Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence 2024

The AEEE is conferred to individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate excellence and outstanding leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary crime. The thematic scope of the AEEE covers any transboundary crime that affects the environment, including the illegal harvest, trade and transport of endangered wildlife, timber, fish, minerals, and sand, as well as the illegal trade and disposal of waste, chemicals, pesticides, mercury and the illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs).

Transboundary environmental crime presents a serious threat in the region. Illegal trade in wildlife undermines conservation efforts, harms economies, devastates livelihoods, and compromises ecosystems on which humans depend. It also takes place on the routes between Asia and Africa, Europe and Latin America at significant scale. The Asia region is as well one of the main destinations for and source of illegally traded chemicals and waste. Particularly, there are concerns over the significant increase of trade in plastic waste in recent years. Millions of tonnes of hazardous waste, plastic waste and harmful chemicals that are ozone depleting and potent greenhouses gases are transported to and within Asia, having disastrous effects for human health and the environment and undermine the efforts of countries to unhold their commitments under major Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Governmental authorities working on environmental enforcement issues are on the front-line of efforts to combat transboundary environmental crime. The 2024 AEEE will recognize and celebrate their critical role in doing so.

In the 9th edition, the AEEE will be awarded to recipients who demonstrate excellence and leadership in one or more of the following categories: collaboration; impact; innovation; integrity; and gender leadership. There will also be a category for Asia Intercontinental cooperation in crimes affecting the environment, including, but not limited to, Africa Asia cooperation in the illegal trade in wildlife.

Theme

• 2024 Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence: fighting transboundary crimes that affect the environment.

Geographical Focus

• Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.

Eligibility Criteria

• Affiliation: Government-entity (unit, department, team, etc.) or civil servant employed by the Government (ranger, Customs officer, police investigators, etc.) involved in the enforcement chain.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals or entities that are not formally affiliated with a Government institution – e.g., nongovernmental organizations, volunteering associations, private sector companies, international organizations, etc. are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

• Nominations will be reviewed, and recipients will be selected by a Selection Panel comprised of representatives from each of the participating organizations outlined above. A first-stage screening process will be conducted to review against the eligibility criteria. The screened list will then be forwarded with all eligible nominations to the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel will review nominations and recommend the winners based on the eligibility criteria.
• Shortlisted nominations will be subjected to a thorough due diligence process to confirm eligibility for the AEEE including background checks and, as necessary, consultations with affiliated entities and other relevant agencies. The selection of nominations will take into consideration factors such as geographical distribution and diversity of participating organizations to avoid geographical or institutional imbalance and to diversify the pool of winners. There is no minimum or maximum number of awards that will be given. Only worthy recipients will be awarded the AEEE, as determined by the Selection Panel and based on the criteria for selection.

For more information, visit UNEP.