Greens back calls for 'ecocide' law in Scotland to punish environment destroyers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Greens have backed calls for a new “ecocide” law in Scotland to punish people guilty of mass environmental destruction. Labour MSP Monica Lennon is spearheading efforts to get the eco law on Holyrood’s statute books amid a global push for an international ecocide crime to hold planet killers to account.The Scottish Greens - partners in government with the SNP - said Lennon’s proposal was “worthy of proper consideration”.

It comes after we told yesterday how the groundbreaking “ecocide” concept was first pioneered by late Scots barrister Polly Higgins who died in 2019.Activists told the Record that a Scottish ecocide law would be like the idea “coming home” and would complete a decade-long campaign to recognise massive environmental crimes.

Campaigners say, ultimately, ecocide perpetrators should be tried in the International Criminal Court in the same vein as war criminals or people who commit genocide.But the EU, Brazil - and now Scotland - are among those considering laws in their own territories to criminalise the worst cases of eco destruction such as oil spills, deforestation and major pollution.

If backed by MSPs, it would make Scotland one of the first countries in the world to establish a crime of ecocide in the justice system.Central Scotland MSP Lennon - who previously rallied cross-party support for her world-leading period poverty legislation - is aiming to consult on her ecocide plans later this year.Scottish Greens rural affairs spokeswoman Ariane Burgess said: “The urgency of the climate and nature crisis facing us means we must investigate all opportunities to stop the spiral of damage being inflicted upon our planet to secure the right to a healthy environment.“That is why we support the aims of the