Oldal 173 [173]
OCR
Chapter 8. Ecocide in the European sphere In 2024, a new bill was introduced “on the crime of ecocide and for connected purposes” as a private members bill.’ The new law was introduced by Baroness Rosie Boycott, who commented the submission as the following: “Tf, as a country, we are serious about playing a meaningful role in guiding the global response to the climate and ecological crisis, we need not only robust domestic ecocide legislation but also to throw our weight behind international efforts to recognise ecocide as a fifth crime against peace, alongside genocide, at the International Criminal Court.” The new bill defines ecocide similar to the expert committees definition: “For the purposes of this Act, “ecocide’— (a) as it applies to an individual, means unlawful or wanton acts or omissions committed by persons of superior responsibility who had knowledge, or should have had knowledge, that there was a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts; (b) as it applies to a company, organisation, partnership or other legal entity, means strict liability for unlawful or wanton acts or omissions with a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or longterm damage to the environment being caused by those acts." 8.4.2. The efforts of EU Member States to criminalise ecocide Not surprisingly, Sweden was one of the first countries to put considerable weight behind criminalising the most serious environmental offences. In a joint article, the leaders of the Swedish Irade Union Confederation and the Olof Palme International Centre highlighted the importance of the Stockholm --50 conference in 2022, where Sweden could once again show that it is a pioneer in environmental protection.*” Recalling the °° The Bill was submitted by Baroness Rosie Boycott. Ecocide Bill HL Bill 21 Originated in the House of Lords, Session 2023-24. Available at: https://bills.parliament. uk/publications/53197/documents/4084. >» STOP Ecocide International: UK ecocide bill’ introduced in House of Lords. Available at: https://www.stopecocide.earth/breaking-news-2023/uk-ecocide-bill-introducedin-house-of-lords. 531 Thid, p. 3. 532 Svenska Dagbla: Criminalising large-scale environmental destruction, 3 March 2023 (Kriminalisera storskalig miljöförstörelse) Available at: https://www.svd.se/missvisandeom-vart-arbete-kring-genteknik. 171
