The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is organizing a new course focused on crimes against the environment. The course, which will be held at the United Nations Campus in Turin on 21-22 January 2015, is tailored to journalists and chief information officers, as well as those who want to specialize in this area. This course aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of current environmental threats and associated issues such as sustainable development and human rights, offering also an opportunity to network with renowned international experts.
Protecting the environment is the defining issue of our age. Today more than ever the way environmental issues are addressed is crucial to the survival of humankind. Crimes against the environment, the global rise in temperature, the problem associated to atmosphere, air, lands, soils, and oceans are reported on a daily bases. With the world’s human population set to rise from seven billion to nine billion people in the next half-century, we need more than ever to focus on energy security, air pollution, natural-resource management, climate change and crimes against the environment.
Environmental crimes encompass a wide list of illicit activities, including the illegal trade in endangered species; smuggling of ozone depleting substances; illicit trade in hazardous waste; illegal fishing and logging in timber. Environmental crimes have a far-reaching impact: not only do they ravage nature, demolish delicate ecosystems, threaten biodiversity and endangered species, and cause shortages of unpolluted land and water, but they also promote corruption, hinder the rule of law and generate revenues for criminals. Who is behind environmental crimes? As with other types of crimes there is no single profile of an eco-criminal. They might be local poachers, middlemen involved in transportation of illegal products or large multinational companies avoiding the costs of waste processing by dumping at sea.
Given the many complex and interacting aspects, the course aims at deepening knowledge of environmental issues while also contributing to raise awareness and promoting a call for action to prevent crimes against the environment.
The lecturers are experienced international journalists, eminent scientists from nationally and internationally recognized academic and research institutions, as well as practitioners from international organizations dealing with environmental crimes, sustainable development and green governance.
The course is organized within the framework of the UNICRI Journalism and Public Information Programme focusing on new threats to states and citizens.
Applications deadline: 30 November 2015 (23:00 CET)
For detailed information please click here.
E-mail: publicinfo@unicri.it Tel.: (+39) 011 6537144