India's Role in Mitigating Organized Environmental Crimes

Across the world, there has been growing and compelling evidence that environmental crime poses a grave threat to the planet, future generations, and our everyday lives, from the food we consume to the oxygen we inhale. Although environmental crime poses a global threat, it often fails to get any prompt response from the government and enforcement agencies. Whether it is an illegal trade in wildlife or stolen timber, illicit trade in hazardous waste and ozone-depleting substances, or corporations continuously violating environmental norms, all these transboundary activities directly harm the environment and society. India is a member of various international conventions and treaties based on which it has enacted various specific laws and policies to prevent environmental crimes, but the enforcement agencies have struggled to keep pace with the rise in these environmental crimes. Ultimately, it is the judiciary that has been at the forefront to protect the environment and ensure that environmental crimes do not go unpunished. Effective implementation of environmental laws is vital for the protection of the environment, but there is no clear demarcation of the role of various agencies to deal with environmental crimes. The major objective of this chapter is to analyze the forms of environmental crimes and their scope that have emerged in the last few decades and how India has responded to these emerging environmental threats. Furthermore, the chapter will delve into the various obstacles and challenges that the government comes across in the protection of the environment. The proposed article is descriptive with a comprehensive understanding of India’s role in today’s context to address the challenges posed by the organized network of environmental crimes. The chapter will conclude with policy and legal reform recommendations to mitigate environmental crimes, thereby increasing access to socio-environmental justice.