Tackling illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, including timber and timber products, the illegal mining of and illicit trafficking in minerals and precious metals, illicit trafficking in waste and other crimes that affect the environment A/RES/80/227 Affirming that the development and implementation of criminal justice responses to address crimes that affect the environment must fully respect the sovereign right of each State to determine its legal framework, the territorial integrity of States and the principle of non‑intervention in the domestic affairs of other States throughout all efforts of Member States in preventing and combating crime, Affirming also the responsibility of States to fully promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to uphold the principle of human dignity, in the impartial administration of justice and throughout all efforts of Member States in preventing and combating crimes that affect the environment, Acknowledging the important role of relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, individuals and groups outside the public sector, non‑governmental organizations, the media, academia and the scientific community, in contributing to the efforts of Member States, in accordance with their domestic law, to prevent and combat crimes that affect the environment, Underlining the importance of technical assistance and scientific cooperation for effectively addressing crimes that affect the environment, Underlining also that enhanced international cooperation is essential for improving the capability of States Parties to develop and implement effective responses to address crimes that affect the environment, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 8 and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, 9 Mindful that there are still significant differences among States with regard to considering crimes that affect the environment as serious crimes and as predicate offences for the purposes of money-laundering offences, Taking note of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Wildlife Crime Report 2024, which affirms, inter alia, that such crimes continue to pose a serious and persistent global challenge and have yet to be comprehensively addressed, Concerned at the negative effects of the use of mercury diverted from the legal supply chain, widely used for the illegal exploitation of alluvial gold, as it contaminates and degrades the environment and poses serious risks to human health among vulnerable members of society, in particular women and children, and future generations, 1. Recognizes that illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, including timber and timber products, and the illegal mining of and illicit trafficking in minerals and precious metals, as well as illicit trafficking in waste, may constitute crimes that affect the environment of a serious nature and are increasingly being exploited by transnational criminal organizations as a source of significant profit of their operations; 2. Also recognizes the economic, social and environmental impacts of crimes that affect the environment, where firm and strengthened action needs to be taken in countries of supply, transit and demand to tackle transnational organized crimes that affect the environment, and re-emphasizes the importance, in that regard, of effective international cooperation among Member States, based on the principle of shared responsibility and in accordance with international law; 3. Further recognizes therefore the need for a balanced approach to tackling crimes that affect the environment, whereby enforcement is complemented by action _______________ 8 9 25-20945 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574. Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. 3/6