Can stricter penalties curb Latin America’s rising ‘ecocide’? Activists propose model law for environmental crimes

Mexico City, October 4 — Lawyers and environmental activists from Latin America have unveiled a model law aimed at curbing the rising issue of "ecocide" in the region, according to the AFP. The draft law, presented by Stop Ecocide International, the Mexican Centre for Environmental Justice, and researchers from Iberoamericana University, seeks to eliminate all excuses for failing to protect ecosystems.

Latin America is home to about one-third of the world's biodiversity and is also one of the most dangerous regions for environmental defenders, with many activists being murdered annually. The model law proposes stricter penalties for environmental crimes, including increased protection for whistleblowers, witnesses, and experts involved in ecocide cases.

It calls for harsher punishments for those committing these crimes against the environment in order to prevent and punish those who wish to attack those who safeguard nature. The NGO Global Witness reported that 85% of the 124 murders of environmental activists in 2025 occurred in Latin America. Despite efforts to strengthen environmental protections locally, the Model Ecocide Law argues that the lack of enforcement hinders the effectiveness of these measures.

The law emphasizes that the state's responsibility to stop environmental destruction and repair damage persists, even in the face of difficulties in identifying perpetrators. "There is no excuse," stated Rodrigo Lledo, the Latin America director of Stop Ecocide International.