Context in which this group operates
Corruption fuels environmental crime, accelerates climate change, and drives biodiversity loss – with devastating consequences for people and planet.
Corruption – including bribery, embezzlement, state capture, and conflicts of interest – undermines the integrity and effectiveness of environmental and climate action. Organized criminal networks involved in environmental crimes depend on corruption at every stage of the global supply chain, enabling their operations and shielding them from accountability. The damage caused is often irreversible, with far-reaching consequences for economies, the rule of law, public safety, and human health.
As the only legally binding global anti-corruption instrument, the UNCAC is a powerful yet underused international instrument to address corruption driving environmental crime, including biodiversity loss and pollution, and climate change.
At the UNCAC CoSP11, governments adopted by consensus Resolution 11/9 on “Preventing and combating corruption as it relates to crimes that affect the environment”—a milestone outcome that the working group had long advocated for and which reflects many of its key recommendations. To ensure this resolution delivers impact, the commitments made must be implemented at the (sub)national level. As recognised in the resolution, civil society has an important role to play in supporting this process.
Objectives
The objectives of the Working Group are to:
- Raise awareness among policy makers about the nexus between environmental crime and corruption, and its harmful impact on the environment, the climate and human rights.
- Promote the adoption and effective implementation of robust policies and other measures by States to effectively prevent and combat these issues.
To this end, the Working group:
- Coordinates joint advocacy efforts at UNCAC fora and other global fora to advance global commitments in tackling environmental crime and corruption, and promote their implementation at the national level;
- Encourages the exchange of information, updates and discussion on relevant topics including policy developments related to corruption linked to environmental crimes, ensuring that all working group members remain informed of the latest developments;
- Creates a space where CSOs can present their findings, reports or campaigns for dissemination purposes;
- Brings together members from across the globe to foster connection and collaboration beyond the formal working group setting.
Coalition Guidelines and Etiquette
Please have a look at our Guidelines and Etiquette, which apply to all conversations and the exchange of information within this group and its email list. By being part of this group, you agree that you have read and will follow the guidelines set for the VoC group and its email list.
