “Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives”, AndHD, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 551–572, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.54699/andhd.1688562.
ISNAD
Savaşan, Zerrin. “Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives”. Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 11/2 (August 1, 2025): 551-572. https://doi.org/10.54699/andhd.1688562.
JAMA
1.Savaşan Z. Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives. AndHD. 2025;11:551–572.
MLA
Savaşan, Zerrin. “Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives”. Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 11, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 551-72, doi:10.54699/andhd.1688562.
Vancouver
1.Zerrin Savaşan. Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives. AndHD. 2025 Aug. 1;11(2):551-72. doi:10.54699/andhd.1688562