Green crime

What is green crime?

crimes and harms against the environment including those not legally defined as criminal.

What are the two approaches to green crime?

Traditional criminology which only considers acts that break environmental laws as crime. However, this ignores wider harms and the fact that laws differ between countries

Green criminology/transgressive approach proposed by White which looks at any environmental harm even if not illegal. Focuses on justice for humans animals and the planet

What are the two types of green crime?

Primary green crime (transgressive criminology) which are direct destructions of the environment even without breaking laws e.g. air pollution, deforestation, species decline

Secondary green crimes (traditional criminology). which are crimes that actually break rules and laws designed to protect the environment e.g. state violence against oppositional groups like environmental protestors, hazardous waste disposal, and illegal logging

Causes of green crime

Capitalism and the desire for maximum profit means environmental and human harm

Consumer demand for global products like palm oil or animal products e.g. fur coats

Population growth

Transport advances and freedom of movement e.g. aeroplanes which causes air pollution

More laws and regulations to break

Who commits green crime

States corporations organised crime and individuals

How does the state commit green crime

Governments contribute through pollution nuclear waste and military activities

How do corporations commit green crime

Often commit environmental harm for profit e.g. BP oil spill

How do organised criminals commit green crime

Involved in waste disposal trafficking wildlife illegal logging or mining

How do individuals commit green crime

through consumer behaviour e.g. over consuming, pollution, illegal dumping

What do marxists and critical criminologists argue

That capitalism prioritises profit leading to environmental destruction,

corporations have power to escape punishment

and that states work with corporations to hide harm

Environmental racism

green crimes harm the poor the most

Anthropocentric view

Humans seen as above nature and so environment can and should be used for economic growth

ecocentric view

humans and environment are interdependent, if the environment is harmed this brings harm to all life

what are the problems with trying to enforce green crime?

many green crimes are not illegal

hard to assign blame to states and corporations

Laws vary between countries some laws are very weak

these crimes are often invisible e.g. pollution yet it has a long term harm

Strengths of green crime perspective

focuses on global issues traditional criminology ignores

challenges power structures i.e. corporations and states

recognises harm beyond legal definitions

weaknesses of green crime perspective

too broad- almost anything can be a green crime

hard to measure or define primary green crime

relies on moral judgements not legal definitions