India, Feb. 27 -- Scope of the law limited to areas within jurisdiction of federal authority at the moment

Tiny Belgium, the seat of the European Union (EU), has scored another first. The country has become the first in the European Continent to recognise 'ecocide' as a national as well as an international crime.

The Federal Parliament of Belgium voted in favour of a new penal code which makes ecocide a national and international crime on February 22, 2024, according to a document uploaded on its website .

"Unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts" is how 'ecocide' was defined by the Independe...