Are There Two Sides to Ecocide?
Or do renewable energy companies get a free pass?
Posted on 20 Jul 25
by Mark Hodgson
Almost four years ago I wrote an article about ecocide. At the time there was a lot of agitation for this new crime to be introduced. I speculated (wrongly as it turned out) that when the upcoming COP26 failed its own terms (I was right about that) the delegates might press for the introduction of a new crime of ecocide in order to make up for their climate failure. However, the agitation around ecocide has not gone away, and north of the border a draft bill (the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill) has now been introduced by Monica Lennon MSP. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is the lead committee with regard to this draft legislation, and it is now seeking views on the draft legislation.
Scotland Against Spin has responded, and had kindly given me permission to reproduce its response to the Committee below. Its worry, which I share, is that if the new crime is introduced, a carve-out will be included in order to let renewable energy companies (some of the biggest despoilers of our environment) off the hook. This worry would seem to be justified when reading the words of Edward Mountain MSP when launching the call for views:
We all agree on the need to address the biodiversity crisis and protect and restore fragile ecosystems. That includes making sure there are fitting penalties for serious environmental damage.
Introducing ecocide into Scots criminal law could send a strong message to individuals and organisations about the gravity of serious environmental damage and act as a deterrent, changing corporate behaviour and individual decision-making for the better.
While protecting the environment is vital, it’s also important to ensure that any new measures strike the right balance – avoiding disproportionate costs for public bodies, individuals and businesses, or inhibiting development or infrastructure in places where it is needed and wanted.
And before making new laws, its right to reflect on how well current measures to combat environmental damage work and whether they’re backed up with sufficient resources.
What follows, then, is Scotland Against Spin’s response.
https://cliscep.com/2025/07/20/are-there-two-sides-to-ecocide/
