UAE Launches New Global Initiative ‘Abu Dhabi Call to Action’ to Combat Environmental Crime

The UAE government has announced a new global initiative to enhance global efforts against transnational environmental crime, known as “Abu Dhabi Call to Action”. The initiative was announced at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which will be held at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi from 26 – 29 September 2026, in a high-level session.

Led by the UAE Ministry of Interior, the initiative seeks to move environmental crime higher on the international security agenda. It urges increased government cooperation and collaboration between governments, law enforcement and international organisations, on combating the use of natural resources for criminal gain through criminal networks.

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Turning Environmental Commitments Into Action

The Session “Overcoming Environmental Crime: From Promises to Tangible Results” was to introduce the Abu Dhabi Call to Action. The event was being jointly organized with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, France and Azerbaijan.

The project draws attention to the need for further strengthening of cross-border cooperation, further development of intelligence sharing and more coordinated law enforcement activities. The relationship between environmental crimes and other forms of organised crime (e.g. the illegal trafficking or financial crime) were emphasised.

Environmental Crime as a Security Challenge

The trend of environmental crimes is a growing departure from simple offenses and moves from isolated incidents to ongoing fraud schemes. Illegal mining, logging and wildlife trafficking, land grabbing and fuel smuggling may spread across various jurisdictions earning considerable illegal income.

The UAE has expressed that this can only be achieved through collaboration between environmental and criminal justice authorities. Environmental crime is also part of the Abu Dhabi Congress agenda, which includes other current threats that need to be tackled through streamlined international cooperation and coordinated action.

Building on I2LEC and Green Shield

The UAE has already launched an International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) by UNODC for boosting international cooperation among law enforcement on environmental crime, which has now been expanded.

Operation Green Shield 2026 was a recent instance of a coordinated operation coordinated by agencies from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in the Amazon Basin. Over 839 arrests during the 17-day operation led to the seizure of over $280 million, reportedly, of activities such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and mining.

Broader International Framework

The Abu Dhabi initiative is part of the UN Crime Congress taking place in Abu Dhabi, which continues to do the same with the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which sets the priorities for what should be done over the next five years in international action on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law. Environmental protection is one of the chosen agenda items in the declaration.

The Call to Action thus put the issue of environmental crime into the broader international context of cooperation, enforcement, capacity building and tangible steps to combat growingly transnational criminal challenges.

FAQs

What does the Abu Dhabi Call to Action teach you?

Abu Dhabi Call to Action is an initiative led by the UAE that calls for enhanced co-operation and action among partners on transnational environmental crime.

Who was responsible for starting the program?

The UAE Ministry of Interior has started this initiative during the 15th UN Crime Congress held in Abu Dhabi.

What is Operation Green Shield 2026?

Operation Green Shield 2026 was a multi-national enforcement operation in the Amazon Basin coordinated by several South American countries and UAE-assisted.