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.

Fined for illegal logging (NSW)

Fined for illegal logging (NSW)

The Manning River Times writes that the Forestry Corporation of NSW has allegedly harvested protected trees in Coopernook State Forest, resulting in a legally binding Enforceable Undertaking with the NSW EPA, requiring the company to contribute $500,000 towards four...

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Share your feedback in the 2023 AELERT Member Survey

Share your feedback in the 2023 AELERT Member Survey

The AELERT 2023 Member Survey is here and we want YOU to share your thoughts, ideas and observations on the network and help us to take meaningful actions towards an even more exciting year in 2024. This has been a significant year for the network and we have you to...

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2023: A year in review with AELERT CEO Greg Abood

2023: A year in review with AELERT CEO Greg Abood

G’day Regulators, Happy 20th birthday AELERT. AELERT’s first conference was in Melbourne in November 2003. Past leaders and practitioners (from Peter Wells to Monica Collins) have all combined to make this unique network what it is today and what it will be for years...

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Over 160 regulators met for AELERT’s 2023 Regulators Events

Over 160 regulators met for AELERT’s 2023 Regulators Events

Gregory Abood, AELERT CEO presenting at the AELERT Regulators Event on Muwinina land (Hobart) The Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators neTwork (AELERT) has just wrapped up its final state / territory event for 2023 taking the tally up to three...

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DWER takes action on carbon literacy

DWER takes action on carbon literacy

A personal pledge made by Department of Water and Environmental Regulation staff taking part in low-carbon climate education sessions was a meaningful acknowledgment of Monday’s Carbon Literacy Action Day. The staff members, including ten of 2023 graduate cohort,...

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NELA WA is recruiting new committee members

NELA WA is recruiting new committee members

The National Environmental Law Association (NELA) WA are currently looking for a number of national volunteers to join the committee. If you are passionate about the role of law and policy in regulating and managing the Australian environment, please consider applying...

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SA Hydrogen and renewable energy bill passes parliament

SA Hydrogen and renewable energy bill passes parliament

The world-first Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill 2023 has passed the South Australian parliament.This historic piece of legislation is set to open up global investment into the state's hydrogen and renewable energy industries, solidifying the state's position as a...

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Impact of environmental crime on indigenous women [report]

Impact of environmental crime on indigenous women [report]

Our partner organisation the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GITOC) and the Resilience Fund have recently released a report on the impact of environmental crime on indigenous women exploring the ways in which women are struggling, adapting and...

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International Network News: IMPEL (Sep/Oct)

International Network News: IMPEL (Sep/Oct)

Welcome to the new IMPEL newsletter! The aim of the newsletter is to give you a quick overview of some of the recent news stories and activities in the network. If you have any feedback or would like to see additional topics covered in the newsletter, please submit...

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All-aboard the turtle bypass for threatened species

All-aboard the turtle bypass for threatened species

Threatened species of river turtles are enjoying the new bypass at Rookwood Weir in Queensland, created to capture valuable water in the lower Fitzroy River in central Queensland and deliver secure and reliable water across the region without interrupting the daily...

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