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The art of the possible: The making of Belgium's ecocide law

Verbeek, Sophie Johanna Wilhelmina Genoveva LU (2026) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20261
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Efforts to criminalize ecocide have gained renewed political momentum amid escalating environmental crisis. A key development in this context is the 2024 reform of the Belgian Penal Code, which introduced the crime of ecocide in Article 94. This thesis examines the legal and political process leading to this reform through key informant interviews and library research. It identifies key moments during which legal, political and civil society actors shaped the wording and scope of Article 94. Drawing on Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, the thesis argues that Article 94 is largely reactive, reflecting the Belgian political apparatus’ hegemony in legitimizing its final definition. Nevertheless, Article 94 retains an expressivist function, and... (More)
Efforts to criminalize ecocide have gained renewed political momentum amid escalating environmental crisis. A key development in this context is the 2024 reform of the Belgian Penal Code, which introduced the crime of ecocide in Article 94. This thesis examines the legal and political process leading to this reform through key informant interviews and library research. It identifies key moments during which legal, political and civil society actors shaped the wording and scope of Article 94. Drawing on Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, the thesis argues that Article 94 is largely reactive, reflecting the Belgian political apparatus’ hegemony in legitimizing its final definition. Nevertheless, Article 94 retains an expressivist function, and may inspire other jurisdictions pursuing similar legal avenues. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Verbeek, Sophie Johanna Wilhelmina Genoveva LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
ecocide, sustainability science, Belgium, hegemony, ecocide-genocide nexus
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2026:003
language
English
id
9229429
date added to LUP
2026-06-03 14:36:06
date last changed
2026-06-03 14:36:06
@misc{9229429,
  abstract     = {{Efforts to criminalize ecocide have gained renewed political momentum amid escalating environmental crisis. A key development in this context is the 2024 reform of the Belgian Penal Code, which introduced the crime of ecocide in Article 94. This thesis examines the legal and political process leading to this reform through key informant interviews and library research. It identifies key moments during which legal, political and civil society actors shaped the wording and scope of Article 94. Drawing on Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, the thesis argues that Article 94 is largely reactive, reflecting the Belgian political apparatus’ hegemony in legitimizing its final definition. Nevertheless, Article 94 retains an expressivist function, and may inspire other jurisdictions pursuing similar legal avenues.}},
  author       = {{Verbeek, Sophie Johanna Wilhelmina Genoveva}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{The art of the possible: The making of Belgium's ecocide law}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}