Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law and explanatory report (ETS 172) (2000)

In recent years, criminal law has been placed at the forefront of environmental protection, because of its deterrent effect. By criminalising pollution that causes or may cause serious damage or injuries, the present convention is expected to contribute, above all, to an increasing awareness among potential polluters - enterprises and individual - that such activities should in no way be seen as minor violations of the law.
The Convention is also aimed at facilitating investigation and prosecution at international level.