Green Customs: Global Partners hold talks on how customs can tackle environmental crime
Green Customs
05 June 2026
05 June 2026
In advance of World Environment Day 2026 and its global call to action, #NowForClimate, the World Customs Organization (WCO) brought together around 200 in-person and online participants from Customs administrations, environmental authorities, international organizations, and law enforcement agencies including the Green Customs Initiative secretariat to discuss the evolving nature of environmental crime and its implications for global environmental governance.
As countries intensify efforts to address climate change, environmental crime continues to pose a significant challenge intertwined with other forms of criminal activities. Illegal trade in waste, ozone-depleting substances (ODS), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), wildlife, timber and other environmentally sensitive commodities weakens regulatory frameworks, distorts legitimate trade and deprives governments of resources needed to support sustainable and climate-resilient development.
Against this backdrop, the meeting explored the increasingly important role of Customs administrations as frontline actors in implementing multilateral environmental agreements and safeguarding the integrity of global supply chains. Discussions highlighted how effective border controls contribute not only to environmental protection but also to broader efforts to combat transnational organized crime, strengthen the rule of law and support climate action.
The programme featured contributions from the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat), UNEP OzonAction, the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Europol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Green Customs Initiative Secretariat, among others. Together, participants examined the convergence of environmental crime threats and the growing links between environmental offences, organized criminal networks, illicit financial flows and other forms of cross-border crime.
Discussions highlighted the strategic importance of high-quality enforcement data in identifying emerging trends, informing policy decisions and measuring the impact of environmental compliance efforts. Participants reviewed approaches to improving environmental seizure reporting and strengthening information-sharing mechanisms at national, regional and international levels.
The meeting reaffirmed that addressing environmental crime requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, supported by strong international partnerships, effective information exchange and sustained capacity building. Participants emphasized that environmental enforcement is not only a matter of compliance, but also a critical component of broader efforts to advance climate resilience, support the transition to sustainable economies and protect the environmental resources upon which future generations depend.
As the world marks World Environment Day 2026, the discussions at the WCO served as a timely reminder that effective environmental enforcement sends a powerful signal in support of climate action. By strengthening cooperation across borders and institutions, Customs administrations and their partners are helping to ensure that international environmental commitments translate into tangible results.
Read the full story (with images and links): https://www.greencustoms.org/news/news/global-partners-hold-talks-how-customs-can-tackle-environmental-crime
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Against this backdrop, the meeting explored the increasingly important role of Customs administrations as frontline actors in implementing multilateral environmental agreements and safeguarding the integrity of global supply chains. Discussions highlighted how effective border controls contribute not only to environmental protection but also to broader efforts to combat transnational organized crime, strengthen the rule of law and support climate action.
The programme featured contributions from the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat), UNEP OzonAction, the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Europol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Green Customs Initiative Secretariat, among others. Together, participants examined the convergence of environmental crime threats and the growing links between environmental offences, organized criminal networks, illicit financial flows and other forms of cross-border crime.
Discussions highlighted the strategic importance of high-quality enforcement data in identifying emerging trends, informing policy decisions and measuring the impact of environmental compliance efforts. Participants reviewed approaches to improving environmental seizure reporting and strengthening information-sharing mechanisms at national, regional and international levels.
The meeting reaffirmed that addressing environmental crime requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, supported by strong international partnerships, effective information exchange and sustained capacity building. Participants emphasized that environmental enforcement is not only a matter of compliance, but also a critical component of broader efforts to advance climate resilience, support the transition to sustainable economies and protect the environmental resources upon which future generations depend.
As the world marks World Environment Day 2026, the discussions at the WCO served as a timely reminder that effective environmental enforcement sends a powerful signal in support of climate action. By strengthening cooperation across borders and institutions, Customs administrations and their partners are helping to ensure that international environmental commitments translate into tangible results.
Read the full story (with images and links): https://www.greencustoms.org/news/news/global-partners-hold-talks-how-customs-can-tackle-environmental-crime