In some contexts, investments intended to support sustainability transitions are already creating new opportunities for criminal exploitation. For example, renewable-energy equipment may be stolen or sabotaged, waste and recycling systems may be infiltrated by criminal networks, and public contracts for green infrastructure may be manipulated through corruption or fraud. These examples form part of a wider challenge.

Sustainability transitions are essential to address climate change, environmental degradation and long-term development challenges. At the same time, the expansion of transition-related investments, regulations, infrastructure and markets can create new opportunities for criminal exploitation, corruption, fraud, illicit trade, theft, sabotage and regulatory circumvention.

The UNICRI report “Crime-Proofing the Future: Safeguarding Sustainability Transitions” examines how criminal actors may exploit, obstruct, circumvent or capture sustainability transitions, and how these risks can undermine public trust, investment security, development outcomes and the legitimacy of climate and sustainability action. The report identifies emerging criminal and corruption risks and proposes practical responses for policymakers, enforcement authorities, regulators, development actors and the private sector.

ECDPM and UNICRI will co-organise the Brussels launch of this report, which contributes to raising awareness of the growing links between sustainability transitions, organised crime, and corruption. The event will discuss the report's findings and their implications for EU climate, cooperation, industrial and security policies, drawing on the complementary expertise of UNICRI and ECDPM.

Key questions addressed during the discussions

The moderated discussion will address:

• Which parts of sustainability transitions are most vulnerable to organised crime, corruption and fraud? Which transition sectors (e.g. critical raw materials, renewable energy, carbon markets or green infrastructure) should policymakers prioritise as most vulnerable to organised crime and corruption?
• How can governments and development partners better integrate crime and corruption risk assessments into the design of climate and industrial policies?
• How can due diligence, transparency and information sharing/financial oversight help protect climate finance and green investments from fraud and illicit financial flows?
• How can local communities,  civil society and investigative journalists strengthen  accountability and detect risks at an early stage?
• What forms of cooperation are needed between climate, development, financial and criminal justice actors to better safeguard sustainability transitions?
   

Agenda

11:00–11:10
Welcome and opening remarks
Hanne Knaepen, Head of Climate action and green transition, ECDPM
Matthew Burnett Stuart, Programme Management Officer at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)

11:10–11:30
Presentation of the UNICRI report, by Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental journalist & researcher 

11:30–12:30
Expert panel
Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental journalist & researcher, ECDPM’s Associate
Barbara Verhoeve, Legal expert Crimes Affecting the Environment, Belgian Federal Government Services for Health, Food Security and Environment
Anna Matczak, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Criminology at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and a Restorative Justice Expert
Colin Black, Executive Director of the Centre for Climate Crime Analysis
Lynn Schelingeman, Senior Associate for Financial Crime and Corruption with the World Resources Institute
DG HOME, TBC
Moderated by ECDPM

12:30–12:55
Q&A with participants

12:55–13:00
Closing remarks 

13:00 –14:00
Light lunch in ECDPM’s office