Keskkonnapime

Keskkonnapime is an Estonian term used to describe crimes that harm the environment. In practice, it covers offenses such as pollution of air, water, or soil; illegal extraction of natural resources; illegal waste disposal; illegal logging or mining; and wildlife trafficking, as well as other acts that significantly degrade ecosystems or threaten public health. The concept encompasses both intentional wrongdoing and negligent harm, and it can be pursued under national penal codes or dedicated environmental legislation.

Legal and policy context varies by country, but environmental crime is generally addressed through a combination of criminal offences, regulatory penalties, and administrative sanctions. Internationally, efforts to combat keskkonnapime are coordinated by organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Treaties that support cross-border enforcement include the Basel Convention on hazardous waste, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Debates within international law also discuss the concept of ecocide—a proposed international crime involving widespread or systemic damage to ecosystems.

Challenges in curbing keskkonnapime include its transnational nature, under-detection, data gaps, limited resources for enforcement, and gaps in cross-border cooperation. Strengthening governance, boosting monitoring and reporting, improving environmental data, ensuring supply-chain transparency, and enhancing corporate accountability are commonly proposed responses. Environmental crime is linked to broader sustainable development goals, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience, and thus features prominently in national policy and EU-level discussions in Estonia and beyond.