The revised directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law entered into force on 21 May 2024 in the European Union (EU), placing its member states under a two-year transposition obligation. It aims to ensure a more effective prevention and repression of environmental crime, the fourth largest criminal activity in the world. This article analyses the content of the revised directive and some of the changes introduced. The first part below examines environmental offences and mandatory sanction levels under EU law; it also questions whether the directive marks a change of approach in environmental protection. A second blog post will focus on the notion of qualified environmental offences under EU law.