Definition and characterization of environmental crime

URL: https://dspace.academy.police.md/definition-and-characterization-of-environmental-crime/

Data: 2025

In a context marked by the worsening of environmental crises, this article analyzes the concept of environmental crime from an interdisciplinary perspective, exploring its legal, criminological, and ecological dimensions. It reviews the main doctrinal and institutional definitions as well as contemporary debates concerning the conceptual boundaries of the phenomenon. The article also proposes a comprehensive definition of environmental crime, highlighting its core components: illicit conduct, ecological harm, and criminological relevance. In the second part, the article examines the defining features of environmental crime, such as its transnational nature, investigative challenges, irreversible consequences, and the need for interinstitutional cooperation. The study emphasizes the necessity of a systemic reconsideration of ecological justice policies with a view to strengthening environmental protection.