Criminalization is one part of how the environment can be protected. Yet, there has been no overview of the state of criminalization for violations of environmental law. Part 1 – the landscape of criminalization of the Global Analysis on Crimes that Affect the Environment provides this first global overview of where offences against the environment are criminalized. It also analyses what the penalties are for natural and legal persons, whether the penalties meet the definition of serious crime under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and the scope for confiscation and restoration. The analysis includes nine environmental areas – deforestation and logging, mining, air pollution, noise pollution, soil pollution, water pollution, fishing, waste and wildlife. Further analysis on the geographic differences of criminalization can guide future projects to harmonize legislation and ensure penalties are fit for purpose.
Member States are encouraged to engage with the analysis and contact the research team if they have any questions related to the analysis of their legislation.
Please email to:
unodcrab@unodc.org
tanya.wyatt@un.org
