Environmental crime remains one of the world’s most pressing yet under-addressed threats. From illegal waste trafficking and deforestation to transboundary pollution and biodiversity loss, these crimes often occur at the intersection of licit and illicit systems, sustained by regulatory gaps, weak enforcement, and corruption. 

The ECO-SOLVE programme, led by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and funded by the European Union, supports the development of data-driven responses, multilateral engagement, and locally led strategies to combat environmental crime.

In October 2025, GI-TOC will convene a three-part public webinar series bringing together policymakers, legal experts, environmental defenders, and civil society actors. The series will explore global treaty negotiations, efforts to reform international legal frameworks, and community-based innovations from the Amazon, building momentum ahead of major multilateral milestones.

Key Themes Across the Series 

• Reinforcing global commitments through treaty negotiations and legal reform
• Exposing enforcement gaps and corruption that enable environmental crime
• Amplifying local expertise and community-driven strategies in affected regions
• Advancing evidence-based responses through research, partnerships, and innovation

Key Objectives of the Webinar Series 

• Inform: Share cutting-edge research and policy recommendations on environmental crime
• Engage: Create a dialogue between international policymakers and frontline defenders
• Amplify: Elevate the voices of civil society and local communities in global policy debates
• Coordinate: Build momentum and alignment ahead of key multilateral events like COP30 and the next rounds of UNTOC and UNEP negotiations

Target Audience 

• Government and law enforcement officials
• Civil society and community-based organizations
• International organizations and UN agencies
• Academic and legal experts
• Journalists and media
• General public with interest in environmental justice

Panel 1: A plastic problem – Navigating the global plastic treaty negotiations

Panel 2: To be or not to be? Will there be a new Protocol to the UNTOC on environmental crimes – and will it help the planet?

Panel 3: From the ground to COP30 – Local perspectives on environmental crime and climate justice in the Brazilian Amazon