Countries around the world are losing biodiversity at an alarming pace. Corruption is a critical factor in this regard as it fuels environmental degradation, including the destruction and exploitation of wildlife, forests, and marine species. It is a key enabler of crimes that affect the environment, constituting an increasing source of profits for organized criminal groups and their operations. Corruption undermines safety and security and deprives governments of significant revenue streams, and also robs communities of their natural resources and livelihoods.
In recent years, the international community has taken measures to strengthen the global normative framework underpinning efforts to prevent, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate corruption linked to crimes that affect the environment. Furthermore, efforts are made to enhance targeted advocacy to build awareness as to how corruption can fuel crimes that affect the environment.
The 2019 Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption adopted Resolution 8/12, entitled "Preventing and combating corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment". Resolution 8/12 is part of an extended list of resolutions that call for the protection of the environment and highlight the importance of addressing corruption.
UNODC has developed a series of tools to help relevant authorities manage corruption risks as well as a tool to better understand the key actors, organizational structures and business models employed by organized criminal groups to facilitate wildlife crime.