Tech vs Environmental Crimes

Environmental crimes are on the rise, damaging communities, ecosystems and entire nations as never before. Yet, we may finally have the technological tools to address them – instruments which however require substantial political and social support to be effective. Consolidated offences like illegal logging or poaching are increasing and witnessing the growing involvement of organised criminal groups. Others, less common, are spreading, also pushed by the rising demand for natural resources: illegal mining of critical minerals, fishery crime or forest fires driven by agricultural production. Interpol, UN agencies such as the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), police forces from Europe and the rest of the world, as well as the vast majority of NGOs all believe that we are facing an unprecedented wave of environmental crimes. And yet, we are witnessing crucial policy developments, such as the inclusion of environmental crimes in the top priorities in the next five-year cycle of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), or the growing action in countries like Brazil or Vietnam against environmental offences. There is mounting awareness at the local and international levels, particularly on the economic and health impact of such crimes. Above all, there is an unprecedented development of new technologies that is allowing enforcement agencies, NGOs and other players to dramatically expand their action: a mix of new satellites, software, drones, sensors and other tech that could prove crucial in combating environmental crimes.