Should the World Adopt a Law to Recognise Ecocide as a Global Crime?

Jul 10, 2026 | Shyam Saran
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It was an American scientist, Arthur Galston, who coined the word “ecocide” in 1970 to describe the catastrophic effects from the indiscriminate use of the infamous Agent Orange by US troops fighting in the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was used as a powerful herbicide to destroy large swathes of thick vegetation, within which Viet Cong guerrillas were suspected of hiding and launching surprise attacks against American troops.