Double the fines for climate criminals
Scottish Green co-Leader Ross Greer is urging MSPs to support his plans to punish major polluters by increasing the maximum fine for environmental crimes to £100,000.
The proposal, which Ross will move as an amendment to the Scottish Government’s Natural Environment Bill, would hold polluters responsible by more than doubling the maximum fine from £40,000 to £100,000.
Ross said:
“If a company or individual has broken the law and damaged Scotland’s natural environment, they are hurting all of us. Anyone found to have done this should pay the price.
“Right now though, the maximum fine rate is far, far lower than what it really needs to be, because it is years out of date.
"If we’re serious about protecting our rivers, woodlands and even the air we breathe, then the penalties for damaging them must be far higher. If you’ve committed an environmental offence, the penalty should be so steep that there’s no way to still turn a profit from the damage you’ve done.
“By increasing the maximum fine to £100,000 MSPs can send a clear message - it does not pay to damage Scotland’s precious natural environment.
“The money raised through these penalties could be invested in cleaning up our rivers, planting more native trees and protecting iconic species like our red squirrels.”