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The Second International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference opened today in Singapore, convened by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
After observing one minute of silence to show respect for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks, Noboru Nakatani, Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (GCI), opened the debate by stressing the importance of the conference for reviewing progress since the last INTERPOL-UNEP meeting in 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. He emphasized the need for participants to establish a road map for the next two years in accordance with the recently adopted sustainable developed goals (SDGs). He urged focus on transboundary environmental crimes and stressed the role of digital technology to enforce existing legislation and foster international cooperation, innovation and integration of global technology to combat environmental crimes.
Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, delivered the first keynote address, stressing that an increase in environmental crime must be recognized as driven by greed and organized by criminal syndicates exploiting enforcement weaknesses and poor local communities. Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia, in the second keynote address, highlighted that fisheries crime—including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing—is a threat to a fisheries-based economy. She called on countries to work together, noting fisheries crime is “not only about fish” given its transnational nature.
David Higgins, Assistant Director, Environmental Security Sub-Directorate, INTERPOL, described the process leading up to the engagement by INTERPOL in the field of environmental law enforcement.
Participants then engaged in sessions on sustainable development goals and effective environmental compliance and enforcement; international cooperation on climate legislation: enhancing enforcement capabilities; and vibrant networks and capacity development. The day concluded with a summary of key outcomes. |
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IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the 2nd INTERPOL–UNEP International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference. Our summary report of the conference is available in HTML or PDF format.
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