Summary
In July 2023, a bill to criminalize ecocide (Ecocide Criminalization Act) was officially proposed in the Parliament of the Netherlands. The Law would amend the Criminal Code to include criminalizing acts of ecocide – defined as “the willful infliction of serious and widespread or long-term damage to the environment” (1).
Upon submission, the proposal is subject to four weeks of public consultation prior to being submitted for advisory opinion to the Council of State. For the bill to become law, it will then need to be approved by Parliament.