The Environmental Crime Crisis

Wildlife trafficking -- Forest crime -- Role of wood and illegal wildlife trade for threat finance.

A 2022 Choice Reviews Outstanding Academic Title Through a green criminological perspective, Angus Nurse examines the contemporary reality of corporate environmental crime and illegal activities that have become normalized within many major corporations. Arguably this is an inevitable consequence of a corporate culture that prioritizes profits and the smooth operation of market activities over environmental concerns coupled with the increased political power of major corporations that can act almost with impunity and where problems do occur, can literally buy itself out of trouble. These same corporations are broadly perceived as being responsible actors. However, Nurse argues that corporate environmental offending is often deliberate and that corporations understand that they will often be allowed to continue with polluting and non-compliant behavior because the likely enforcement responses are fines and settlements rather than criminal prosecution. Using several case studies, Nurse explores biopiracy and the rights of indigenous peoples, the behavior of oil companies in African states, the regulation of corporate social responsibility and corporate environmental responsibility, an analysis of contemporary environmental legislation and the prosecution of environmental harm, and state-corporate crime and air pollution. Dealing with these problems requires a wider notion of crime and wrongdoing that directly engages with the types of environmental offending that represent a threat to human populations and non-human nature irrespective of whether these are defined as crime by justice systems.

"Yingyi Situ and David Emmons in Environmental Crime address a neglected area in Criminology and Criminal Justice and do so with masterful attention to details of environmental law, law enforcement, enthralling examples and up-to-date cases. Well-written, scholarly and incisive in its commentary and stellar in organization, their work will be well received by both undergraduate and graduate students." - Frank E. Hagan, Ph.D., Chair, Graduate Program in Administration of Justice, Professor of Sociology/Criminal Justice, Mercyhurst College, Pennsylvania We and our environment are at risk. Air, water, and soil pollution, hazardous waste disposal, global warming, acid rain, and reduction of the ozone layer threaten the natural environment and endanger people's health. Within the last decade, however, environmental violations have been defined as crimes and violators viewed as criminals; and criminal prosecution of the accused and criminal sanctions against the convicted have accelerated. This accessibly written book examines the criminalization of environmental wrong-doing. Designed as a textbook for environmental crime courses at the undergraduate or beginning graduate levels, it is comprehensive and logically organized. The text explores the nature, causes, investigation, prosecution, and prevention of environmental crime. Special emphasis is placed on the human, economic, social, and psychological impacts of the environmental crime by corporations, criminal organizations, the government, and individuals. Although examples throughout the book reflect not only North America but the world, a final chapter is devoted to global environmental law. The chapter also reviews promising approaches being used by other nations in fighting environmental crime.

And recommendations -- Introduction -- What is environmental crime? -- The legal framework on environmental crimes -- Growth in environmental crime -- Illegal wildlife trade -- Forestry crimes -- Fisheries crimes -- Waste, pollution -- White collar environmental crimes -- Environmental crime and threat finance to terrorism and conflicts -- Addressing root causes of environmental crime -- Responding to environmental crime -- Restoration case studies -- Coordination of efforts -- Conclusion.

Crimes associated with the illegal trade in wildlife, timber and fish stocks, pollutants and waste have become increasingly transnational, organized and serious. They warrant attention because of their environmental consequences, their human toll, their impacts on the rule of law and good governance, and their links with violence, corruption and a range of crossover crimes. This ground-breaking, multi-disciplinary Handbook brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine key sectors in transnational environmental crime and to explore its most significant conceptual, operational and enforcement challenges.

In this book the authors define environmental crime and discuss the extent of the environmental crisis. They then explore the causes, investigation, prosecution and prevention of all types of environmental crime.

The Legal Regulation of Environmental Crime - The International and European Dimension provides a timely, comprehensive and holistic analysis of the international and EU legal frameworks aimed at tackling environmental crime. Bringing together a team of leading international and EU scholars with distinct expertise in environmental law and environmental criminal law, the volume discusses current reforms of environmental law at the international and EU levels.

Water, Crime and Security in the Twenty-First Century represents criminology’s first book-length contribution to the study of water and water-related crimes, harms and security. The chapters cover topics such as: water pollution, access to fresh water in the Global North and Global South, water and climate change, the commodification of water and privatization, water security and pacification, and activism and resistance surrounding issues of access and pollution. With examples ranging from Rio de Janeiro to Flint, Michigan to the Thames River, this original study offers a comprehensive criminological overview of the contemporary and historical relationship between water and crime. Coinciding with the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018–2028, this timely volume will be of particular relevance to students and scholars of green criminology, as well as those interested in critical geography, environmental anthropology, environmental sociology, political ecology, and the study of corporate crime and state crime.