Credit: Canva
Bangkok, 30 November 2022 – The 2022 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards recognized the achievements of environmental protectors and entities who devote their efforts to preventing, detecting, and investigating transboundary crimes affecting the environment.
The seventh edition of the Awards was organized by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna, and Flora (CITES) and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
“Crimes that affect the environment contribute to the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, and are often not recognized as serious crimes,” said Jorge Rios, Head of the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment. “The winners of this Award have demonstrated leadership in preventing and detecting these crimes, and their work inspires others to make an impact in this area.”
Apart from the damage they cause to human health, biodiversity and global ecosystems, crimes that affect the environment disproportionately impact the most vulnerable while benefiting worldwide organized criminal networks and feeding the illicit economy. Criminal groups involved in these crimes often use of the same routes, engage the same facilitators and follow the same trafficking techniques that are used for other illicit activities. Combating these crimes requires greater public awareness, strong cross-border cooperation and the commitment of enforcement officers and agencies like those awarded today.
In 2022, four winners were awarded from over 61 submitted nominations from across the region. For their outstanding achievements, recipients were awarded in two categories: (i) impact, and (ii) gender leadership and women’s empowerment. The Awards acknowledge the winners’ contribution to the effective enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, particularly with regard to illegal wildlife trade, illegal traffic in hazardous and other waste, and trafficking in ozone-depleting substances.
“The individuals and organizations honoured in this year’s Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards are shining examples of the action needed to tackle transboundary crimes against the environment. Their work is positively impacting people and planet by protecting nature, combating climate change and strengthening the push to beat pollution and waste,” said Dr. Dechen Tsering, Director of the UNEP Asia and the Pacific Office.
Established in China in 2000, the National ODS Import and Export Management Office played an important control role as China has long been the largest ODS exporter in the world. In 2021, the annual export volume of ODS exported by China accounted for 80% of global exports, with more than 140 destination countries. Following the entry into force of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Kigali Amendment) in China in 2021, the Office developed new regulations to establish and implement import and export licensing systems to curb the illegal trade of greenhouse gases, such as HFC. During the daily import/export management of controlled substances, the Office implemented a mechanism, called informal Prior Informed Consent (iPIC) which was initiated by UNEP, and coordinated closely with trading countries and international organizations to prevent the illegal trade. From June 2021 to May 2022, the Office launched 1,827 iPIC processes, rejecting 31 batches of trading applications and prevented about 1,057 tons of ODS illegal trade with 16 countries. Major hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) import/export enterprises were investigated to collect necessary trade information before implementing the trade licencing system for HFC. The Office focused on advanced scientific and technological methods such as big data and information systems to analyse smuggling trends and risks. The inspections of ODS and its substitute, HFCs, were intensified and key smugglers, modus operandi and routes were mapped. The Office also conducted training sessions for enterprises, license issuing agencies and law enforcement officers of the Customs and anti-smuggling departments nationwide.
