Scotland Ecocide Law

Summary

On 5 February 2026, the Scottish Parliament voted to progress the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill to the next stage of the parliamentary process to decide if it will become an Act. The proposed Ecocide Bill seeks to deter mass environmental damage and destruction taking place in Scotland, and aims to protect the environment, habitats, and natural resources by introducing the crime of ecocide into Scots Law.

The legislation expressly draws from the legal definition of ecocide proposed by the independent expert panel of Stop Ecocide International: “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or longterm damage to the Scottish environment being caused by those acts.”

Background
A draft proposal for an Ecocide Bill was first introduced in November 2023. The draft proposal then entered a public consultation period which ran until February 2024. The final proposal for legislation was formally introduced into Parliament in May 2025 by Monica Lennon MSP, following two years of drafting and public consultations. This marked the first stage of the legislative process, with a vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, the Bill fails and can’t become law.

A Stage 1 debate took place on 5 February 2026 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill. The Parliament voted 90 to 26 (with 4 abstentions) in agreement of the general principles, progressing the Ecocide Bill to Stage 2. In Stage 2, MSPs can submit amendments to the Bill and it will be voted on by the responsible committee.