Paris, April 8–9, 2025 – In a global context marked by mounting environmental challenges, over 100 experts and government officials gathered in Paris for the international conference entitled “Dialogue on Security and Development for Advancing Multilateral and Multi-Stakeholder Responses to Environmental Crime.” Supported by the French government and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), the event highlighted the devastating impact of environmental crime on security, development, and ecosystems, while calling for more ambitious and coordinated global action.
The Co-Facilitators of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), Dr. Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, Roving Ambassador of Gabon, and Ms. Salina Grenet-Catalano, took part in the event to bring the voice of the Congo Basin to the forefront. Their participation underscored the unique challenges faced by this critical region and advocated for context-specific solutions rooted in local realities. Their key objective was to emphasize the urgent need for strong multilateral action to preserve the Congo Basin forests, which are essential to global climate stability and biodiversity.
French Minister Delegate for Francophonie, Mr. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, opened the conference with a call for the international community to make the fight against environmental crime a top priority. He stressed the importance of keeping this issue at the center of global concern, especially in preparation for the United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice in June 2025. Through this conference, he reiterated the urgent need for collective action to address today's environmental challenges.
Mark Shaw, Director of GI-TOC, emphasized the need to enhance inclusivity and innovation in combating environmental crime. He pointed out the global nature of illicit flows and the importance of coordinated action across supply chains, involving civil society and the private sector.
Held on April 8 and 9, the conference provided a platform to assess current international responses to environmental crime, share best practices, and identify opportunities for more effective engagement through upcoming multilateral processes, including the UN Ocean Conference, the Climate COP, and the 77th United Nations General Assembly.
Discussions focused on optimal strategies to combat environmental crime, highlighting the importance of stronger cooperation between governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. As Co-Facilitators of the CBFP, Dr. Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo and Ms. Salina Grenet-Catalano actively contributed to this vital dialogue, underlining the Congo Basin’s central role in preserving global biodiversity and fighting environmental crime.
Clear Objectives for the Future
The conference paved the way for new avenues of cooperation to strengthen international responses to environmental challenges. Upcoming actions include the creation of new expert groups under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and key milestones such as the Climate COP and the 2026 United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The CBFP Co-Facilitators thus played a vital role in championing the interests of the Congo Basin as part of a broader global reflection on sustainable natural resource management and the fight against environmental crime.
This conference marked a turning point in advancing multilateral action on environmental security. It demonstrated that in the face of threats to our planet, only collective, coordinated, and inclusive action can secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
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