Illegal F-gas trade takes centre stage

GERMANY: The illicit F-gas trade has become the focus of attention amongst German government ministers and authorities in an attempt to disrupt the illegal activities.

The issue was discussed at the conference – Blind Spots in Climate Protection – hosted at Goethe University Frankfurt in cooperation with the Hessian Ministry for Agriculture and Environment, Forestry, Viticulture, Hunting and Regional Affairs at the end of April. It was also on the on the agenda of the Environmental Ministers’ Conference (UMK) in Berlin this month.

“The close cooperation of all relevant authorities is essential if we want to make real progress in tackling organised crime in environmental and climate protection,” said Hessian environment minister Ingmar Jung ahead of the two events. 

“Our experience in Hessen has shown this clearly. It is also crucial for the many legitimate businesses that suffer significant economic damage when criminal networks infiltrate markets.” 

Jung warned that environmental offences are becoming increasingly attractive to organised criminal groups. “High profit margins, relatively limited oversight, and penalties that are still far too low make environmental crime an increasingly lucrative field for organised networks,” he said.

Exposing the scale of the problem, Jung acknowledged that although the legal market for F-gases had declined under European F-gas regulations, illegal imports are estimated to account for between 40% and 50% of the total European market volume. 

“Hessen took early and decisive action against the illegal F-gas trade by strengthening cooperation between prosecutors, police, and environmental authorities,” Jung said. “We are now bringing these experiences to the Environmental Ministers’ Conference while also engaging with researchers and practitioners on possible reforms to criminal and procedural law. Tackling organised environmental and climate crime requires coordinated action across all sectors.”