"Ecocide" is just a fancy word for pollution.

Pollution might be litter in a stream. Ecocide means severe and lasting harm to ecosystems – like wiping out a forest, poisoning a river, or causing mass species loss. It's not just pollution: it's destructive on an even more serious scale.

Scotland already has laws that cover this.

There are environmental regulations, but no specific criminal offence for the kind of large-scale destruction that ecocide describes. The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill would change that – by treating it as the serious crime it is.

Only giant corporations commit ecocide.

It's not just private companies. Public bodies, governments, and individuals in leadership roles can also be responsible – especially when they approve or ignore harmful actions.

"Ecocide" is a brand-new term made up by campaigners.

The word dates back to the 1970s and has been used for decades to describe serious environmental harm. The movement to make it a crime has been gaining momentum worldwide, and Scotland could help lead the way.

Criminalising ecocide would harm the economy.

In fact, it would help protect it. Environmental damage comes with a big price tag – from flooding to food insecurity. Laws like this create clarity and encourage long-term thinking, not shortcuts.

An ecocide law will hold top decisionmakers to account

Ecocide law is not intended to punish ordinary people trying to make a living, but instead to hold top-level decisionmakers responsible. This legislation is aimed at the most powerful players in industry, making them answerable for the serious damage they cause to our environment.

If Scotland passes this law, it would be among the first countries in the world to do so.

Only a handful of countries have ecocide laws. If passed, this Bill would put Scotland at the forefront, taking a clear stand that serious harm to nature isn't just wrong – it's criminal.

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Take a stand against ecocide

Scottish Co-operative Party MSP Monica Lennon has submitted the final proposal for her Ecocide (Scotland) Bill. The Bill aims to:

  • Make harming the environment a serious offence through introducing a crime of ecocide.
  • Deter harm through tough sanctions, including prison sentences.
  • Ensure Scotland keeps pace with ecocide law developments in Europe and internationally.

The consultation on this Bill demonstrated overwhelming support for an ecocide law – 95% of responses were in favour of introducing a crime of ecocide.

Thanks to hundreds of campaigners writing to their MSPs, this Bill now has cross-party support and can proceed to the next step in the Scottish Parliament. If you back making polluters pay, add your name now to back the campaign for an Ecocide Bill.

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