Belgium Becomes First EU Country to Criminalize Ecocide

Belgium has become the first European Union country to include ecocide in its criminal code as an independent and serious crime, under a new penal law that took effect in September. The law, adopted by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2024, defines ecocide as the intentional commission of an unlawful act or omission that causes severe, widespread and long-term damage to the environment, even when the perpetrator is aware that such damage will occur. Incidents such as large-scale oil spills, extensive pollution of marine ecosystems, or nuclear waste causing serious environmental destruction could be investigated as ecocide if the specified conditions are met.

Individuals found responsible for ecocide could face prison sentences of 15 to 20 years. If the crime is committed by legal entities, fines ranging from 1.2 million to 1.6 million euros could be imposed. For an act to be considered ecocide, causing harm to the environment alone is not sufficient; the damage must be severe, widespread and long-lasting, the act must be intentional, and the perpetrator must be aware of the resulting harm.

The new regulation is expected to apply in certain areas under the responsibility of the federal government, including matters related to the North Sea and the management of radiation and radioactive waste. With this regulation, Belgium became the first EU country to introduce ecocide as an independent and aggravated crime in its penal code.