Environment

Environmental destruction - a crime against humanity

This week, the International Criminal Court announced that it would give special consideration to pursuing crimes involving environmental destruction and land grabs.

The announcement, made in a policy document released by the ICC's prosecutor on Thursday, appeared to show a deliberate expansion in focus for The Hague-based court, which was established by the Rome Statute in 1998 to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity when national governments were unable to do so.

The potential effects could be significant. It could signal that ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda would pursue cases involving environmental damage or the misuse or theft of land as crimes against humanity. It also raises the question of whether international corporations and other businesses could become embroiled in cases in a court better known for cases against dictators and warlords.