NEW YORK, United States — Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, has called for stronger international cooperation to combat environmental crime, warning that illegal exploitation of natural resources is fuelling insecurity, weakening governance systems, and threatening livelihoods across the world.
Speaking during the first-ever high-level United Nations General Assembly debate dedicated to crimes affecting the environment, Juma said environmental crime has evolved into a sophisticated transnational threat that demands coordinated global action.
“The convening of today’s first-ever high-level General Assembly debate dedicated to crimes that affect the environment focuses attention on the growing link between illegal action, crime and the environment,” she said.
Juma noted that environmental crimes now extend far beyond local boundaries, involving organised criminal networks that profit from the illegal exploitation of forests, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources. She warned that such activities not only destroy ecosystems but also undermine the rule of law and threaten the security of communities.
“At stake is the orchestrated pattern of illegal activities and crime that transcend local, national, and global spheres, profiting from illegal exploitation of the environment and natural wealth,” she said.
According to Juma, the consequences of environmental crime are far-reaching, ranging from environmental degradation and biodiversity loss to economic disruption and social instability. In some cases, she said, criminal networks have become powerful enough to replace legitimate governance structures and perpetuate insecurity in vulnerable regions.
She emphasised that UNODC’s mandate includes supporting countries to strengthen their criminal justice systems in responding to crimes that affect the environment. The agency works with governments to build the capacity of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and frontline personnel to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate such offences effectively.
“We build the capacity of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, and frontline officers to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate these crimes more effectively,” Juma told delegates.
She urged governments to treat environmental offences as serious crimes rather than regulatory violations, arguing that disrupting criminal profits and illicit financial flows is essential to dismantling the networks behind them.
“By treating these crimes as serious offences, targeting criminal profits and disrupting illicit financial flows, we can put an end to the business model that sustains these activities,” she said.
Environmental crime has increasingly emerged as a major global concern, with international agencies warning about the growing impact of illegal wildlife trafficking, illicit logging, illegal mining, and pollution-related offences. The crimes are often linked to corruption, organised crime, and cross-border criminal networks.
Juma expressed optimism that the landmark debate would strengthen international collaboration and encourage governments to adopt more robust measures to protect natural resources and vulnerable communities.
“It is my hope that the discussions out of today’s convening will enable us to achieve a stronger, more coordinated global response, as we work together to protect our planet and its precious natural treasures, for the benefit of humanity today and future generations to come,” she said.
The debate marks a significant step in elevating environmental crime on the international agenda, as countries face increasing pressure to safeguard ecosystems while addressing the criminal networks that profit from environmental destruction.
