www.abertay.ac.u k
The vitality of environmental criminology to the future status of earth, its life, and humanity Derek Hill, School of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Abertay University Email: d.hill1600@abertay.ac.uk
Introduction Environmental crime is gaining more traction within the realms of contemporary society and so too is the consequences of green crime and its effect on humanity, biodiversity, and the ecology of the earth. Orthodox formats of criminology are contemporarily prescribed greater consideration socially, politically, academically, and within cases of legislation. For this reason, research in determining the reality of the potential consequences of continued cases of environmental crime such as corporate methodologies would allow an early intervention into preventative methods which may ensure the future sustainability of life on planet earth.
Aim The aim of this research is to showcase the vitality of reformation in the way contemporary society currently treats environmental criminology. The research seeks to illustrate the vitality in balancing the current perception of environmental criminology to that of orthodox realms of crime as outlined by White (2008) and Nurse (2016). Furthermore, it aims to showcase the public perspective of environmental crime and criminology in order to illustrate the status of environmental crime within the public sphere. This therefore may determine whether or not transfigurations need to occur through various realms of contemporary society, particularly that of ethically, morally, culturally, philosophically and structurally within the likes of environmental legislation.
Methodology The research is underpinned by a mixed methodology approach which utilizes both qualitative and quantitative approaches in order to produce an extensive yet reliable se of results which can be used to inform the studies overall suggestions and conclusions concerning environmental criminology. These methodologies take 3 primary formats across the entirety of the project.
1. Review of academic literature, datasets, and reports 2. Semi-structured digital interviews 3. Online multiple-choice questionnaire
Theorized results Figure 1: Undergraduate Honours project online questionnaire result example
The project is currently in progress but can be theorized to produce results which develop and mirror a more complex, thorough, and advanced variance of the undergraduate research project from which this project is derived and advancing further, in addition to providing a new insight into a multitude of new dimensions regarding environmental criminology both in the academic sphere and in the realm of the public perspective of environmental crime and criminology. In this vein, the project concluded that a substantive degree of reform in ethical, moral, philosophical, cultural, and legislative would be required to develop the dialogue required to bolster greater consideration to be afforded to environmental criminology in all aforementioned dimensions. Moreover, the study concluded that the field would benefit from further research which addressed the relationship between public and corporate dimensions of environmental criminology in addition to the concepts and theories already explored.
References Nurse, A., 2015. Creative Compliance, constructive compliance: corporate environmental crime and the criminal entrepreneur. In: G. McElwee & R. Smith, eds. Exploring Criminal and Illegal Enterprise: New Perspectives on Research Policy and Practice: 5 (Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research). Bingley: Emerald Publishing , pp. 97-120. Nurse, A., 2016. An Intrduction to Green Criminology & Environmental Justice. 1st ed. London: SAGE. Simon, D. R., 2014. Corporate environmental crimes and social inequality: new directions for environmental justice research . In: R. White, ed. Environmental Crime: A Reader. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 103-115. Singer, P., 1975. Animal Liberation. New York : Avon. White, R., 2008. Crimes Against Nature: Environmental criminology and ecological Justice. Cullompton: Willan Publishing. White, R. & Heckenberg, D., 2014. Green Criminology: An Introduction to the Study of Environmental Harm. London: Routledge.
Abertay University is an operating name of the University of Abertay Dundee, a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC016040.