China hosts Environmental Security Seminar

Plans to enhance international environmental enforcement efforts with support from INTERPOL

In line with international efforts to develop a cooperative and collaborative multi-agency strategy to tackle environmental crime, China’s Ministry of Public Security hosted the country’s first National Environmental Security Seminar with the support of INTERPOL, at the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Beijing. Announcing this, INTERPOL said that the event was held following the official launch of the Environmental Crime Programme of its National Environmental Security Task Force (NEST) initiative in September, where Chinese authorities had decided to organise a National Environmental Security Seminar with the agency. Head of INTERPOL’s Environmental Crime Programme, David Higgins, who was an invitee at the seminar welcomed the initiative, the announcement added.

At the event, China reportedly announced that it would seek out and develop opportunities to enhance its international environmental enforcement efforts in cooperation with INTERPOL. To take this initiative further, it was agreed that an expanded meeting would be organised involving all Chinese divisions and ministries responsible for environmental law enforcement, the announcement revealed.

“China has set a good example for the entire international environmental compliance and enforcement community, and we look forward to forging closer ties and working alongside China in our common endeavour to prevent environmental crime and enhance environmental security,” said Higgins.