Friday 6 September 2024
‘Causing environmental damage should be a criminal offence’
New research by market researchers, Ipsos UK shows that nearly three out of four people (72 per cent) across 18 G20 countries support criminalising governments and large businesses that cause serious environmental damage.
Among respondents, 59 per cent are very or extremely worried about the state of nature today, a slight increase from the 2021 Global Commons Survey.
In addition, 69 per cent agree that Earth is nearing tipping points related to climate and nature due to human activities.
The research follow landmark legislative changes around the world. In Belgium, for example, ecocide was recognised as a federal crime earlier this year.
Similar laws have also been passed in Chile and France and ecocide bills have been proposed in Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru and Scotland, among others.
Jojo Mehta, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stop Ecocide International: 'We’re seeing significant policy shifts in favour of ecocide legislation at the domestic, regional and international levels.
'We know this policy-level progress has been significantly driven by widespread civil society demand. The new Global Commons Survey makes it obvious that there is already a strong foundation of public support for this law.
'People clearly understand that the most severe forms of environmental destruction harm all of us and that there is real deterrent potential in creating personal criminal liability for top decision-makers.
'Damage prevention is always the best policy, which is precisely what ecocide law is about.'
