Abstract:

Environmental crimes not only impact the country where the offense is committed but can also affect neighboring and even distant states. Consequently, the international community has pursued two distinct approaches to counter this threat. The first is a transnational approach, which emphasizes cooperation among states and the strengthening of domestic laws. The second is an international approach, which aims at the global criminalization of these offenses and the expansion of the jurisdiction of international institutions. Using an analytical-descriptive method, this study seeks to elucidate the differences between transnational and international crimes and to examine the criteria that classify environmental crimes within these two domains. Violations of international peace and security and serious breaches of human dignity are significant factors contributing to the international characterization of environmental crimes. The International Criminal Court holds jurisdiction over environmental crimes. Their transboundary and regional nature, along with the involvement of organized criminal entities, are key factors in perceiving environmental crimes as transnational. The European Union, through its 2024/1203 Directive, has sought to leverage the capacity of transnational law in preventing the occurrence of these crimes by defining and specifying instances of environmental offenses.