INECE Network News: April 2024

Apr 19, 2024

International News

In the last month, 8 international news pieces have been added. For a complete listing, please click here.

Nations Are Undercounting Emissions, Putting UN Goals at Risk
Fred Pearce and Yale Environment 360
21 March 2024

Because of lax rules, national inventories reported to the United Nations grossly underestimate many countries’ greenhouse gas emissions. The result, analysts say, is that the world can not verify compliance with agreed emissions targets, jeopardizing global climate agreements. Read More


Fifth Circuit Presses Pause on SEC’s Final Climate Regulation
Betty Huber , Paul Davies, and Sarah Fortt
21 March 2024

On March 15, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted an administrative stay of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently finalized climate disclosure rules, in response to a March 8 request.[1] Petitioners had requested the stay in light of the “irreparable injury in the form of… Read More


Top Republicans and the AZ Chamber of Commerce Are Suing the EPA Over New Pollution Rules

AZ Mirror and Gloria Rebecca Gomez
25 March 2024

Republican lawmakers are challenging a federal rule aimed at reducing smokestack and diesel emissions, arguing that its new requirements are too stringent to implement and will be financially devastating for Arizona. Read More


Environmental Crime: Council Clears New EU Law With Tougher Sanctions And Extended List Of Offences
European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime
26 March 2024

Today, the Council formally adopted a directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The law will improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences. Read More


Residents Near ‘Illegal’ Waste Tip Call for Action
Yvette Austin
28 March 2024

Residents living near an “illegal” waste tip in Kent are calling for tougher action to get the site cleared. Landowner John Treeby was served with an enforcement notice by the Environment Agency in October, giving him six months to clear the site at Wouldham Road, in Borstal. Read More


Kenya Forest Service Denies Land Grabbing Allegations
David Nijaaga
30 March 2024

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has refuted claims that a portion of the Oloolua Forest in Kajiado County has been encroached upon. In a statement on X, KFS clarified that no individual had been allocated land within the forest. Read More


International Criminal Court Urged to Tackle Environmental Crimes and End Impunity
Nicholas Vincent and One Green Planet
30 March 2024

In a groundbreaking call to action, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being urged to confront environmental crimes head-on. This plea for justice comes from a diverse group of academics, lawyers, and activists worldwide, spotlighting a critical gap in the ICC’s current mandate. Read More


Ramping Up Enforcement to Tackle River Pollution
Manjit Kaur, Martin Carvalho, Ragananthini Vethasalam, and Venesa Devi
1 April 2024

Harsher penalties alone under new amendments to the Environmental Quality Act will not spare the country’s water sources from pollution if there is a lack of manpower to enforce the provisions, said stakeholders and trade groups. Read More


Blogs

What You Need to Know About Dubai’s Ban on Single-Use Plastic: Fines and Exemptions
Gulf Business
30 March 2024

In a bid to tackle environmental concerns and promote sustainability, Dubai Municipality unveiled plans for a comprehensive ban on various types of single-use products, to be implemented in three distinct phases. This move follows the issuance of a single-use plastic ban in January, driven by a resolution from Sheikh Hamdan… Read More


Time to End ‘Waste Colonialism’ Through a Global Plastics Treaty
Mageswari Sangaralingam and The Diplomat
13 March 2024

The global production and trade of plastic waste have drastically increased over the recent decades. Plastic waste is mostly traded under the banner of plastic “recycling.” This practice of exporting waste from higher-income countries to lower-income countries that are ill-equipped to handle the waste is a form of environmental racism… Read More


About INECE

Founded in 1989, INECE is the only global organization focused exclusively on achieving compliance with environmental law through effective compliance promotion and enforcement strategies, including administrative, civil, criminal, and judicial enforcement. INECE works on both national implementation of domestic environmental laws and on improving the effectiveness of multilateral environmental agreements. The Network includes more than 2,000 environmental regulators, investigators, prosecutors, judges, and employees of international environmental and development organizations from 150 countries. Officials from customs, the police, non-governmental organizations, academia, the media, and business also participate. INECE communicates that environmental compliance and enforcement play a fundamental role in building the foundation for the rule of law, good governance, and sustainable development.

IAIA 2027 heads to Christchurch

IAIA 2027 heads to Christchurch

The International Association for Impact Assessment has released the First Announcement for its 46th Annual Conference, and this one lands much closer to home than usual. IAIA27 will be held in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand, from 20 to 23 April 2027, under the...

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Learning Opportunities in Climate Change and Health

Learning Opportunities in Climate Change and Health

AELERT is pleased to share a curated selection of online learning opportunities and resources from our colleagues at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), focused on Health Impact Assessment (HIA), One Health, and Climate Change and Health. These courses are...

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Expression of Interest: Conference Technical Committee

Expression of Interest: Conference Technical Committee

Help shape the direction, content and impact of our upcoming conference We are seeking Expressions of Interest to join the conference technical committee for the upcoming AELERT 2026 Conference. The technical committee plays a strategic, advisory role, supporting the...

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Adam Slater takes the helm at AELERT

Adam Slater takes the helm at AELERT

This week, AELERT enters an exciting new chapter as Adam Slater steps into the role of CEO, bringing fresh ideas, deep regulatory expertise and a clear focus on driving practical benefits for regulators across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Adam has settled...

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Have your say! 2026 member survey is live

Have your say! 2026 member survey is live

This year marks an important moment for the Australian and New Zealand Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators neTwork (AELERT). As we prepare for the AELERT 2026 Conference, welcome a new Chief Executive Officer, and finalise the 2026–2028 Strategic Plan, we are...

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Upcoming Community or Practice Schedule (February-March)

Upcoming Community or Practice Schedule (February-March)

AELERT’s Community of Practice (CoP) network groups are back in action for 2026, bringing expert speakers, cross‑agency insights, and practical knowledge you can take straight back to your organisation. We have been working closely with your CoP Leads for each group...

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All In for National Reconciliation Week 2026

All In for National Reconciliation Week 2026

Reconciliation Australia has announced the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026: All In is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport, and that all of...

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AELERT’s 2026 Conference theme revealed!

AELERT’s 2026 Conference theme revealed!

We’re excited to unveil the theme for the AELERT 2026 Conference, Future ready regulation: embracing innovation, leading change, and strengthening regulatory systems, set to take place over three days between late October and mid-November 2026 in one of Australia's...

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2025 in focus: a year in review

2025 in focus: a year in review

2025 was a big year for AELERT, focused on delivering member value through knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and tools. With members, CoPs, Council, and global partners, we ran events and webinars to help regulators tackle emerging issues and build vital…

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New Environment Protection Reform Bills passed by Parliament

New Environment Protection Reform Bills passed by Parliament

The Australian Parliament has passed the Environment Protection Reform Bills. This occurred on Friday 28 November. The Bills received Royal Assent from the Governor General on Monday 1 December. They are now officially law. Some laws take effect immediately. Others...

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Join AELERT’s CoP leadership team

Join AELERT’s CoP leadership team

Expressions of interest are now open for Chair and Co-chair leadership positions of AELERT's Communities of Practice Are you ready to take the next step in your professional journey and help shape the future of environmental regulation and compliance? Expressions of...

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AELERT welcomes new chief executive

AELERT welcomes new chief executive

On behalf of the AELERT National council, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Slater as AELERT’s new chief executive officer set to commence in March 2026. Adam brings a wealth of experience in regulatory policy, environmental governance, and...

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