Environmental Crime

VALU 191 The Environment & Society

 One of the concepts we will discuss this semester is environmental crime For some time now different groups of activists have been concerned about the concept of environmental justice as well. As we see the need to become better environmental stewards, some members of the population take the opportunity to exploit the environment in harmful ways

Crimes of A Global Nature

 According to the EPA, an environmental crime in the U.S. is

The negligent, knowing or willful violation of federal environmental law. Generally speaking, knowing violations are those that are deliberate and not the product of accident or mistake. Knowledge of the specific statutes or regulations that prohibit the wrongful conduct is not required. When a violator is aware that the wrongful conduct is prohibited by law, the violation is said to be "willful."

EPA & Environmental Crime

 Illegal fishing, trading in endangered wildlife, banned chemical smuggling, illegal dumping of special waste materials, and dealing in activities with contraband are all forms of environmental crime. All of these have an impact on air, water, land, ecosystem, etc which can have an effect on human/animal health & welfare

Environmental Crime

 EPA also lists the following activities:

Illegal disposal of hazardous waste Export of hazardous waste without the permission of the receiving country Illegal discharge of pollutants to a water of the U.S. the removal & disposal of regulated asbestos containing materials in a manner inconsistent with the law and regulations Illegal importation of certain restricted or regulated chemicals into the United States Tampering with a drinking water supply Mail fraud Wire fraud Conspiracy Money laundering relating to environmental criminal activities.

Environmental Crime

 According to Interpol, environmental crime goes beyond the list given on the previous slides Interpol believes it can also include crimes which speed up climate change, destroy fish stocks, annihilate forests and exhaust essential natural resources

Interpol

 Interpol has seen a substantial number of both wildlife crime and pollution crime cases that point to the involvement of organized crime networks. This is evident by the detailed planning of operations, substantial financial support, the careful management of international shipments and massive profits. In the U.S. we also see evidence of exploitation of wildlife in drug smuggling activities.

Interpol

 The mission of INTERPOLs Environmental Crime Program is to help member countries in the effective enforcement of national and international environmental laws and treaties. In this way Interpol can contribute to the ongoing conservation of the worlds environment, biodiversity and natural resources. Since each member country has its own laws, environmental treaties become very important tools

Interpols Mission

 Endangered species
There is a global extinction crisis according to many biologists and other scientists. The rate species are disappearing has increased rapidly in recent years. People have increased their technological capacity and exploration of available resources. Species extinction is occurring at about 50 times the normal back ground rate with 816 extinct species in the past 500 years. Source: Environmental Law, 5th edition, Kubasek, N and Silverman, G., 2005

An Example

 Biodiversity or variety of species is responsible for many aspects of our life.

Generate food and medicine Provides a number of services necessary for life such as: (just a few examples)
Decomposition of wastes Nitrogen fixation in soil Disease reduction in crops Water filtration

Biodiversity

 Many endangered species are hunted or sold because of the perceived medicinal purposes that certain animal parts are purported to possess (example of environmental crime) Environmentalists are also concerned that certain plant species are being wiped out before scientists have had an opportunity to study them.
We dont know that we might have a cure for disease but have destroyed the plants that carry the necessary chemical.

Medicine Application

 Species are classified as threatened when they are critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Every part of the world is dealing with extinction crisis (some more than others)
Example: Madagascar
Home to a great number of critically endangered birds

International Issues

Example: Indonesia
Home to more threatened mammals than any other area

Example: Malaysia
Has 683 threatened plant species (~double that of any other country)

 Habitat loss or degradation Exploitation Introduction of nonnative invasive species World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates that about 24% of all mammal species and 12% of bird species will face extinction during the 21st century. IUCN indicates that human and financial resources must be mobilized at between 10 and 100 times the current level to address this crisis.

Causes of Extinction

 Actions that governments take can have a long term positive impact. For example, when the issue of the depletion of the ozone layer was brought to the attention of the world, governments responded by banding together under the Montreal Protocol to reduce CFC emissions. Today there is evidence that the hole in the ozone hole is getting smaller and it is anticipated that it may close completely in the next 50 years or so.

Ozone Hole

 It is important that governments work together to address global environmental issues. The Montreal Protocol was an example that when industrialized countries work together a difference can be made. There does have to be cooperation. Example: Kyoto Protocol
To address global warming the Kyoto Protocol was established with participating countries that agreed to seek reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. However, President Bush withdrew the United States participation in this endeavor & its been a political issue since then Will the U.S.s action have an impact?

Making a Difference

 In the United States and other industrialized nations another concept regarding environmental crime is environmental justice. Many times crimes or damaging environmental impacts occur in areas of extreme poverty. Usually they occur in developing nations that dont have the resources to address the issues. Because of the poverty, many times the impact of the environmental damage doesnt raise the level of concern that it might in a more developed area. The people in these places are more worried about eating and shelter.

Environmental Justice

 There are a lot of political issues that surround issues such as endangered species, ecosystem destruction (hazardous waste dumping), and other environmental crimes. Sometimes it may raise serious economic issues such as stopping logging operations to save the habitat of endangered owls. Deciding where to draw the line is a very difficult decision and it is often hard to reach consensus.

Issues

 Environmental crime case prosecuted by U.S. Department of Justice

W.R. Grace & Co. was found not guilty in May in connection with the asbestos contamination of Libby, Montana Prosecutors alleged that the company and seven former executives conspired for decades to expose Libby residents to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. Nearly 200 Libby residents have died of asbestos-related disease. Following the verdict, EPA declared a public health emergency in the town, the first such use of the Superfund law.

Example U.S. Case

 As you can see from the example, environmental crime cases are often difficult to prosecute It takes a lot of resources to collect enough evidence to get a conviction even when it appears evident that people or the environment were endangered International crime cases take a lot of coordination & cooperation among member countries to successfully prosecute these cases.

Example Case