Saif bin Zayed leads Law Enforcement Forum at COP29

The forum, held in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), underscored the critical role of law enforcement in addressing climate and cross-border challenges on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

As an extension of last year’s ministerial meeting at COP28 in Dubai, this year’s forum welcomed high-ranking participants, including Dr. Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan and Vice-President of the International Association of Prosecutors; Dr. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC; Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-designate; and Alexander Zouev, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions at the UN.

In his keynote address, Sheikh Saif congratulated Azerbaijan for hosting COP29 and thanked Dr. Aliyev and Dr. Waly for their collaboration in organising the groundbreaking event, “Mobilizing Law Enforcement to Promote Climate Action.”

Sheikh Saif shared an impactful message, likening the Earth to a mother whose health is essential for the survival and well-being of humanity. “If the health of our land is sound, then humanity thrives, the world flourishes, and future generations are secure, citing the UAE’s core philosophy that sustainable environmental practices are foundational to societal well-being," he said.

Sheikh Saif further introduced I2LEC, an initiative aimed at environmental protection, noting that the criminal is not only the thief or the terrorist; there is a terrorism that targets our environment.

His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed emphasised that transparency and collaboration are key to combating what he described as “environmental terrorism”, adding that “we must be clear with ourselves and with each other, and we must shed light on those committing crimes against humanity and our planet, and call for real change in global policies that protect the environment.”

Acknowledging the positive contributions of some nations, he also highlighted the destructive role played by others, urging collective accountability.

Sheikh Saif expressed gratitude to international partners who have supported the I2LEC initiative since COP28, reporting promising initial results. Notably, the Green Justice and Jungle Shield operations – spanning the Amazon and Congo Basins with the participation of 11 countries, UNODC, ISRI, and the Lusaka Convention Working Group – yielded significant impacts. These operations sized more than 32 kilogrammes of illegally mined gold while preventing over 213,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed stressed that these operations underscored the intricate links between environmental crimes, money laundering, corruption, human trafficking, and the financing of terrorism.

Sheikh Saif highlighted the alarming statistics on forest fires, stating that natural fires alone release approximately 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, accounting for 20 percent of global fossil fuel emissions. Of greater concern, he noted, is that human activity causes 90 percent of these fires, with 80 percent of Amazon fires aimed at clearing land for agriculture.

The Minister underscored that global cooperation is crucial in combating environmental crimes, emphasising the need for unified and integrated efforts. International and regional legal frameworks, coupled with adequate financing for climate projects, form the cornerstone of this collaboration. Such measures enable the development of effective policies, empower law enforcement to act decisively, and ensure rapid intervention to protect the environment.

He further affirmed that this solidarity is essential to preserve Earth's resources and safeguard a sustainable future for coming generations.

Sheikh Saif also called for a re-evaluation of climate financing frameworks to better support law enforcement agencies in their environmental protection efforts. He reiterated the UAE’s steadfast commitment, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to strengthening law enforcement’s role in global climate action.

He stressed that by fostering international cooperation, we can combat environmental crimes, restore ecosystems, and build a better world for future generations, extending his wishes for the success of all efforts toward this noble goal.

Speakers at the forum expanded on these themes, exploring strategies to enhance law enforcement’s capacity to tackle environmental crimes like illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, marine pollution, and illegal mining.