Mar 2025
Dissecting the environmental financial crime nexus: A spotlight on the illegal wildlife trade
This report contributes to the Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit being developed by WWF and Themis, as part of the Climate Solutions Partnership, a collaboration between HSBC, the World Resources Institute, and WWF.
The Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit (ECFT) is an online platform that assists financial institutions in monitoring risks related to deforestation and land conversion – and, more broadly, environmental crimes – that could be linked to financial operations. By highlighting red flags and risks associated with various types of environmental and financial crimes, the Toolkit helps financial institutions (FIs) strengthen their screening processes when reviewing existing clients, onboarding new ones, and assessing sectoral risks.
This report focuses on the intersectionality between Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and financial crimes, which undermines global sustainability and conservation efforts. It dissects the complexity of the IWT and financial crime nexus by analysing evidence, perceptions, and risks for Financial Institutions (FI). Led by WWF and Themis, this work benefits from a series of real-world case studies from guest contributors, with global experts and organisations working at the frontline sharing unique insights and potential solutions.