Search Climate Insights Directory

The document examines the nexus between environmental crime and climate change, arguing that illegal activities such as deforestation, marine pollution, and waste trafficking impair the ability of natural ecosystems to sequester carbon and withstand climate impacts. It highlights a gap where climate change is largely absent from criminal justice systems, and environmental crime is missing from the climate agenda. The paper proposes using the concept of 'public harm' and 'aggravating circumstances' to integrate climate impacts into prosecutorial and judicial decision-making. It also warns that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' that may drive new forms of criminality and increase pressure on justice infrastructure.