Green Criminology

FaculteitFaculty of Law, Economics and Governance

NiveauMaster

Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

After this course:

The student has knowledge and understanding of the different types of green crimes and harms, their nature and the motivations of actors involved;
The student has gained insights into specific forms of these crimes, including wildlife trafficking, illegal deforestation, climate change, animal abuse, pollution, and illegal mining;
The student has knowledge of the main theories in the field of green criminology, with concrete insights into some specific forms of eco-crime.
The student is able to analyse and critically reflect on the different approaches to tackle, respond, control or punish different green crimes.
The student is able to present the outcome of research on a green criminological topic in the form of a written paper;
The student is able to present and discuss the outcome of the research on a green topic.

Content

Humans are perhaps making a bigger impact on the world than ever. Environmental problems are having disastrous effects on a global scale: species are being pushed into extinction, primeval forests are disappearing, and global pollution and global warming affect all layers of society. Green criminology is a young but fast-growing stream of criminology that studies environmental harm through a criminological lens. On the one hand, green criminologists employ more traditional definitions of crime, in terms of infringements against legislation (administrative, civil and criminal). On the other, they focus on (not yet) criminalised forms of environmental harm, exploring diverse behaviours associated with nature exploitation.
This course will present leading definitions and theories to explain eco-crime and the most common forms of transnational environmental crime and harm. First, we will examine environmental crime from anthropocentric, ecocentric and non-speciesist perspectives. Second, we will explore the underlying socioeconomic, geopolitical and ecological causes and consequences through discussions about criminalisation, victimisation and eco-justice. Third, we will discuss global power dynamics between governments, criminal actors (e.g., corporate and organised crime) and consumers through case studies about wildlife trafficking, deforestation, mining, pollution, animal rights and climate change. Finally, we will cover contemporary discussions about global reactions to environmental threats, including environmental and ecological justice, green militarisation, community-based conservation and ecocide as international crime.

By undertaking this course, you will develop a critical perspective on today’s green criminology debates and gain in-depth insights with which you can interpret, analyse and discuss crimes against the environment at a local, national and international level.

Place of the course in the curriculum:

Elective in the MA in Global Criminology

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