Environmental War Crimes Guide

Over the last 8 months, Climate Counsel has been working closely with the Office of the Prosecutor-General of Ukraine to prepare cases involving environmental war crimes. As part of this assistance, Climate Counsel has developed a first-of-its-kind practical Guide to help prosecutors identify, frame, investigate, and prioritize environmental war crimes cases.

What the lawyers say:

Maksym Popov, Special Advisor on environmental crimes to the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General says:

“The Prosecutor General is determined to hold perpetrators to account for the crimes against the environment committed by invading Russian forces. Climate Counsel’s guide is a crucial step in this process, equipping Ukraine’s prosecutors with the tools they need to pursue justice.”

Richard J Rogers, Executive Director of Climate Counsel says:

“Climate Counsel’s Guide provides a succinct, self-contained, and practical resource for all prosecutors to pursue accountability for environmental war crimes, which is both vital and long-overdue.”

Ukraine War Crimes

Aside from the human cost of armed conflict, the natural environment is often one of the main ‘victims’ of war. Despite this, severe environmental harm in wartime has been under prosecuted in all accountability mechanisms.

Video from ‘United for Justice, United for Nature’ Conference, Kyiv, October 2023

Environmental Crimes Are International Crimes

War Crimes

**Attacks on civilian infrastructure and the natural environment can be considered war crimes under the Rome Statute**

Crimes Against Humanity

**Attacks on the environment can constitute crimes against humanity if part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population**

Ecocide

**Article 441 of Ukraine’s criminal code defines mass destruction of flora and fauna and poisoning of air or water resources as ecocide**

Our Approach

This project aims to further the cause of accountability for environmental crimes that may amount to war crimes and other crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As part of this effort we are supporting Ukrainian prosecutors and civil society organisations.

We are providing Ukraine’s prosecutors with technical legal information on accountability options for environmental crimes

Alongside Ukrainian prosecutors, we are building international cases against those responsible for environmental war crimes

We are working with local civil society organisations to advocate for environmental justice and a green reconstruction