International and National Legal Frameworks for Responding to Climate-Driven Environmental Crimes: A Focus on Vietnam
Summary: 1. Introduction. – 2. Methodology. – 3. Concept Of Environmental Crimes Related to Climate Change. – 3.1 Definition of Environmental Crimes. – 3.2. Characteristics. – 4. International Regulations on Climate-Related Environmental Crimes and Their Incorporation into the Vietnamese Criminal Law. – 4.1. International Legal Foundation on Climate-related Environmental Crimes. – 4.1.1. Perspectives on the Criminalization of Ecocide under International Criminal Law. – 4.1.2. The International Obligations of States in Responding to Environmental Crime in General. – 4.2. Provisions of Vietnamese Criminal Law in Relation to the Country’s International Commitments on Combating Environmental Crime. – 4.2.1. The criminalization of environmental offences under Vietnam’s criminal law. – 4.2.2. Recognition and Scope of Criminal Liability of Commercial Legal Entities for Environmental Violations. – 5. Emerging Trends In Environmental Crimes Driven By Climate Change In Vietnam. – 6. Suggestions. – 7. Conclusion.
Background: Environmental crimes related to climate change encompass unlawful acts that harm the natural environment and worsen climate issues. However, Vietnam's legal framework faces significant limitations in addressing these offences, with many harmful acts not classified as crimes and penalties often lacking proportionality and deterrent effects. Therefore, examining Vietnamese criminal law is essential for improving the legal response to these environmental crimes.
Methods: The author employs various social science research methods to enhance understanding of environmental crimes. By integrating qualitative legal research, doctrinal analysis, comparative studies, and case studies, the author clarifies both international and national legal frameworks. The doctrinal approach illuminates these frameworks, while the comparative method evaluates Vietnam’s laws in relation to international standards. Additionally, case studies highlight legal gaps that impede the prosecution of serious environmental harm. These combined methods provide a comprehensive analysis of the issue.
Results and Conclusions: This article analyses international legal instruments alongside Vietnamese criminal law pertaining to climate-driven environmental crimes. It addresses key challenges, emerging trends, and current policy responses. Ultimately, it proposes legal and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing the legislative framework and improving the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Abstract
Background: Environmental crimes related to climate change encompass unlawful acts that harm the natural environment and worsen climate issues. However, Vietnam's legal framework faces significant limitations in addressing these offences, with many harmful acts not classified as crimes and penalties often lacking proportionality and deterrent effects. Therefore, examining Vietnamese criminal law is essential for improving the legal response to these environmental crimes.
Methods: The author employs various social science research methods to enhance understanding of environmental crimes. By integrating qualitative legal research, doctrinal analysis, comparative studies, and case studies, the author clarifies both international and national legal frameworks. The doctrinal approach illuminates these frameworks, while the comparative method evaluates Vietnam’s laws in relation to international standards. Additionally, case studies highlight legal gaps that impede the prosecution of serious environmental harm. These combined methods provide a comprehensive analysis of the issue.
Results and Conclusions: This article analyses international legal instruments alongside Vietnamese criminal law pertaining to climate-driven environmental crimes. It addresses key challenges, emerging trends, and current policy responses. Ultimately, it proposes legal and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing the legislative framework and improving the effectiveness of law enforcement.
About Authors
Dr. Nguyen Kim Chi*
Faculty of Criminal Law, Hanoi Law University (HLU), Vietnam
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1810-2306
Corresponding author, responsible for writing, reviewing and editing of this article.
Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Disclaimer: The author declares that her opinion and views expressed in this manuscript are free of any impact of any organizations.
Rights and Permissions
Copyright: © 2025 Nguyen Kim Chi. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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18. Sharma R, ‘Ecocide as the Fifth International Crime: Is the Rome Statute Compatible with Ecocide?’(Völkerrechtsblog, 16 January 2025) doi:10.17176/20250116-225415-0.
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20. Sollund R, Stefes CH and Germani AR (eds), Fighting Environmental Crime in Europe and Beyond: The Role of the EU and Its Member States (Palgrave Macmillan 2016) 4, doi:10.1057/978-1-349-95085-0.
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2. Chinh C, ‘How Did 16 People Destroy Forests in Yok Don National Park?’ [2018] Kiemsat<https://kiemsat.vn/16-doi-tuong-pha-rung-o-vuon-quoc-gia-yok-don-nhu-the-nao-49233.html> accessed 17 July 2025.
3. Cortat Simonetti Goncalves L and Faure MG, ‘International Law Instruments to Address the Plastic Soup’ (2019) 43(3) William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review 871, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3405968.
4. Diem NN, ‘Environmental Crimes in International Law and Experience for Vietnam’ [2023] Kiemsat<https://kiemsat.vn/toi-pham-ve-moi-truong-trong-phap-luat-quoc-te-va-kinh-nghiem-cho-viet-nam-65249.html> accessed 19 June 2025.
