Submitted by
annayevt
on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 12:02
General Information
Resolution
52698
Period covered
Resolution implementation status
31-60% - Moderate
Comments
IUCN is actively contributing to the implementation of this Resolution through the establishment of a Council Task Force and focal points, engagement with relevant international processes and strategic partners, and collaboration with Members and Commissions on crimes that affect the environment.
Activities to implement this Resolution from Activity Reports
| Relevant operative para(s) of Res/Rec | Activities Overview | Description | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Convene stakeholders/Networking | During its G7 Presidency, France included environmental crime in one of its tracks ("filière intérieur") and has reactivated a technical expert group on topics such as investigation on environmental crime. | Completed | Full activity report |
| 10 | Policy influencing/advocacy | France made CaE a priority in efforts to combat international organized crime. France chairs a group of friends on CaE in Vienna (HQ of UNODC), and has supported UNEA-7 resolution by Kenya and Peru (withdrawn). France advocates for strengthening the international legal framework on CaE, and is strongly involved in the UNTOC intergov expert group, and will be at next UNTOC COP. FR will also push for language on CaE in the Crime Congress declaration. | On-going | Full activity report |
| 9 | Policy influencing/advocacy | IUCN WCEL attended the second meeting of the Open-ended intergovernmental expert group on crimes that affect the environment (CAE) falling within the scope of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) in Vienna in February 2026. The IUCN delegation provided expert input to the State representatives, to assist in their technical considerations of an additional protocol to the UNTOC covering CAE. | Completed | Full activity report |
| 6 | Policy influencing/advocacy | The WCEL Specialist Group (SG) on CAE prepared a Position Paper setting out its mandate for the 2026-2029 quadrennium, including how its activities aim to contribute to the implementation of Resolution 8.048. The SG supports the launching of negotiations at the 13th UNTOC COP for a protocol to the UNTOC on CAE. It aims to advance the environmental rule of law and offering technical support to States to strengthen their responses to CAE. | Completed | Full activity report |
| 7 | Policy influencing/advocacy | IUCN Member the International Council of Environmental Law, supported by WCEL, hosted the side-event "Promoting synergies: Leveraging multilateral efforts to tackle crimes that affect the environment”, during the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. It was supported by Brazil and Peru, and seven organizations. It highlighted the need to increase multistakeholder collaboration to advance the work for an UNTOC protocol on CAE. | Completed | Full activity report |
Additional Activities to implement this resolution
| Relevant operative para(s) of Res/Rec | Activities Overview | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
All
1a
1b
2
|
Convene stakeholders/Networking
|
IUCN has established a Council Task Force to coordinate the implementation of this Resolution, including the development of an IUCN Strategy on CAE. Resolutions Focal Points from IUCN Secretariat, Commissions and Membership were assigned.
|
On-going
|
|
All
2d
10
|
Policy influencing/advocacy
|
IUCN Director General was invited and delivered high-level statement during the UNGA high-level debate on “Preventing and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Wildlife and Other Crimes that Affect the Environment,” on 8 June 2026 at UNHQ in New York. The statement highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation, promoting effective legal and criminal justice frameworks and mobilising collective action to prevent and combat CAE.
|
Completed
|
|
3
|
Policy influencing/advocacy
|
IUCN contributed to and engage with the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which took place from 26 September 2026 to 1 October 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Declaration highlights the importance of addressing environmental crimes. IUCN supported the launch of the Abu Dhabi Call to Action on Environmental Crime 2026 during the HL segment moderated by IUCN President.
|
Completed
|
|
4
|
Policy influencing/advocacy
|
IUCN, together with IUCN Members and partners - GHRH, WWF, Earthjustice, UNCAC Coalition, OHCHR, GeHRBiL, GEN, GI-TOC and WJC, co-organised a HRC62 side event on the human rights implications of environmental crime.
|
Completed
|
|
All
1
|
Convene stakeholders/Networking
|
IUCN launched a strategic partnership with UNODC to deepen cooperation in tackling crimes that affect the environment. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between conservation science and international criminal justice, addressing wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, fisheries crime, pollution and other environmental offenses, including those linked to transnational organised crimes.
|
On-going
|
|
All
|
Policy influencing/advocacy
|
During the UNGA81 High-Level Week, the IUCN President addressed the high-level roundtable "Advancing International Cooperation against Environmental Crime: The Opportunity of UNTOC COP13" on 24 September, organized by WCS, the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales and Brazil. She highlighting the scale and transnational nature of environmental crime and the need for stronger international cooperation.
|
Completed
|
Actors involved from Activity Reports
| IUCN Members | IUCN Commissions | IUCN Secretariat | Other non-IUCN related organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Additional Actors involved in this resolution
| IUCN Members | IUCN Commissions | IUCN Secretariat | Other non-IUCN related organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Association Les Eco Maires ( France )
Friends of Wildlife Justice Commission, Inc. ( United States of America )
Reforestamos México A.C. ( Mexico )
Wildlife Conservation Society ( United States of America )
World Wide Fund for Nature - International ( Switzerland )
|
IUCN Climate Action Commission 2026-2029
IUCN Commission on Education and Communication 2026-2029
IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2026-2029
IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2026-2029
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2026-2029
IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2026-2029
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2026-2029
|
Yes
|
Challenges / lessons learned from Activity Reports
| Challenges / lessons learned | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Other (please specify) | - Political pushback: some countries pushback on a reinforcement of the international legal framework on CaE. (In UNEA-7, some countries refused the resolution on environmental crime, which had to be withdrawn ; the recommandations of the UNTOC intergovernmental expert group were not consensual). |
Full activity report |
| Lack of awareness / engagement | At the second meeting of the Open-ended intergovernmental expert group on crimes that affect the environment (CAE) falling within the scope of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), there were differences in interpretation among delegates present on the implications of an UNTOC protocol, including state sovereignty, and on issues of international environmental law. |
Full activity report |
Additional Challenges / lessons learned
| Challenges / lessons learned | Description |
|---|---|
|
Insufficient / lack of resources
|
Limited resources dedicated for this growing area of work |
|
Coordination issues
|
Coordinating efforts to move these issues forward |
Report status
Published