Submit your views on the Scottish parliament Ecocide bill - consultation open until 9th September

The Scottish Parliament is considering making ‘Ecocide’ a criminal offence, and is seeking public comment on the proposed Ecocide bill until 9th September 2025. Take this opportunity to share your views, and hopefully contribute to making Scotland the first UK nation to criminalise severe environmental damage. 

Ecocide is defined as “causing severe environmental harm in such a way that is either reckless or intentional”. It will allow people and organisations to be convicted of ecocide, with the prospect of jail terms and fines. The costs of repairing or mitigating the effects of the environmental harm from the offence may also need to be paid. 12 other nations currently have an ecocide law, including Belgium, France, and Ukraine. 

The Scottish bill has been proposed by Monica Lennon, MSP, on the basis that currently there are no appropriate penalties for individuals or organisations who cause severe environmental damage. She proposes that introducing this criminal offence would reduce the likelihood of future incidents that cause serious environmental harm. 

The Scottish parliament are seeking responses from members of the public, advocacy groups, professional bodies and academic institutions. Take this opportunity to contribute to this bill here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/nzet/ecocide-scotland-bill/consult_view/. You can be part of paving the way to greater accountability for, and action on, environmental harms in Scotland, and perhaps the rest of the UK in future.