Ecocide is a widespread, long-term, and severe environmental destruction that threatens the survival of ecosystems and species, and its criminalization as an international crime further highlights the need to ensure environmental justice at the global level. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive legal framework to combat ecocide at the national and international levels is of great importance. This study aims to analyze the theoretical and legal foundations of the criminalization of ecocide in international criminal law and its legal and enforcement challenges, as well as to provide legal solutions to promote criminal protection of the environment.