United Nations initiatives in preventing environmental crime

This chapter reviews the nature and dynamics of environmental crime, broad approaches to preventing crimes such as illegal fishing, and the role of United Nations agencies in responding to environmental crime. These UN responses range from collaborative interventions involving government and non-government bodies, to knowledge provision and educational initiatives. The scale of present environmental catastrophes, particularly related to the effects of climate change and the extinction of species, presents considerable institutional challenges to addressing global environmental harms. These are compounded by the political obstacles stemming from the actions and/or inactions of nation-states that impede measures needed to prevent environmental harm.