Deadline: 30-Jun-21
The UNEP has invited nominations for Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards that publicly recognizes and celebrates excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions or teams combating transboundary environmental crime.
The thematic scope of the Awards covers any transboundary environmental crimes, such as illegal trade in wildlife, illegal trade in chemicals or waste, including plastic, all of which become increasingly significant in the COVID19 response and recovery era.
This is the sixth time the Awards will be given, and this year’s Awards will be given to recipients who demonstrate excellence and leadership in one or more of the following categories: collaboration; impact; innovation; integrity; and gender leadership. There will be also a separate category for Africa-Asia cooperation in the area of illegal trade in wildlife.
The 2021 Awards will be given by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The category for Africa-Asia cooperation in the area of illegal trade in wildlife is sponsored by UNDP.
Themes
2021 Awards theme: Fighting Transboundary Environmental Crime
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 Africa and Asia at significant scale.
The Asia region is as well one of the main destinations for 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 are transported to and within Asia, having disastrous effects for human health and the environment. Governmental authorities working on environmental enforcement issues are on the front-line of efforts to combat transboundary environmental crime. The 2021Awards will recognize and celebrate their critical role in doing so.
Geographical Focus
The Awards, for the categories of collaboration, impact, innovation, integrity and gender leadership, are limited to nominees from Asian countries geographically served by the UNEP Regional Office. These are: Afghanistan, 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, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
For the category of Africa-Asia cooperation in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, the applicant needs to nominate an individual and/or department in each Country (both in Africa and in Asia) where successful cooperation occurred. Applications that identify nominee in one country only will not be taken into consideration.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any government official and/or government institution or team working on fighting transboundary environmental crime in Asia or on fostering Africa-Asia cooperation in the area of illegal trade in wildlife for that category, is eligible to be nominated.
- Relevant agencies and individuals may include, for example: customs, police, wildlife and forestry authorities, environmental agencies, multi-agency taskforces, specialized agencies, judges and/or public prosecutors.
- Teams within government institutions (e.g. units, branches, divisions etc.) are also eligible. Recipients may be awarded in their individual capacity or as representatives of institutions/teams. Self-nomination is permitted.
- Individuals or entities that are not formally affiliated with a Government institution – e.g. non-governmental organizations, volunteering associations, private sector companies, international organizations, etc. – are NOT eligible.
For more information, visit https://www.unep.org/regions/asia-and-pacific/2021-asia-environmental-enforcement-awards