A NEW law will be presented to Holyrood next year, which could result in major polluters facing up to 20 years in prison.
Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour MSP for Central Scotland, proposed the Ecocide Prevention Bill that could make Scotland the first country in the UK to impose harsh penalties on executives responsible for major environmental damage.
Ecocide laws are designed to prevent individuals or businesses from causing significant harm to the environment.
The project has received enough support from MSPs to be introduced to the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government has also stated that it will not intervene to prevent the bill, paving the way for its formal introduction in the Scottish Parliament next year.
“Our current laws are not capable of protecting nature from the most severe acts of environmental destruction," said Lennon.
“The time for ecocide law is now, and it’s brilliant to see MSPs uniting in support of the proposal."
A member’s bill requires at least 18 MSPs from at least two of the larger political parties before it can be introduced and Lennon has enough support to carry the project forward.
She has more than 30 MSPs from Holyrood’s large parties backing her bill.
“Criminalising ecocide is a vital response to the climate and nature emergency,” Lennon added.
“Scotland could be the first country in the UK to make ecocide a crime, keeping pace with legal developments in the EU and beyond.
“By working closely with the Scottish Government, MSPs, grassroots campaigners and experts, I am confident that we can deliver legislation that works for Scottish circumstances while being part of an important international movement to stop ecocide.”
Lennon hopes to introduce the bill before June 2025 to the Scottish Government.
