What happens when environmental destruction becomes a threat to humanity itself? Welcome to a keynote with Catriona McKinnon, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Exeter, exploring the case for recognising postericide as a new international crime.
Humanity is under threat from environmental collapse driven by the actions of a small number of powerful people. In this keynote, McKinnon makes the ethical case for recognising postericide as a new international crime aimed at preventing actions that threaten humanity's future existence. She explores why criminal liability should be assigned for such conduct and argues that the concept provides a powerful new framework for understanding and responding to threats that endanger us all.
Drawing on material from a forthcoming book with MIT Press, the talk reflects on the role of international criminal law in giving voice to what McKinnon describes as the moral conscience of humanity and considers how it can support action in the face of existential environmental risks.
A limited number of vegetarian lunches will be available from 12.00. These will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The keynote is expected to begin around 12:10.
This keynote is part of the NEEN & ISEE 2026 Conference on Environmental Ethics, hosted at Umeå University 14-16 October. While the conference is primarily intended for registered participants, the keynote lectures are open to all.
The conference is organised by the Nordic Environmental Ethics Network and the European section of the International Society for Environmental Ethics.
Catriona McKinnon
Professor of Philosophy
University of Exeter