5. Dwernychuk LW, ‘Dioxin Hot Spots in Vietnam’ (2005) 60(7) Chemosphere 998 DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.052.
6. Frank NK and Lynch MJ, Corporate Crime Corporate Violence: A Primer (Harrow & Heston 1992).
7. Gerstetter C and others, Environmental Crime and the EU: Synthesis of the Research Project “European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime” (EFFACE) (Ecologic Institute gGmbH 2016).
8. Grohol M and Veeh C, Study on the Critical Raw Materials for the EU 2023: Final Report of the European Commission (Office of the EU 2023) doi:10.2873/725585
9. Gung NV, Some Environmental Protection Issues with Economic Development in Our Country Today(National Political Publishing House 2004).
10. Guo J, Kubli D and Saner P, The Economics of Climate Change: No Action Not an Option (P Ronke ed, Swiss Re Institute 2021).
11. Hien NTT and Thang P, ‘The Current Situation of Environmental Crime Trials and the Need to Establish a Specialized Environmental Court’ [2021] Tòa án nhân dân <https://tapchitoaan.vn/thuc-trang-xet-xu-toi-pham-ve-moi-truong-va-su-can-thiet-thanh-lap-toa-chuyen-trach-ve-moi-truong> accessed 19 June 2025.
12. Kien DT and Mai NT, ‘Legal Liability for Commercial Legal Entities Causing Environmental Pollution’ [2020]Dân chủ và pháp luật <https://danchuphapluat.vn/trach-nhiem-phap-ly-doi-voi-phap-nhan-thuong-mai-gay-o-nhiem-moi-truong-4045.html> accessed 17 July 2025.
13. Kien NN (ed), Vietnamese Criminal Law: Textbook (General Part) (Judicial Publishing House 2020).
14. Kurylo B, ‘What Is Environmental Crime?’ (Earth.Org, 25 March 2024) <https://earth.org/explainer-what-is-environmental-crime/> accessed 10 June 2025.
15. Loi PV (ed), Environmental Crime: Several Theoretical and Empirical Issues (CTQGST 2004). Дослідницька стаття МІЖНАРОДНІ ТА НАЦІОНАЛЬНІ ПРАВОВІ БАЗИ ДЛЯ БОРОТЬБИ ЗІ ЗЛОЧИНАМИ ПРОТИ ДОВКІЛЛЯ, ЩО СПРИЧИНЯЮТЬ ЗМІНУ КЛІМАТУ: ФОКУС НА В'ЄТНАМІ Нгуєн Кім Чі АНОТАЦІЯ Вступ. Злочини проти довкілля, повʼязані зі зміною клімату, охоплюють протиправні діяння, які завдають шкоди природному середовищу та поглиблюють кліматичні проблеми. Однак правова система В'єтнаму стикається зі значними обмеженнями у протидії цим правопорушенням, оскільки багато шкідливих діянь не кваліфікуються як злочини, а покарання часто не є пропорційними та не забезпечують стримувального ефекту. Тому дослідження кримінального законодавства В'єтнаму є важливим для покращення правового реагування на ці злочини проти довкілля. Методи. Автор використовує різні методи соціологічних досліджень для кращого розуміння злочинів проти довкілля. Поєднання якісного правового дослідження, доктринального аналізу, порівняльних досліджень та аналізу конкретних випадків, дозволяє висвітлити як міжнародну, так і національну нормативно-правову базу. Доктринальний підхід дозволяє детально проаналізувати ці нормативні системи, тоді як порівняльний метод оцінює законодавство В'єтнаму на відповідність міжнародним стандартам. Крім того, тематичні дослідження виявляють правові прогалини, які перешкоджають притягненню до відповідальності за серйозну шкоду довкіллю. Ці комбіновані методи забезпечують всебічний аналіз питання. Результати та висновки. У цій статті аналізуються міжнародно-правові інструменти разом із кримінальним законодавством В'єтнаму щодо злочинів проти довкілля, що спричиняють зміну клімату. У ній розглядаються ключові проблеми, нові тенденції та політичні заходи реагування. Зрештою, пропонуються правові та інституційні реформи, спрямовані на вдосконалення законодавчої бази та підвищення ефективності правозастосування. Ключові слова: зміна клімату, злочини проти довкілля, кримінальне право, екологічне право, В'єтнам.Reviews for article
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Date of submission: 09 May 2025
Date of acceptance: 21 Jul 2025
Publication: 17 Aug 2025
Whether the manuscript was fast tracked? - No
Number of reviewer report submitted in first round: 2 reports
Number of revision rounds: 1 round with minor revisions
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How to cite it?
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Chi NK, ‘International and National Legal Frameworks for Responding to Climate-Driven Environmental Crimes: A Focus on Vietnam’ (2025) 8(3) Access to Justice in Eastern Europe 420-47 <https://doi.org/10.33327/AJEE-18-8.3-a000121>
Managing editor – Mag. Bohdana Zahrebelna. English Editor – Julie Bold.
Ukrainian language Editor – Lilia Hartman.
