The European Union (EU) is preparing to criminalize acts that destroy or significantly damage ecosystems as "ecocide". The law, adopted last week, is part of a comprehensive overhaul of the 27-member bloc's existing environmental laws. The law criminalizes nine previously unrecognized offenses, including illegal logging, the introduction of invasive species and illegal groundwater extraction. Individuals who commit ecocide will face a minimum of 10 years in prison, while companies could face fines of at least 5 percent of their total revenues for each offense, or alternatively fines of up to 40 million euros.