Planetary Geopolitics, Space Weaponization and Environmental Harms.

This article critically examines the environmental harms associated with the militarization and weaponization of outer space, highlighting a significant gap in criminological research on these issues. It juxtaposes known environmental damages from terrestrial military activities with documented and anticipated harms from space expansionism, including rocket fuel emissions, space debris, and resource extraction for advanced weaponry. The authors emphasize the geopolitical competition among major powers—primarily the United States, China, and Russia—and private corporations in the space arms race, noting the potential for increased ecological damage both on Earth and in space. They call for the development of "astro-green criminology," a subfield focused on space-related environmental harms, and caution that current international laws and regulations are insufficient to address the complex challenges posed by space weaponization and resource exploitation.