Environmental policy frameworks and implementation

Environmental Crime

Throughout the twentieth century, and increasingly so in the latter half, the human impact on the environment has been increasingly recognized by both individuals and governments alike. Almost all countries have laws defining what is permissible as far as the environmental impact of both businesses and individuals. In the latter, this can range from requiring smog checks for vehicles to litter laws. When the term "environmental crime" is used, however, it most often refers to large-scale violations of national or international laws regarding wildlife or the cleanliness of air, land and water (Interpol, 2009). But although some cases of environmental crime are easy to define, it can be difficult to ascertain exactly what is meant by environmental crime.

One of the main reasons environmental crime can be difficult to define is because scientific evidence regarding the environmental impact of certain things is often conflicting, inconclusive, or effectively rendered useless by articles and propaganda that claim such evidence is false or misleading. The past decade's debate over global warming is a prime example of this fact; despite much scientific evidence to suggest that the Earth's temperature is rising, and to attribute this rise to the human production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, there are still those who believe that the current climate change is part of a natural geophysical cycle. Such arguments, not to mention the lobbying dollars that support them, can make ti difficult to pass and enforce laws that might otherwise make the issue of climate change very clear.

In addition, environmental crime must be "negligent, knowing or willful violations" of environmental law (EPA, 2009). Often, it can be hard to know -- and prove -- what acts are willful and what are simply mistakes. This also ties into the question of scientific evidence; especially with the ever0changing "conclusions," people could claim unawareness of certain environmental impacts or the laws governing them, and only when they know what they are doing is against the law could something be considered an environmental crime (EPA, 2009). Awareness also plays a part on the other side of environmental crime -- laws cannot be made restricting certain activities with a detrimental environmental impact until that impact is known, and certain types of environmental crimes might remain hidden for years (Interpol, 2009).