Three of New Zealand's Pacific neighbours have asked the International Criminal Court to consider 'ecocide' an international crime.
Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa made a formal submission to the world's highest court last month, that would put the worst environmental destruction by humans, on a par with genocide and crimes against humanity.
It follows a push in recent years to make ecocide a globally punishable offence and moves by some countries - particularly in Europe - to include it in their own statutes.
So what kind of destruction would 'ecocide' apply to? And what's the process the ICC has to follow? Kathryn speaks with Jojo Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International.