Skip to main content

Interactive timeline: Environmental disasters and law

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


I have created a Dipity timeline of environmental disasters and law. It starts at the Industrial Revolution, and I would ask you to have a play with the zoom, especially to look at 2010 and 2011. The timeline was inspired by the idea of creating a new law to help turn the tide on climate change and other environmental ills. The law would be called Ecocide.

Tomorrow I am liveblogging on Storify (and will also publish here) from the mock Ecocide trial, being held at the Supreme Court in London. The idea is to test whether corporations can be held to account under a new International Crime Against Peace.

Please let me know what you think of the timeline, whether it works to express some meaningful information, and whether you can think of more significant events to add in the comments below - it's a work in progress! Thanks.


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


Christine Ottery is a journalist with a very broad range interests and a MA in science journalism from City University. In the past year she has written about art and science for the New Scientist, technology for Wired UK, neuroscience for the Dana Foundation, international development for SciDev.net, 'the female Viagra' for Comment is Free, and the environment for TheEcologist.co.uk and the Guardian. On top of all this, Christine has been known to blog, tweet, present podcasts, deliver talks and film and produce for online broadcast.

More by Christine Ottery