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April 19, 2021

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France in new effort to protect ecosystem

Source: AFP | 00:00 UTC+8 April 19, 2021 | Print Edition

The French National Assembly on Saturday approved the creation of an 鈥渆cocide鈥 offense as part of a battery of measures aimed at protecting the environment and tackling climate change.

The ecocide measure was passed by 44 votes to 10 in the lower house of parliament and will, if it becomes law, apply to 鈥渢he most serious cases of environmental damage at national level,鈥 said Environment Minister Barbara Pompili.

Transgressors will be liable to up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 4.5 million euros (US$5.4 million).

Pompili stressed that the draft bill is aimed at national events, such as the pollution of a French river. 鈥淲hen we think of the attacks on the Amazon rainforest, that is not something we can tackle within our own laws.鈥

The aim is to strengthen the sanctions available to deal with 鈥渟erious and durable鈥 cases of intentional pollution of water, air or soil, she said.

Some right-wing lawmakers complained about moves toward 鈥減unitive ecology.鈥

Julien Aubert of the Republicans voiced the 鈥渟erious concerns鈥 of companies facing 鈥渓egal insecurity鈥 created by such environmental justice measures.

Lawmakers on the left judged the offense being debated insufficient to tackle the problem, highlighting that it will only apply in cases of intentional pollution and not to problems caused by negligence or recklessness.

Some opposition members complained that the very term 鈥渆cocide鈥 was an 鈥渁buse of language,鈥 preferring a more straightforward offense of 鈥渁ttacking the environment.鈥

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