Germany's environment ministry has allocated €5m for a project with Interpol and WWF to combat environmental crime over three years. The initiative aims to tackle illegal activities in fishing, forestry, mining, pollution, and wildlife trade. Minister Steffi Lemke emphasized the severe impact of such crimes on biodiversity, climate, and pollution. Interpol highlighted the profitability of environmental crime, linking it to other illegal activities. WWF's Heike Vesper stressed the serious consequences of environmental destruction, while the EU has introduced new penalties for companies involved in such crimes. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)