That the Parliament welcomes the reports that Belgium has become the first country in Europe to recognise ecocide as a crime at both national and international levels; considers that, by revising its penal code, the Belgian Federal Parliament has put Belgium at the forefront of the global conversation around criminalising the most severe harms to nature; understands that the aim of the new ecocide crime is to prevent and punish the most severe cases of environmental degradation, and will apply to decision makers in the highest positions of decision-making power and corporations, with sanctions that include up to 20 years in prison; further understands that the definition of ecocide approved in Belgium is based on the consensus definition proposed in 2021 by the Independent Expert Panel convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation; notes the reports that ecocide-level crimes were included in the EU’s revised environmental crimes directive in November 2023; understands that domestic ecocide laws have been proposed or are progressing in the UK Parliament, Brazil, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Mexico, and considers that the proposed Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill provides an opportunity for the Scottish Government to engage with MSPs and stakeholders on seeking to uphold its commitment to keep pace with EU environmental protections.