Out of the box

UAE security.. global leadership (2)

“Environmental crime is occurring on an industrial scale, with transnational organized crime groups reaping billions in profits, while undermining the rule of law and threatening national security.”

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

Estimates indicate that environmental crimes generate illegal profits, ranging between $110 billion and $281 billion each year, at a time when the leaders of the security services have made several calls for stronger efforts to combat environmental crime, by increasing cooperation and exchanging information with "Interpol".

INTERPOL's public appeal is a reminder that international cooperation in the field of law enforcement consists in apprehending and prosecuting fugitives from justice, holding them accountable for their crimes, and making them an example to others. The global impact of these crimes requires an international response.

Environmental crimes do not affect our daily lives only, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. The criminal exploitation of the world's natural resources will affect the future of the planet and the continuity of life.

The nature of environmental crimes and their devastating impact are varied, as they are not restricted by borders, and range from poaching of protected species and trafficking in ivory, to illegal logging and dumping of hazardous waste, which is a global threat.

Environmental crime often occurs alongside other crimes, such as passport forgery, corruption, money laundering, and even murder, and the same methods used to smuggle wildlife across countries are often used to smuggle weapons and drugs.

The contribution of legal institutions to the protection of biodiversity complements legislative efforts and global environmental initiatives to ensure a sustainable human future. The “Paris Agreement” of 2015 to reduce high temperatures caused by global warming and climate change, review processes and reconsider the announced goals after five years, It requires a more flexible application, to achieve the concept and objectives of emission reduction.

INTERPOL's global and regional law enforcement operations targeting illegal logging and wildlife crime led to nearly 20,000 seizures in 2019 alone.

International security efforts have helped stop tropical deforestation, and the results of the International Alliance to Combat Illegal Deforestation show that these efforts will play a major role in obligating countries to implement the “COP26” pledges to end deforestation by 2030, as an international coalition led by “Interpol” contributed. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in collaboration with the national authorities of Papua New Guinea, reported a substantial reduction in overall deforestation compared to 2014-2018, representing thousands of hectares of rainforest saved in 2020 in Papua New Guinea.

The effective exchange of security intelligence information is possible to identify smuggling routes, crime hotspots and enhanced by security geo-analysis, effective use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence in satellite image analysis, remote sensing, development of work methods, proactive prediction of crime trends, and facilitation of investigation procedures. And multi-institutional cooperation and agencies at the national, regional and international levels.

This advanced security concept is applied in the UAE, with distinction, and one of its models is the Supreme Security Committee for Events in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the membership of Major General Obaid Al-Hairi Al-Ketbi and Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi.

It contributed to the application of security concepts to manage the operations of securing international events, including the international meetings of the Preparatory Committee for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, which preceded the establishment and hosting of the agency, which proves the keenness of the Emirati leadership to spread environmental awareness, apply global standards for sustainable development, and consolidate the role of The individual and the community in environmental participation, which embodies its accustomed leadership in assuming its responsibilities towards society in preserving environmental resources, optimizing them, and ensuring a secure future, where I had the honor to participate as an official spokesperson, Chairman of the Media Affairs Committee.

Will we witness an expansion and generalization of the UAE model of the Joint Operational Command (Joint Operation Command JOC) in environmental work?

Will the levels of partnership develop with the "Interpol", which is currently headed by Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi?

Will COP28, which will be hosted by Abu Dhabi, be a platform for launching qualitative international environmental initiatives for joint environmental security work to include the development of artificial intelligence-enabled reporting, monitoring and tracking services, funded by international commitments to combat global warming and climate change?

I am confident that the people of the Emirates are capable of more than that.

* Management and digital transformation consultant, expert and evaluator of corporate excellence

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