Winter School on Environmental Crimes

About

Addressing environmental crimes is more urgent and crucial than ever before, as they affect all countries indiscriminately, impacting biodiversity, national security, human rights, and socio-economic development. Illegal acts that directly harm the environment such as illegal trade in wildlife, smuggling of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), illicit trade of hazardous waste, illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, and illegal logging and trade in timber, not only degrade ecosystems but also threaten the health and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. As the planet's ecological balance becomes more fragile, the consequences of these crimes are more far-reaching and severe. Therefore, the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and proactive measures to combat these offences are essential to safeguard our planet and ensure a sustainable future for all.

Since 1998, UNICRI has been at the forefront of tackling environmental crimes. The Institute has spearheaded numerous international projects designed to enhance knowledge and develop capabilities to combat the illegal trade and trafficking of environmentally harmful materials, including e-waste, chemicals, biological, radiological, and nuclear substances, and precious metals. Fueled by individuals but also by organized crime groups attracted to high profits and low detection risks, these crimes continue to proliferate. The recently released World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 highlights the strict interconnection between wildlife crimes and organized crime, revealing that the illicit trade in wildlife is not just a matter of conservation concern but also a significant component of transnational organized crime networks. This emphasizes the necessity of integrated efforts and international cooperation to combat these intertwined criminal enterprises effectively.

Environmental crimes are becoming progressively integrated and viewed within a broader, global system. They are no longer seen as isolated incidents but as interconnected issues that impact the environment, public health, and international security. At the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP 28), UNODC presented evidence of the need to address environmental crimes to support climate change mitigation.

As the challenges continue to evolve, ongoing training and knowledge dissemination remain crucial to sustain and expand efforts to combat environmental crimes. Based on these considerations, UNICRI and the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) will organize the eighth edition of the Winter School on Environmental Crimes, from 18 to 22 November 2024, in an online modality.

The course will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of environmental crimes and the current responses from the criminal justice system. The Winter School adopts a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach, emphasizing the connections between environmental crimes and other significant legal and societal challenges. The existing international legal framework will also be also examined to improve participants’ ability to thoroughly understand the various aspects. More specifically, the curriculum of the course will focus on:

- Existing international legal frameworks to prevent crimes against the environment.
- The concept of environmental protection and its evolution.
- Ecocide.
- Environment and illegal mining.
- Environmental crimes and terrorism.
- Involvement of organized criminal groups in environmental crimes.
- Waste trafficking and its impact on human health and security.
- Wildlife crimes.
- Environmental conflicts and justice.
- Individual, Corporate and State accountability for environmental crimes.

The Winter School offers professional, legal, social, scientific, and academic perspectives through live webinars, group discussions, dynamic case studies, individual readings, and practical exercises. The faculty is composed of top scholars and academics from prestigious universities, representatives of the United Nations system, international human rights bodies, and civil society organizations.

Through a dedicated online platform, participants will have the opportunity to interact with internationally recognized experts and peers from all over the world, enabling them to build lasting professional relationships. This experience fosters intercultural dialogue and promotes a deeper understanding of some of the world’s most complex and debated issues.

Course leader

UNICRI is one of the leading training and research institutes of the UN System, holding a sound expertise in research and training, which is reflected in the organization of several capacity-building activities and specialized postgraduate courses.

Target group

The course is intended for university and post-graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, professionals, including United Nations (UN) personnel, as well as anyone interested in gaining a deep knowledge of current environmental crime issues.

Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

• Possess a strong command of the English language.

Fee info