Support of Environmental Protection and Environmental Enforcement Officers

Submitted by the IACP Environmental Crimes Committee

ECC.06.t2018

WHEREAS, the value of environmental crime, globally, is estimated at $91-258 billion annually;[1] and

WHEREAS, weak laws and poorly funded security forces are enabling international criminal networks and armed rebels to profit from a trade that fuels conflicts, devastates ecosystems and is threatening species with extinction; and

WHEREAS, environmental crime is the world's fourth-largest criminal enterprise after drug smuggling, counterfeiting and human trafficking.[2] The amount of money lost due to environmental crime is 10,000 times greater than the amount of money spent by international agencies on combatting it - just $20-30 million;[3] and

WHEREAS, environmental crime can aid in the finance of terrorism and conflicts. Both non-state armed groups, terrorist groups and other networks thrive on the exploitation of natural resources to fund their activities. Examples include Taliban funded by drugs, and both Janjaweed operating from Darfur into Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Lord's Resistance Army in DRC poaching elephants. At least 40 percent of internal conflicts in the last 60 years have a link to natural resources; and

WHEREAS, international criminal cartels are also involved in the trafficking of hazardous waste and chemicals including electronic waste, often mislabeling these wastes in order to evade law enforcement agencies. The illegal trade in e-waste alone is estimated at $12 billion annually[4]; and

WHEREAS, armed groups worldwide, use environmental crimes as a low-risk high-profit source of revenue, depriving governments of revenues while threatening peace, development and security; and

WHEREAS, over 1,000 protected-area-officers[5] have been killed worldwide and many more injured over the last 12 years (IUCN).[6] Over 740 of those from 2009-2017;[7] and

WHEREAS, the vast sums of money generated from environmental crimes not only degrade and harm the environment and threaten the safety of protected-area officers, but keep sophisticated international criminal gangs in business, fueling insecurity around the world; and

WHEREAS, enhanced law enforcement response can help deter current trends. Such collaboration, sharing and joining of efforts within and across borders, whether formal or informal, is our strongest weapon in fighting environmental crime. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) calls for all enforcement agencies to highlight and bring attention to the scale of environmental crime, resources and lives lost, and to partner with and support agencies’ efforts to maximize the security and safety of environmental resources and protected-area officers worldwide.