Environmental crime

Environmental crime encompasses a wide range of unlawful activities that directly harm the environment, including wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, illegal fishing, illegal mining, and the illegal trade in hazardous waste. The term is often used interchangeably with 'environmental crime' in policy and law enforcement, but it also includes crimes that cause pollution or degrade natural resources, such as illegal dumping of industrial waste or emissions exceeding legal limits. The scope is transnational: criminal networks operate across borders, exploiting differences in national laws and enforcement capacities. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), environmental crime is one of the most profitable forms of organized crime, with low risk of detection and high financial returns.

The most prominent categories are wildlife crime (including poaching and trafficking of endangered species), illegal logging and deforestation, illegal fishing (including IUU fishing), and illegal waste trafficking. These activities not only deplete biodiversity but also undermine sustainable development, fuel corruption, and threaten the livelihoods of local communities. For example, illegal logging accounts for up to 30% of global timber trade, contributing to climate change and habitat loss. Illegal fishing is estimated to cost the global economy up to $23 billion annually, while wildlife trafficking has driven species like the African elephant to the brink of extinction. The environmental impacts are often irreversible, and the social costs are borne disproportionately by vulnerable populations.¹

Combating environmental crime requires international cooperation, as many offenses are cross-border. Key instruments include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Basel Convention on hazardous waste, and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. Interpol and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have established specialized units to support national enforcement. However, enforcement remains weak due to limited resources, corruption, and the high profitability of these crimes. The International Criminal Court has also begun to consider environmental crimes as part of its mandate, though no prosecutions have yet occurred. National laws vary widely, and penalties are often insufficient to deter offenders.²

Beyond the headline crimes, environmental crime includes lesser-known but significant activities such as illegal sand mining, which damages coastal ecosystems and contributes to erosion. Another niche area is the illegal trade in e-waste, where developed countries export hazardous electronic waste to developing nations, violating the Basel Convention. Additionally, 'environmental crime' can include crimes against the environment during armed conflict, such as the deliberate destruction of oil fields or water supplies. The term 'ecocide' has been proposed as a crime under international law, but it is not yet recognized. Furthermore, environmental crime is often linked to other illegal activities, such as money laundering and human trafficking, making it a complex challenge for law enforcement.³

IUU fishing

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, a major form of environmental crime.

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a treaty to protect endangered species from trade.

Basel Convention

International treaty to control the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

Ecocide

Proposed crime of widespread damage to the environment, not yet recognized under international law.