Environmental crimes like wildlife trafficking have a devastating impact on every nation with far-reaching impacts on people and the planet, threatening biodiversity, destabilising ecosystems, and undermining international security. The consequences extend beyond environmental degradation, fuelling climate change, public health crises, and corruption on a global scale. Recognising these interconnected challenges, the Wildlife Justice Commission, as part of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Coalition’s Working Group on Environmental Crime and Corruption, has been at the forefront of efforts to address these pressing issues.
Since 2019, the Wildlife Justice Commission has chaired the UNCAC Coalition’s Working Group on Environmental Crime and Corruption, a collective of over 230 civil society organisations worldwide. The group focuses on fostering dialogue, sharing expertise, and advocating for robust measures to address corruption’s role in enabling environmental crime and its harmful impact on the environment, the climate, and human rights. The group also promotes the adoption and effective implementation of robust policies and other measures by States to effectively prevent and combat these issues.
COP29
During the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) – a crucial forum for global leaders to advance ambitious strategies to combat the climate crisis – the Working Group on Environmental Crime and Corruption, published a key discussion paper titled “Breaking the silos: combatting corruption and environmental crime to advance climate protection goals”. This paper calls for urgent action to address the nexus between environmental crime, corruption, and climate change.
At the heart of COP29’s agenda were efforts to mitigate climate change and ensure the resilience of vulnerable ecosystems and communities. However, achieving these goals requires addressing the systemic enablers of environmental degradation – including corruption and organised crime – which are inextricably linked to environmental crimes such as the illegal wildlife trade, illegal fishing, logging, mining, and waste trafficking and pollution.
The discussion paper emphasises the importance of integrated approaches to ensure that climate action is not undermined by illicit activities. It serves as a guide for future actions in multilateral fora, particularly the 11th UN Convention Against Corruption Conference of the States Parties (UNCAC CoSP) and the 30th UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP), both scheduled for 2025. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for policymakers in the follow-up actions stemming from the 12th UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Conference of the Parties (UNTOC COP) held in October this year.
Key recommendations from the discussion paper include:
- Integrate measures to combat corruption as part of the UNFCCC mitigation and adaptation goals.
- Strengthen cooperation and coordination between the UNCAC, UNFCCC, and UNTOC to advance climate action
- Strengthen and effectively implement the UNCAC and /UNTOC at the national level to combat corruption and crimes that affect the environment to advance climate action.
- Create a safe and enabling environment at the country level to provide the conditions for civil society actors to operate freely from threats, harassment, intimidation, and violence in their efforts to combat the nexus between environmental crime and corruption, and its impact on the environment and climate.
- Promote the active and meaningful participation of civil society actors to ensure effective climate responses.
For further details and in-depth insights, read the full discussion paper here.
Looking ahead
The recommendations outlined in the discussion paper provide a roadmap for integrating anti-corruption and anti-crime measures into global climate action. These steps are essential to ensuring robust, transparent, and inclusive responses to the climate crisis, while also tackling the pervasive environmental crimes that threaten biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide.
In addition to offering actionable guidance, the paper aims to spark further discussions on the need for a holistic approach to environmental crime and corruption, breaking the silos that often isolate these issues within separate policy spheres. By encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, the paper seeks to promote integrated solutions that address the interconnected challenges of climate change, corruption, and environmental crime more effectively.
As we move toward the 11th UNCAC Conference of the States Parties and other key multilateral events in 2025, the Wildlife Justice Commission remains committed to driving impactful change through ongoing collaboration with policymakers, civil society, and international bodies. The Wildlife Justice Commission reaffirms its commitment to building a world where environmental crime no longer threatens the stability and security of our planet.
