Belgium Criminalises Ecocide: A Landmark Decision in Europe
Belgium Makes History by Criminalizing Ecocide
Belgium has made history by becoming the first country in Europe to criminalize ecocide on both a national and international level. The new penal code, backed by Belgium’s federal parliament, imposes harsh penalties for individuals and corporations found guilty of ecocide.
Individuals convicted of ecocide could face up to 20 years in prison, while corporations could be fined up to €1.6 million. The scope of the law is limited to areas within the jurisdiction of the federal authority, such as the North Sea and nuclear waste management. However, Stop Ecocide Belgium believes that recent progress on an EU level will help to bridge any gaps between federal and regional environmental criminal laws.
Patricia Willocq, director of Stop Ecocide Belgium, praised the new law, stating that Belgium is now leading a global conversation on criminalizing severe harm to nature. She emphasized the need to protect nature by holding accountable those who cause significant environmental damage.
Belgium’s recognition of ecocide as an international crime is based on the consensus definition proposed by the independent expert panel convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation in 2021. Jojo Mehta, CEO and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, commended Belgium for its leadership in addressing environmental destruction and protecting vulnerable communities.
Mehta highlighted the growing momentum around the conversation on ecocide laws, with several countries taking steps to establish domestic crimes of ecocide. He expressed confidence that international recognition of ecocide as a crime is on the horizon, especially following the EU’s agreement to include ecocide-level crimes in its revised environmental crimes directive.
Belgium’s groundbreaking move to criminalize ecocide sets a precedent for other countries to follow suit and take concrete actions to protect the environment and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
