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.

Draft Outcomes Performance Reporting Guide out for review

Draft Outcomes Performance Reporting Guide out for review

The AELERT team in collaboration with members and specifically, the ACT Government's own Dr Su Wild-River and Isabelle Patterson, have completed the working draft of the Outcomes Performance Reporting Guide which aims to provide the background, resources, and...

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Regulatory Capture Toolkit out now for members

Regulatory Capture Toolkit out now for members

Over the last 18 months, AELERT has been working with members to run 15 regulatory capture workshops and develop practical guidance with valuable insights from trusted partners including Mataki Environmental to form a robust tool that can be implemented at all levels...

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Applications open for AELERT Chief Executive Role

Applications open for AELERT Chief Executive Role

The AELERT National Council is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position within AELERT. This marks a pivotal moment for our network, following the upcoming departure of Greg Abood, whose leadership over the past...

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AELERT welcomes new host agency EPA SA

AELERT welcomes new host agency EPA SA

As of 1 July 2025, the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators neTwork (AELERT) has found a new home within the South Australian Environment Protection Authority who have generously offered to host and support the network for the coming three years....

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Upcoming CoP Meeting Schedule – August/September

Upcoming CoP Meeting Schedule – August/September

Your AELERT Community of Practice network groups have a fantastic selection of presentations, topics, and speakers coming up this month in August and many more to follow in September. There are over 1,540 active individual members that have joined AELERT's 20...

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AELERT regulators collaborate on minerals regulation

AELERT regulators collaborate on minerals regulation

AELERT regulators collaborate on minerals regulation from the Cook Islands to South Australia Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) Senior Policy and Legal Officer Te-Ara Henderson has just completed a 11-week secondment with the South Australian Department...

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National Reconciliation Week is just around the corner

National Reconciliation Week is just around the corner

National Reconciliation Week 2025 is just a few weeks away, being held on 27 May to 3 June, and you can now access the beautiful artworks for #NRW2025 by the talented Bree Buttenshaw for this year's theme Bridging Now to Next and display your copy of the poster at the...

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State of Global Environmental Governance report 2024

State of Global Environmental Governance report 2024

Environmental negotiations in 2024 faced major challenges against a backdrop of accelerating climate-fueled impacts, expanding conflicts, and political turnover across many democracies. Key Messages Mounting frustration with the climate negotiations-and with other...

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New Climate Change Specialist – CEnvP Scheme

New Climate Change Specialist – CEnvP Scheme

AELERT partner the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) operates the Certified Environmental Professional Scheme (CEnvP) run in accordance with the international standard for certifying bodies (ISO 17024). The Scheme assesses and certifies...

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Welcome AELERT’s new Executive & Project Officers

Welcome AELERT’s new Executive & Project Officers

The new year in 2025 has brought with is new beginnings, renewed energy, and big plans for the future, especially for the AELERT network with ambitious plans including jurisdictional events across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, new work programs, and deeper...

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