Directors of companies that cause serious or reckless damage to nature may face prison terms or fines under bills designed to criminalize environmental damage in Scotland.

The proposed law would be the first of its kind in the UK to place a class of environmental crimes called Ecocide on a similar basis to other serious crimes, such as murder.

Scottish labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has introduced the European Bureau (Scotland) bill in the Scottish Parliament, said it would introduce strict new legal responsibilities to company executives and government agencies and possess potential sanctions such as fines or prison penalties.

She said this would align Scotland with the EU with environmental crime directives and formally relocate by small countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji to add ecocide to the mission of the International Criminal Court.

Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru and Italy are also following domestic localized laws that are widely defined as “illegal or wanton conduct” because they know they can cause serious, broad or long-term environmental damage.

Militants pointed out the tanker disaster. Deforestation in the Amazon or destructive fishing practices, as an example of extinction. Lennon said voters were very aware that they believed serious environmental crimes needed to be regulated and punished.

“I think the bill will bring hope to people,” she said. “I think it’s very important to update hope and put environmental protection at the top of the agenda.

"This should give policymakers confidence and make sure the public knows that we want to make sure our laws are suitable for purpose and close gaps and loopholes. We just don't talk about emergencies: we also have a strong legal framework."

More than 50 MSPs from all major parties in the Scottish Parliament, including the Conservatives, support Lennon's decision to propose the bill, which will soon be a preliminary vote to confirm that this can be carried out.

Environmental activists criticized the Scottish government's latest record on climate and nature conservation and promised legislation to reduce and cut spending. Even so, Edinburgh’s minister supported Lennon’s bill in principle.

Maurice Golden, MSP of the Scottish Conservative Party who supports the legislation, said the fact that it implements merely will force companies and public institutions to be stricter on environmental issues to avoid violations.

"This is an international context. We don't want Scotland to be seen as a soft touch," he said. "Because of this law, what we will see is that companies will improve their game in order to reduce the risk of malfeasance."