Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum
Overview
About the Bill
Ecocide is defined in the Bill as causing severe environmental harm in such a way that is either reckless or intentional. For this Bill, “Severe”, means environmental harm that has serious adverse effects, and is either “widespread” or “long-term”.
This Bill will allow for people and organisations to be convicted of ecocide. When someone acting as an employee commits ecocide, that person’s employer may also be convicted of the offence.
However, they can avoid conviction if:
- they can demonstrate they didn’t know about the employee actions,
- they couldn’t have suspected the employee would have committed ecocide, or they had taken reasonable precautions to prevent the employee committing ecocide.
- Any individual convicted of ecocide could be jailed for up to twenty years and fined. Any organisation convicted of ecocide is liable to receive a fine.
Courts must take into account any financial benefit arising from the offence when deciding what level of fines to apply. Courts may also require compensation to be paid for any personal injury loss or damage caused by the offence. The costs of repairing or mitigating the effects of any harm to the environment resulting from the offence would also need to be paid.
In addition, the courts may also make a publicity order where a person is convicted of ecocide. This means that the details of the offence would be advertised.
Ministers will need to submit a report to Parliament after five years on the operation of the Bill.
Current Status of the Bill
This Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Monica Lennon MSP on 29 May 2025.
Read and find out more about the Bill: Ecocide (Scotland) Bill.
Stage 1
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee has been designated as the lead Committee for the Bill. A separate call for views on the Bill’s policy provisions has been issued by the lead Committee and published on this consultation platform.
Ecocide (Scotland) Bill Call for views
Financial Memorandum
As with all Bills, the Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).
Read the FM published alongside this Bill.
Making a Submission
Before making a submission, please read our Privacy Notice about submitting your views to a Committee. This tells you about how we process personal data.
Please note that in most cases your submission will be published on the Scottish Parliament's website and may be quoted in the Committee's report or in Committee meetings (which are public and broadcast).
Questions in this call for views
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Did you take part in any consultation exercise preceding the Bill and, if so, did you comment on the financial assumptions made?
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If applicable, do you believe your comments on the financial assumptions have been accurately reflected in the FM?
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Did you have sufficient time to contribute to the consultation exercise?
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If the Bill has any financial implications for you or your organisation, do you believe that they have been accurately reflected in the FM? If not, please provide details.
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Do you consider that the estimated costs and savings set out in the FM are reasonable and accurate?
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If applicable, are you content that your organisation can meet any financial costs that it might incur as a result of the Bill? If not, how do you think these costs should be met?
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Does the FM accurately reflect the margins of uncertainty associated with the Bill’s estimated costs and with the timescales over which they would be expected to arise?
How to submit your views
Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.
We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language.
The call for views closes on 09 September 2025.
Submit your views
Interests
- FPA
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