Penalizing Environmental Harm: Merits, Limits and Alternatives

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 551 - 572, 14.08.2025

Zerrin Savaşan

https://doi.org/10.54699/andhd.1688562

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

Çevresel Zararı Cezalandırma: Avantajlar, Sınırlamalar ve Alternatifler

Abstract

Bu makale, çevreye verilen zarara karşılık verme hususunda Uluslararası Çevre Hukuku (UÇH) ve Uluslararası Ceza Hukuku (UCH) yönlerini birleştirmek için esaslı ve somut bir adım atmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaçla, cezanın amaçları ve cezaların gerekçeleri hakkında kısa bir giriş yaptıktan sonra, makale öncelikle uluslararası sistemin çevresel zararı cezalandırma ve bu zarara karşılık verme konusundaki mevcut yollarını tartışmaktadır. Daha sonra, Uluslararası Ceza Mahkemesi (UCM) sistemini, özellikle çevresel zararı cezalandırma ve yanıtlama sistemini, hem yararları hem de sınırlarıyla sorgulamaktadır. Böylece, UCM’nin çevresel hasarı telafi etmek için gerekli cezalar/karşılıklarla donatılmadığını; odak noktasının suçludan ziyade mağdurda olması gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Ardından, alternatif görüşlere atıfta bulunarak, ilgili politikaların ve iyi uygulamaların geliştirilmesi için bazı önerilerde bulunmaktadır. Son olarak, bulgularına dayanarak, çevre suçları ve bunların yol açtığı zararların yeterince ele alınmasına daha uygun ve etkili olabilecek cezalarla donatılmış bir yapının oluşturulması amacıyla ekosentrik bir yaklaşımla proaktif, reaktif ve onarıcı araçlara başvurmanın önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Ekokırım , Ekosuç , Çevre Suçları , Çevresel Zarar , Uluslararası Ceza Mahkemesi , Karşılık

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