Environmental crime was in focus when the Council of Europe Committee of experts on the protection of the environment through Criminal Law held its first meeting in Strasbourg.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge emphasised that environmental crime has been growing at 2-3 times the rate of the global economy, with proceeds from environmental offences being on the same scale as other financial crimes.
“Environmental crimes are sometimes committed for profit but with destructive consequences, they damage our health and well-being, as well as the security of our food supply. They can also harm through industrial pollution and dangerous industrial activities. The meeting today is a first step for the Council of Europe taking the lead in the human rights protection of the environment through its expertise and jurisprudence in this area”, he said.
Since 1977 the Council of Europe has recognised the “contribution of criminal law to the protection of the environment” and is now drafting a new global Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law. On 23 November 2022, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Terms of Reference for a new Committee of Experts on the Protection of the Environment though Criminal Law (PC-ENV).
