Strategic report: environment, peace and security - a convergence of threats
More than 80 per cent of countries consider environmental crime a national priority, with the majority saying new and more sophisticated criminal activities increasingly threaten peace and security. INTERPOL and UN Environment surveyed close to 70 countries for their new joint report, 'Environment, Peace and Security? A Convergence of Threats', released at the Law, Justice and Development Week 2016 hosted by the World Bank in Washington DC. The report focuses on the links between global environmental crime, valued at USD 91 - 258 billion annually, and other criminal activities, including organized crime and terrorism. More than 60 per cent of surveyed countries stated they were witnessing new environmental crimes or modus operandi, indicating growing sophistication and adaptation by transnational organized crime groups. In addition, 84 per cent reported a convergence with other serious crimes, such as corruption (42 per cent), counterfeiting (39 per cent), drug trafficking (36 per cent), cybercrime (23 per cent) and financial crime (17 per cent).