Department of Environmental Affairs hosts Interpol meeting on waste and pollution
The Department of Environmental Affairs will from 22 to 24 May 2018 host INTERPOL’s 23rd Pollution Crime Working Group (PCWG) and Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Committee (ECEC) Advisory Board (AB) meetings at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.
This is the first time the PCWG will meet in South Africa. The PCWG network meets annually to discuss new and growing global concerns relating to pollution crime, share best practice in dealing with existing and emerging pollution threats, plan joint operations and also to develop strategies going forward.
The objective of this year’s meeting is to, amongst others, consider key trends and emerging threats linked to pollution crime, discuss challenges and opportunities in achieving effective enforcement against pollution crime, especially through international and multi-agency cooperation, and to identify opportunities and risks associated with information and intelligence sharing, data management and analysis.
The meeting will officially be opened by the Deputy Director General: Legal, Authorisations, Compliance and Enforcement of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Mr Ishaam Abader, on 22 May 2018. Opening statements will also be delivered by the Chair of the PCWG and the Deputy Chief of the Environmental Crimes Section in the US Department of Justice, Mr Joseph Poux, the chair of ECEC Advisory Board and Executive Director of Operations in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Mr Calum Macdonald, and the Assistant Director, Illicit Markets of INTERPOL, Mr Doaming Zhang.
The Pollution Crime Working Group, together with the Wildlife Crime Working Group (WCWG); the Fisheries (FCWG) and the newly established Forestry Crime Working Group, support the ECEC AB and are responsible for the operational and tactical responses within INTERPOL in relation to environmental crime. These working groups focus specifically on how to tackle crime in these areas.
Matters to be discussed at the Skukuza meeting include an African perspective on addressing pollution crime, planning for an operation to tackle marine pollution, fraud in the biofuel and carbon emission trade and the prosecution of pollution-related crimes. The new Board of the PCWG will also be elected at this meeting.
Media are invited to attend the opening ceremony.
Date: 22 May 2018
Time: 09:00
Venue: Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre, Skukuza, Kruger National Park
To RSVP contact:
Katlego Manaka
Tel: 012 399 8827
E-mail: kmanaka@environment.gov.za
Eleanor Momberg
Cell: 083 400 5741
E-mail: emomberg@environment.gov.za
NOTE: RSVP is essential. Please provide ID Numbers and Vehicle Registration information. Telephonic interviews will be facilitated.
Media enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
