‘Environmental harm should be a crime’

Friday 6 September 2024

Research Reveals Overwhelming Support for Criminalising Environmental Damage

New findings from Ipsos UK, a renowned market research agency, have unveiled a powerful sentiment amongst individuals across 18 G20 nations. An impressive three out of four people, equating to 72 per cent of the respondents, advocate for the criminalisation of governments and large corporations responsible for significant environmental harm.

Furthermore, the survey highlights a growing concern among the populace, with 59 per cent expressing varying degrees of worry about the current state of nature. This figure marks a subtle rise from the data obtained in the 2021 Global Commons Survey.

Moreover, a staggering 69 per cent of participants acknowledge that planet Earth is perilously close to tipping points associated with climate and biodiversity loss due to human interventions.

This revelation comes in the wake of ground-breaking legal advancements worldwide. Notably, Belgium recently declared ecocide as a federal offence earlier this year, setting a precedent for other nations to follow suit.

Following Belgium’s lead, similar legislations have been enacted in Chile and France. Furthermore, a wave of ecocide bills is making its way through the legislative processes of countries like Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru and Scotland, among others.

Jojo Mehta, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stop Ecocide International, commented on this significant shift in policy, stating: ‘We are witnessing a notable movement towards the implementation of ecocide laws at local, regional, and international levels.’

‘This progressive policy change is primarily propelled by the growing demand from civil society. The latest Global Commons Survey underscores the substantial public backing behind such legislation.’

Mehta emphasised, ‘It is evident that people recognise the far-reaching consequences of severe environmental degradation and the importance of holding top decision-makers personally accountable for their actions.’

‘The implementation of ecocide laws focuses on prevention as the ultimate measure, advocating for a proactive approach to safeguarding our planet.’

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