In a UK first, Scotland has introduced a bill to criminalise ecocide—severe or reckless damage to nature—with penalties including prison terms and heavy fines for company directors and public officials.
Tabled by Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill aims to elevate environmental destruction to the level of serious crimes, such as murder, aligning with EU environmental crime directives and international efforts led by nations like Vanuatu, Samoa, and Fiji to include ecocide under the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction.
If passed, the bill will impose strict legal duties on executives and agencies, making Scotland a frontrunner in domestic ecocide legislation alongside countries like Brazil, the Netherlands, and Italy. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Ben Birchall/PA