Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards Ceremony 2022
About the Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
The Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions or teams combating transboundary environmental crime. The Awards are given to individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate excellence and outstanding leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime. The thematic scope of the Awards covers any transboundary environmental crimes, such as illegal trade in wildlife, illegal trade in chemicals or waste, including plastic, all of which become increasingly significant in the COVID19 response and recovery era.
Learn about the 2022 winners here.
2022 winners of the 7th Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
MALDIVES CUSTOMS SERVICE (MALDIVES)
Category: Impact
Following a ban on the production and sale of single-use plastic effective from 1st June 2022 in the Maldives, the phase-out plan posed several challenges. Maldives Customs Service (MCS) was mandated to enforce the plastic trade ban policy, while simultaneously clearing goods. As a result, MCS seized 230,154 plastic items in the year 2021 and 558,762 plastic items in the year 2022 (to date) and developed campaigns to make the public more aware of the policies through social media and in-person sessions. As the leading organization in implementing this new policy, MCS has implemented a robust enforcement policy, combined with social campaigns, which are contributing to a drastic reduction in the trade and use of single-use plastic in the Maldives.
NATIONAL OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (ODS) IMPORT AND EXPORT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (CHINA)
Category: Impact
Established in China in 2000, the National ODS Import and Export Management Office played an important control role as China has long been the largest ODS exporter in the world. In 2021, the annual export volume of ODS exported by China accounted for 80% of global exports, with more than 140 destination countries. Following the entry into force of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Kigali Amendment) in China in 2021, the Office developed new regulations to establish and implement import and export licensing systems to curb the illegal trade of greenhouse gases, such as HFC. During the daily import/export management of controlled substances, the Office implemented a mechanism, called informal Prior Informed Consent (iPIC) which was initiated by UNEP, and coordinated closely with trading countries and international organizations to prevent illegal trade. From June 2021 to May 2022, the Office launched 1,827 iPIC processes, rejecting 31 batches of trading applications and preventing about 1,057 tons of ODS illegal trade with 16 countries. Major hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) import/export enterprises were investigated to collect necessary trade information before implementing the trade licensing system for HFC. The Office focused on advanced scientific and technological methods such as big data and information systems to analyse smuggling trends and risks. The inspections of ODS and its substitute, HFCs, were intensified and key smugglers, modus operandi, and routes were mapped. The Office also conducted training sessions for enterprises, license issuing agencies, and law enforcement officers of the Customs and anti-smuggling departments nationwide.
MS. TILOTAMA VARMA, ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE WILDLIFE CRIME CONTROL BUREAU, INDIAN POLICE SERVICE (INDIA)
Category: Gender Leadership and Women’s Empowerment
Indian Police Service officer since 1990, Ms. Tilotama Varma undertook the leadership of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change as Additional Director in 2015. During her command, the Bureau has conducted 724 Joint Enforcement Operations in coordination with State/Central Enforcement Agencies leading to the arrest of 1,598 wildlife traffickers. From June 2021 to May 2022, under the supervision of Ms. Varma, WCCB collaborated with various State and Central Enforcement Agencies to conduct 149 joint operations resulting in the arrest of 363 criminals as well as seizures of large quantities of contraband throughout the country and the disruption of criminal networks. In addition to these routine operations, Ms. Varma also conceived, planned, and coordinated five Special Wildlife Enforcement Operations across the country involving all enforcement agencies. Under her leadership, various illegal wildlife networks have been dismantled. Ms. Varma has also focused on building the capacity of State Enforcement Agencies, raising awareness of communities living in and around protected areas, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration to combat wildlife crime.
MS. NENENG KURNIASIH, INVESTIGATOR, DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY (INDONESIA)
Category: Gender Leadership and Women’s Empowerment
Mrs. Neneng Kurniasih is one of the 10 female investigators of 220 in the Directorate General for Law Enforcement, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the only female investigator at the Directorate of Criminal Law of Enforcement. As the coordinator of investigators specialized in environmental pollution, Mrs. Kurniasih conducted 35 cases of transboundary crimes involving the trafficking of hazardous waste, leading to the conviction of business entities operating without permits and licenses. Between 2021 and 2022 she led 10 investigations related to high-profile pollution cases implicating large business entities. One of these cases involved the trafficking of hazardous waste ended with a custodial sentence of 7 years and hefty fines, which is the most significant punishment ever recorded for these kinds of offenses in Indonesia.
About the 2022 Awards
The 2022 Awards are given by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
