Can Climate Defence be Evaluated within the Scope of State of Necessity?: An Evaluation in the Light of the Decisions of the US, German and Swiss Courts

Ezgi Çırak Karalı

Article Details

Can Climate Defence be Evaluated within the Scope of State of Necessity?: An Evaluation in the Light of the Decisions of the US, German and Swiss Courts

Authors:

Ezgi Çırak Karalı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Çevresel Suç | Mahkemeler ve Cezanın Belirlenmesi

Journal:

Ceza Hukuku ve Kriminoloji Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.112-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340122

pISSN:

2148-6646

Keywords:

Abstract:

 To draw public attention to the negative effects of climate change and global warming and mobilize official decision-making bodies, the creative but unlawful actions of climate protesters have recently attracted attention. Actions such as blocking the main roads of the city to draw attention to the damage caused by fossil fuels, sit-down strikes and even gluing themselves to the road, throwing soup at priceless artifacts in museums, and sticking their hands on the maestros desk during a symphony concert, however remarkable they may be, are criminal offenses. Indeed, protesters face criminal proceedings for their actions. In these criminal proceedings, the protesters claimed that they had carried out a proportionate attack to prevent a grave and imminent danger to the environment and argued that their actions should be regarded as acts of necessity. In this study, the arguments in the doctrine in favor of and against the protesters arguments are examined; the decisions of the US, German, and Swiss courts are evaluated, and a general evaluation is made on whether the protesters should be punished or not.

 To draw public attention to the negative effects of climate change and global warming and mobilize official decision-making bodies, the creative but unlawful actions of climate protesters have recently attracted attention. Actions such as blocking the main roads of the city to draw attention to the damage caused by fossil fuels, sit-down strikes and even gluing themselves to the road, throwing soup at priceless artifacts in museums, and sticking their hands on the maestros desk during a symphony concert, however remarkable they may be, are criminal offenses. Indeed, protesters face criminal proceedings for their actions. In these criminal proceedings, the protesters claimed that they had carried out a proportionate attack to prevent a grave and imminent danger to the environment and argued that their actions should be regarded as acts of necessity. In this study, the arguments in the doctrine in favor of and against the protesters arguments are examined; the decisions of the US, German, and Swiss courts are evaluated, and a general evaluation is made on whether the protesters should be punished or not.

 To draw public attention to the negative effects of climate change and global warming and mobilize official decision-making bodies, the creative but unlawful actions of climate protesters have recently attracted attention. Actions such as blocking the main roads of the city to draw attention to the damage caused by fossil fuels, sit-down strikes and even gluing themselves to the road, throwing soup at priceless artifacts in museums, and sticking their hands on the maestros desk during a symphony concert, however remarkable they may be, are criminal offenses. Indeed, protesters face criminal proceedings for their actions. In these criminal proceedings, the protesters claimed that they had carried out a proportionate attack to prevent a grave and imminent danger to the environment and argued that their actions should be regarded as acts of necessity. In this study, the arguments in the doctrine in favor of and against the protesters arguments are examined; the decisions of the US, German, and Swiss courts are evaluated, and a general evaluation is made on whether the protesters should be punished or not.

 İklim değişikliği ve küresel ısınmanın olumsuz etkilerine kamuoyunun dikkatini çekmek ve resmi karar organlarını harekete geçirmek amacıyla, iklim protestocularının yaratıcı ancak hukuka aykırı eylemleri son zamanlarda dikkat çekici hale gelmeye başlamıştır. Protestocuların fosil yakıtların zararlarına dikkat çekmek için şehrin ana yollarının trafiğe kapatması, caddelerde oturma eylemleri yapması hatta eylemcilerin kendilerini yola yapıştırmaları, müzelerdeki paha biçilemez eserlere çorba fırlatmaları, bir senfoni konseri sırasında ellerini orkestra şefinin masasına yapıştırmaları gibi eylemleri ne kadar dikkat çekici olsa da suç oluşturacak niteliktedir. Nitekim protestocular bu eylemlerinden dolayı ceza davaları ile karşı karşıya kalmaktadırlar. Bu ceza davalarında protestocular, çevreye karşı gerçekleşecek ağır ve muhakkak bir tehlikeyi önleme amacıyla orantılı bir saldırı gerçekleştirdiklerini iddia ederek, eylemlerinin zorunluluk hali kapsamında kabul edilmesi gerektiği yönünde savunma yapmaktadırlar. Bu çalışmada protestocuların bu argümanlarının lehine ve aleyhine olan görüşler incelenmiş; ABD, Almanya ve İsviçre mahkemelerinde verilen kararlar değerlendirilmiş ve nihayetinde protestocuların cezalandırılıp cezalandırılmamasına ilişkin genel değerlendirme yapılmıştır.

Article Details

Can Climate Defence be Evaluated within the Scope of State of Necessity?: An Evaluation in the Light of the Decisions of the US, German and Swiss Courts

Authors:

Ezgi Çırak Karalı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Çevresel Suç | Mahkemeler ve Cezanın Belirlenmesi

Journal:

Ceza Hukuku ve Kriminoloji Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.112-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340122

pISSN:

2148-6646

State of necessity

climate defense

climate changeZorunluluk hali

iklim savunması

iklim değişikliği

Issues

Article Details

Can Climate Defence be Evaluated within the Scope of State of Necessity?: An Evaluation in the Light of the Decisions of the US, German and Swiss Courts

Authors: Ezgi Çırak Karalı

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Çevresel Suç | Mahkemeler ve Cezanın Belirlenmesi

Journal: Ceza Hukuku ve Kriminoloji Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.112-132

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001340122

pISSN: 2148-6646

State of necessity

climate defense

climate changeZorunluluk hali

iklim savunması

iklim değişikliği

Issues

Authors:

Ezgi Çırak Karalı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Çevresel Suç | Mahkemeler ve Cezanın Belirlenmesi

Journal:

Ceza Hukuku ve Kriminoloji Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.112-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340122

pISSN:

2148-6646