Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Chairs Global Forum On Law Enforcement's Vital Role In Climate Action At COP29
H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, led a significant ministerial forum at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event brought together global leaders in law enforcement and environmental protection to discuss critical issues. This forum, held alongside COP29, was organised with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The forum built upon last year's meeting at COP28 in Dubai, welcoming high-profile attendees such as Dr. Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan; Dr. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC; Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-designate; and Alexander Zouev from the UN. Sheikh Saif congratulated Azerbaijan for hosting COP29 and expressed gratitude to Dr. Aliyev and Dr. Waly for their collaboration.
Sheikh Saif emphasised that transparency and cooperation are vital in tackling "environmental terrorism." He stated, "We must be clear with ourselves and with each other, and we must shed light on those committing crimes against humanity and our planet." He urged for real changes in global policies to protect the environment.
The forum highlighted alarming statistics on forest fires, noting that natural fires release about 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Human activities cause 90 percent of these fires, with 80 percent in the Amazon aimed at land clearing for agriculture. Sheikh Saif stressed the need for unified efforts to combat these environmental crimes.
Sheikh Saif introduced I2LEC, an initiative focused on environmental protection. He noted that criminals include those targeting our environment. The Green Justice and Jungle Shield operations were also discussed; they involved 11 countries across the Amazon and Congo Basins with support from UNODC, ISRI, and others.
These operations seized over 32 kilogrammes of illegally mined gold and prevented more than 213,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. They highlighted links between environmental crimes like money laundering, corruption, human trafficking, and terrorism financing.
Technological Advancements
The event showcased a new "Heat Map" tool developed with ESRI to help law enforcement identify crime hotspots related to environmental harm. This tool aligns strategies with global climate goals by tracking sources of damage effectively.
Speakers explored strategies to enhance law enforcement's capacity against illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, marine pollution, and illegal mining. Discussions included strengthening inter-agency cooperation through innovative approaches like renewable energy use.
Baku Call to Action
The forum concluded with unveiling the "Baku Call to Action," reinforcing global commitment to empowering law enforcement against environmental challenges. This declaration calls for enhanced international collaboration among nations to prioritise climate-focused strategies.
This initiative builds on momentum from COP28’s "Abu Dhabi Call to Action," which united global law enforcement for biodiversity protection. It underscores equipping agencies with skills necessary for combating environmental crimes effectively.
The "Baku Call to Action" amplifies urgency for collective action amid escalating climate challenges by strengthening global law enforcement responses supporting peacebuilding efforts worldwide while fostering sustainability for future generations.
With inputs from WAM
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