You may have noticed that the name of the Bill has slightly changed from its original, Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill.
As this legislation focuses on making ecocide a crime, prevention is inherent and does not need to be included in its name. There may still be references to the older title, where appropriate, on some pages on this website.
About Ecocide
What is Ecocide?
Ecocide is the mass damage and destruction of the natural living world. It literally means 'killing the environment'.
The theory is that no one should go unpunished for destroying the natural world. Campaigners believe the crime should come under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, which can currently prosecute just four crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
What is the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill?
The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill is the proposed legislation to introduce a crime of ecocide and sanctions into Scots Law.
In December 2024, Monica Lennon introduced the formal members' proposal for this bill and gained the support of 51 of the 129 MSPs. She is currently drafting the legislation and a draft bill will come before the Scottish Parliament in Spring 2025.
More information is available on the Scottish Parliament website - Proposed Ecocide (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
Ecocide in international law
The idea of including ecocide as an international crime has developed momentum in recent decades through the work of academics, lawyers and campaign organisations.
One approach that has gained widespread support is to make ecocide an international crime by amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to include the crime of ecocide.
The Rome Statute is available here.
Stop Ecocide International
Stop Ecocide International is the driving force behind the growing global movement to make ecocide an international crime.
SEI published a draft legal definition put forward by its Independent Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide as the basis for consideration for an amendment to the Rome Statute.
Its definition is - ‘ecocide’ means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts'.
More information and the full draft definition, is available here.
Ecocide is the mass damage and destruction of the natural living world. It literally means 'killing the environment'.
The theory is that no one should go unpunished for destroying the natural world. Campaigners believe the crime should come under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, which can currently prosecute just four crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
What is the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill?
The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill is the proposed legislation to introduce a crime of ecocide and sanctions into Scots Law.
In December 2024, Monica Lennon introduced the formal members' proposal for this bill and gained the support of 51 of the 129 MSPs. She is currently drafting the legislation and a draft bill will come before the Scottish Parliament in Spring 2025.
More information is available on the Scottish Parliament website - Proposed Ecocide (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
Ecocide in international law
The idea of including ecocide as an international crime has developed momentum in recent decades through the work of academics, lawyers and campaign organisations.
One approach that has gained widespread support is to make ecocide an international crime by amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to include the crime of ecocide.
The Rome Statute is available here.
Stop Ecocide International
Stop Ecocide International is the driving force behind the growing global movement to make ecocide an international crime.
SEI published a draft legal definition put forward by its Independent Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide as the basis for consideration for an amendment to the Rome Statute.
Its definition is - ‘ecocide’ means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts'.
More information and the full draft definition, is available here.
