2023年8月22日，法國國營鐵路公司SNCF旗下的子公司SNCF Reseau，負責鐵路軌道維護，因共謀破壞環境而被昂熱市刑事法院處以45萬歐元的罰款。

在2019年鐵路軌道修剪作業中，該公司對黑眉葦鶯、煤山雀和歐亞雲雀等瀕危鳥類物種的自然棲息地造成了有害幹擾。由於修剪活動恰逢築巢季節，造成的損害尤其嚴重。

SNCF Reseau被判犯有「法人共謀未經授權幹擾保護物種自然棲息地保護」和「法人共謀未經授權幹擾非家養動物保護物種保護」的罪名。因此，該公司被命令支付45 萬歐元的重大罰款。此外，由SNCF Reseau承包的進行具體修剪工作的公司也被罰款30,000歐元，其中15,000歐元被緩刑。

法國對這類案件進行起訴的法律架構隨著 2016-1792 號法令於 2016 年 12 月 23 日生效而建立的。該法令處理的是環境法典下通常以罰款方式懲罰的輕微違法行為中的共犯責任。它的總體目標是追究建築和工程公司以及其他相關實體對其環境影響負有責任。在這一背景下，SNCF Reseau在刑事法院被判有罪代表著實現這一目標的重要一步，強調了當今社會環境責任的重要性。

然而，值得注意的是，昂热市刑事法院的判决并非最终判決， SNCF Reseau已经對此提出上诉。

參考資料：

1. SNCF (2020) SNCF IN 2020: NEW YEAR, NEW GROUP. 可於以下網址查閱：SNCF in 2020: New year, new group | SNCF（瀏覽日期：2023年10月4日)；
2. Le Monde avec AFP（2023） 《SNCF Réseau condamnée à 450 000 euros d’amende pour complicité d’atteinte à l’environnement》2023年8月23日。可於以下網址查閱：SNCF Réseau condamnée à 450 000 euros d’amende pour complicité d’atteinte à l’environnement (lemonde.fr)（瀏覽日期：2023年10月4日)；
3. 2016 年 12 月 20號2016-1792 號法令，適用於共謀輕微違反《環境法典》的行爲。可於以下網址查閱：Décret n° 2016-1792 du 20 décembre 2016 relatif à la complicité des contraventions du code de l'environnement - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)（瀏覽日期：2023年10月4日)。

聲明: 這篇文章是原創作品，所有引用的文件、數據、照片和資料均已列在文章底部的「參考資料」部分。

French Railway Company Fined for Complicity in Environmental Damage

   On August 22, 2023, SNCF Reseau, a subsidiary of the French publicly owned railway company SNCF responsible for railway track maintenance, was fined 450,000 euros by the criminal court of Angers for complicity in environmental damage.

During pruning operations along the railway tracks in 2019, the company caused harmful disturbance to the natural habitat of endangered bird species, including black-capped warblers, coal tits, and Eurasian wrens. The damage has been particularly severe due to the pruning activities coinciding with the nesting season.

SNCF Reseau was found guilty of “complicity by a legal person in unauthorized interference with the conservation of the natural habitat of a protected species” and “complicity by a legal person in unauthorized interference with the conservation of non-domestic animal protected species.” As a result, the company was ordered to pay a substantial fine of 450,000 euros. Additionally, the company contracted by SNCF Reseau to conduct the actual pruning work was also fined 30,000 euros, 15,000 euros of which have been suspended.

The legal framework for prosecuting this type of cases in France was established on December 23, 2016, with the entry into force of Decree No. 2016-1792. This decree addresses complicity in contraventions (that is, minor infractions typically punishable by fines) under the French Environmental Code. Its overarching goal was to hold construction and works companies, as well as other entities involved, accountable for their environmental impact. In this context, the conviction of SNCF Reseau in the criminal court represents a notable step towards realizing this objective and underscores the importance of environmental responsibility in today's society.

It is important to note, however, that the judgment rendered by the criminal court of Angers is not final, and that SNCF Reseau has already lodged an appeal against it.

---Reference Materials:

4. SNCF (2020) SNCF IN 2020: NEW YEAR, NEW GROUP. Available at: SNCF in 2020: New year, new group | SNCF (Accessed: October 4, 2023);
5. Le Monde avec AFP (2023) ‘SNCF Réseau condamnée à 450 000 euros d’amende pour complicité d’atteinte à l’environnement’, August 23, 2023. Available at: SNCF Réseau condamnée à 450 000 euros d’amende pour complicité d’atteinte à l’environnement (lemonde.fr) (Accessed: October 4, 2023);
6. Décret n° 2016-1792 du 20 décembre 2016 relatif à la complicité des contraventions du code de l'environnement. Available at: Décret n° 2016-1792 du 20 décembre 2016 relatif à la complicité des contraventions du code de l'environnement - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr) (Accessed : October 6, 2023).

Statement: This article is an original work of authorship, and all referenced documents, data, photos, and materials have been listed in the "Reference Materials" section located at the bottom of the article.

by 黃愷蜜 顧問