France to bring ‘eco-cide’ law to punish damage to environment with up to 10 years in prison

France has decided to make causing serious intentional damage to the environment punishable by up to 10 years in prison as part of its planned “eco-cide” law. Ministers in the French government said that fines will also be levied to create a “general pollution offence”.

The “eco-cide” law was one of the 149 proposals recommended by the Citizens’ Convention for Climate Change to cut France’s greenhouse gas emissions. French President Emmanuel Macron had said that 146 of these recommendations would be implemented in law.

Formed by the French government in 2019, the Citizens’ Convention for Climate Change comprises 150 people from across the country.

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French Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti and Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili told JDD weekly that the “eco-cide” offence would be sanctioned by up to 4.5 million Euros (roughly Rs 39.56 crores). The ministers also said that “intentional violation” of environmental laws will attract a penalty of up to 10 years in prison as a result of these decisions.

“Punishment will be staggered according to a perpetrator’s intentions.” The aim was to fine violators of environmental laws “up to 10 times the profit they would have generated by throwing waste into the river,” news agency AFP quoted French Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti as saying.

The minister went on to add that the purpose of the “eco-cide” laws is fine violators of environmental laws up to 10 times the profit they would make by throwing waste into the river.

French Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili added that France will also add an offence called “endangering the environment” to its statute books.

Credit: Indiatoday