UNICRIHQ 283d ago

Behind every environmental crime, a story waits to be told: truth is the first step to justice. Environmental crimes are among the most complex and rapidly evolving forms of criminal activity today. They often span multiple jurisdictions, involve transnational networks, and intersect with other serious crimes such as corruption, fraud, and trafficking. Their impacts are profound: accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, threatening public health and security, and undermining the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Yet, despite their severity, these crimes are frequently underreported or misunderstood. Accurate, responsible, and well-informed journalism is crucial to uncover environmental crimes, raise public awareness, and hold perpetrators to account. Supporting media professionals with the right tools and knowledge is essential to strengthening environmental justice and promoting effective policy responses. The Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat, the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) - in collaboration with key Alliance members and media associations - are launching a free training programme for journalists and communication professionals. The training will explore how organised criminal networks profit from and facilitate environmental crimes and will examine the financial mechanisms that support these operations - such as money laundering, corruption, and the abuse of secrecy jurisdictions. Participants will gain practical insights into tools and approaches drawn from intelligence analysis, financial journalism, and conservation criminology. They will learn to use scientific data, digital tools, and open-source technologies to track crime patterns, monitor environmental harm, and inform evidence-based reporting. The course will be delivered by international experts and practitioners in environmental justice, investigative journalism, and media development. For more information: https://unicri.org/News/Training-for-Journalists-and-Communication-Professionals