New Initiative Launches To Combat Africa’s $195 Billion Environmental Crime Crisis

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A new initiative, EcoJustice Africa, has been launched to tackle the escalating problem of environmental crime across the African continent, which costs the continent an estimated $195 billion annually.

The program, a brainchild of Green Growth Africa, a leading UNEP-accredited NGO, aims to bring violators of environmental laws to justice and empower communities to protect their environment.

Speaking at a pre-launch press conference, Dr Adedoyin Adeleke, Executive Director of Green Growth Africa, highlighted the devastating impact of environmental crimes, citing UNEP data which labels them the world’s fourth largest form of organized crime.

He emphasised that Africa, rich in biodiversity, is particularly vulnerable due to a combination of poverty, weak regulatory frameworks, and low prosecution rates.

Illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and hazardous waste dumping are rampant and often concentrated in marginalized communities with limited access to justice.

“These aren’t just crimes against the environment; they are crimes against humanity,” Dr Adeleke stated, pointing to the devastating impact on food security, livelihoods, and economic development.

He noted that the annual cost of environmental crime in Africa exceeds ten times Nigeria’s 2024 national budget, leaving millions reliant on natural resources vulnerable and fueling corruption.

He further challenged the common misconception of environmental disasters as “natural,” arguing that many are, the direct result of human actions upsetting the delicate balance of ecosystems.

“There are no natural disasters, rather, nature-based disasters,” he declared.

EcoJustice Africa employs a seven-pillar strategy to combat these crimes: Citizen Empowerment, Digital Innovation, Data Verification, Stakeholder Engagement, Evidence-based Advocacy, Data-Driven Policy Engagement, and Strategic Litigation.

The initiative leverages technology to empower citizens as environmental activists, providing them with the tools to report and document environmental violations.

This data will then inform policy decisions and legal action against perpetrators.

Dr Adeleke issued a strong call to action, urging governments to strengthen regulatory frameworks, civil society organizations to amplify community voices, the private sector to support the initiative, and the media to raise awareness.

“Together,” he concluded, “we can combat environmental crimes, restore dignity, and create a just, equitable, and prosperous Africa.”

The launch of EcoJustice Africa marks a significant step in the fight to protect Africa’s environment and its people from the devastating consequences of unchecked environmental crime.