Scotland could become first UK nation to criminalise ecocide

The Herald Scotland

4 days ago

The legislation could see individuals found guilty jailed for up to 20 years.
Senior executives at companies where offences occur with their consent or neglect would also be held liable.
As well as custodial sentences, convictions could lead to publicity orders, mandatory environmental remediation and unlimited financial penalties.
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Ms Lennon pointed to pollution in waterways and the legacy of contamination from heavy industry as examples of the damage the Bill seeks to tackle.
Supporters argue the legislation fills a gap in the statute book and would bring Scotland in line with over a dozen countries and the European Union, which recently revised its Environmental Crime Directive to include conduct comparable to ecocide.
An open letter urging MSPs to "seize this historic opportunity" and back the Bill has been signed by more than 100 figures from politics, law, science, business and civil society.
Signatories include journalist George Monbiot, actor Will Attenborough, KC and author Philippe Sands, Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, and former Finnish deputy prime minister Pertti Salolainen.
Their letter states: "With this Bill, Scotland positions itself at the forefront of a global shift in environmental justice.
"It joins a rising number of jurisdictions turning bold words into binding law — strengthening protections at home while helping to shape emerging international norms that reflect both scientific reality and moral necessity.
"The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill sends a clear message: mass destruction of nature is beyond unacceptable — it's criminal. With political will, the law can and must align with public conscience."
Ms Lennon said the Bill would send a strong message to polluters.
'I am delighted to be publishing the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament today, on a strong foundation of cross-party and public support,' she said.
'With ecocide law, Scotland can take bold and necessary action against severe environmental damage.
'Environmental destruction is not some distant issue for the people of Scotland — it directly threatens health, livelihoods and the future of entire communities.
'From sewage spilling into waterways to toxic pollution left behind by heavy industry, the damage is real and ongoing.
'Ecocide is a crime against the common good, and those who commit widespread or irreversible harm should be held to account.
'This is a vital opportunity for Scotland to become the first UK nation to criminalise ecocide and signal that the destruction of nature will not be tolerated here.'
Monica Lennon's ecocide Bill has cross-party support (Image: Gordon Terris) Mr Vince told The Herald that ecocide should be treated with the same legal gravity as other serious crimes.
'For me, it is a great idea — that it should be illegal to purposely, knowingly and deliberately cause harm to the environment, especially the kind of harm that endures for generations, is perfectly sensible.
'We have not had such a law, and I guess that is why I am backing it as well. And you can see the harm being done around the world in pursuit of money, because there is no law to stop people doing that kind of stuff.
'We have environment regulations and stuff like that, but no actual law that says it is against the law to impact the environment.'
He said Scotland could lead the way and send a message to the UK Government: 'Westminster needs a bit of encouragement to be bold on the environment."
Jojo Mehta, chief executive and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, said: 'This Scottish Bill is a striking example of how national action can drive global change.
'Around the world, ecocide law is gaining ground as a vital tool — not just to punish environmental destruction, but to prevent it.
'While the ultimate goal is to have ecocide recognised as a serious crime globally, national laws play a crucial role in legitimising that goal, building momentum and providing accountability now.
'They help shape legal norms that are increasingly being reflected in international frameworks.
'From the new Council of Europe Convention, which enables states to prosecute acts 'tantamount to ecocide', to the formal proposal by Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa to make ecocide a core international crime, momentum is accelerating.
'Scotland's move adds meaningful weight to this shift, reinforcing the growing global consensus that mass destruction of nature must be treated as a crime, in law and in principle.'
Scrutiny of the Bill is expected to begin before the summer recess, with a vote due later this year.
If passed, the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill would require the Scottish Government to report on its operation after five years, including data on prosecutions, convictions and the law's environmental and financial impact.