Corruption and administration in environmental protection

The impact and consequences of environmental crimes on a planetary scale are growing and are becoming ever more devastating. Such crimes include air, water and land pollution, illegal disposal of electronic waste, wildlife trafficking, illegal fishing and illegal deforestation. Behind the commission of many environmental crimes lies corruption. This can involve specific acts such as bribery in the public and private sectors, embezzlement, influence peddling, abuse of functions and illicit enrichment. It may refer more generally to unethical and self-interested behaviour. The concern of this chapter is with environmental crimes that are associated with natural resource extraction, and that involve some element of corruption in their execution.