CITIES UNITED FOR BIODIVERSITY
Coalition Against Illegal Economies
Environmental crime is on the rise around the world, particularly in Africa, South America and Asia, where it has become one of the most profitable activities within local economies.
These crimes are particularly hard to prevent and control due to weak regulations, poor enforcement, limited technical capacity to monitor illegal activities and the complex networks behind these criminal enterprises. As a result, countries rich in natural resources are suffering increasingly severe economic, social and environmental damage.
In response to this growing threat and the serious consequences for ecosystems and communities, a new international cooperation strategy has been proposed to unite transnational efforts.
The Coalition Against Illegal Economies is an inter-institutional platform that brings together a diverse range of actors across countries and sectors. Its goal is to foster continuous learning and the exchange of knowledge, tools and best practices, with an innovative approach to tackling environmental crime.
At the heart of the Coalition are local mayors, as the leaders responsible for implementing policies tailored to their territories, mobilizing teams and coordinating resources.
They play a key role in facilitating dialogue with their counterparts and with national and international stakeholders. Mayors are on the front lines, seeing first-hand the devastating effects on nature and communities.
The Coalition recognizes the central role of mayors and their teams in fighting criminal economies and aims to support them more effectively by providing platforms to share experiences, address challenges and discuss lessons learned.
Beyond creating a network of solidarity, the Coalition will offer training and capacity-building programmes.
The Coalition was officially launched at the Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities held during the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime will serve as the Coalition’s technical secretariat, coordinating knowledge exchange, identifying priority training topics and strengthening governance across the network.
Join now
Join Cities United for Biodiversity and help shape bold, innovative solutions to protect nature and fight environmental crime. Through the Coalition Against Illegal Economies, you’ll connect with local governments worldwide, exchange knowledge, tools and best practices, and strengthen your impact.
Fill out the form today and be part of this transformative movement.
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