Exclusive:Monica Lennon 'profoundly disappointed' after Holyrood committee shelves ecocide bill
Monica Lennon has been left “profoundly disappointed” that her ecocide legislation has been shelved, warning it is “a missed opportunity to protect Scotland’s environment”.
Holyrood authorities have blocked legislation to outlaw ecocide - despite almost three quarters of MSPs backing the proposed law.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon had secured Scottish government support and the backing of 90 of the 129 MSPs for her legislation that would have criminalised “unlawful or wanton acts” committed with knowledge there is “a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment”.
Amendments for the next stage of the legislative process had already been drafted by Ms Lennon and SNP climate action secretary, Gillian Martin.
But four MSPs on a Holyrood committee have blocked the legislation pressing ahead to final stages of the Holyrood process before May’s election after claiming it was being rushed through.
READ MORE: Holyrood committee accused of ignoring will of MSPs after trying to kill 'rushed' ecocide law
The Scotsman previously reported that Conservative MSP, Edward Mountain, the convener of Holyrood’s net zero, energy and transport committee, penned a letter to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, calling for the ecocide legislation to be paused.
The action to block the bill was supported by Mr Mountain’s fellow Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden, disgraced former SNP net zero secretary Michael Matheson and SNP Aberdeen MSP and oil and gas supporter, Kevin Stewart.
It is understood around two hours of committee time would have been needed for the amendment stage two of the bill, but some committee members argued that further evidence sessions with witnesses would have been required.
READ MORE: Monica Lennon's ecocide bill passes first vote but do backbench ideas show SNP running out of steam?
In a letter to the committee, Ms Johnstone said the parliamentary bureau “noted the challenges that the committee identifies…including the pressures of its current workload, the limited time remaining in the parliamentary session and the risk of passing rushed legislation”.
The bureau could have transferred the legislation to another committee to scrutinise at stage two of the bill.
Ms Johnstone added: “The bureau considered the other options for consideration of the bill at stage two under standing orders and agreed not to propose an alternative approach to the consideration of the bill at stage two.
“In taking this decision, the bureau was cognisant of the pressures on the workload of committees and the chamber in the short period remaining this session.”
The bill will remain paused after its stage one vote and could be picked up by Ms Lennon or another MSP following May’s Holyrood election. The Scottish government, which has supported the bill, could also take on the legislation in the next parliament.
Ms Lennon said: “I am profoundly disappointed by the committee’s majority-decision to block the ecocide bill at this crucial time.
“To halt a piece of legislation that has the backing of 90 MSPs, the Scottish government, and thousands of members of the public is a missed opportunity to protect Scotland’s environment and people from dangerous pollution and devastating nature crimes.”
The Labour MSP added that “Scotland cannot afford more delays”.
She added: “The evidence heard by the committee from legal experts, youth activists, and environmentalists was clear: Scotland needs a new offence to deter the most serious crimes against nature. By effectively shelving this bill now, the committee has ignored the will of the parliament and the urgency of the nature, climate, and pollution crises.
“However, this is not the end. The progress we have made is historic. We have built a cross-party coalition, secured Scottish government support, and completed extensive public and expert scrutiny. This work is not wasted; it is the foundation for the next Scottish Parliament.”
Ms Lennon has now vowed to make her ecocide legislation a central pillar of her re-election campaign and “a rallying cry for everyone who cares about our environment”.
She said: “We will have less protection than our neighbours in the European Union, risking Scotland becoming a target for the organised criminal gangs and corporate polluters who prey on countries with weak environmental protections.
“I am more determined than ever to bring the ecocide (Scotland) bill back in the first 100 days of the new session. A majority of the committee may have blocked the path today, but they cannot stop the movement. We will finish what we started.”
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