ECO WAR CRIMES

Activists say world-first legislation could put massive pollution on par with genocide and other atrocities

- DAN VEVERS

A GROUNDBREAKING new "ecocide" law must be brought in to punish those who destroy Scotland's nature.

That's the call from campaigners who say polluters are getting away with killing the planet.

If adopted, Scotland could become one of the first nations to establish a specific crime for mass environmental damage - such as oil spills or deforestation.

Activists say it would complete a decade-long campaign for global recognition of ecocide by the inspiring Scots barrister Polly Higgins, who died in 2019. The Holyrood drive for legislation is spearheaded by Scottish Labour's Monica Lennon, with a consultation planned for later this year.

Jojo Mehta, executive director of Stop Ecocide International, told the Record the law could capture a wide array of polluting acts targeting individuals rather than corporations.