September 22, 2026“Together, we simply must:” Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s message to Prime Minister Mark Carney on combatting transnational environmental crime Photo: Fernando TurmoDear Prime Minister Carney,When Dr. Jane Goodall passed away last year, you took the time to write thoughtfully about how we should reflect on, and celebrate, her extraordinary life. You also said we must honour Dr. Goodall’s “enduring call to conscience — to act with courage, to protect the natural world, and to nurture the best of our shared humanity.”At the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, those words resonated deeply with us, and with the many people whose lives Dr. Goodall touched. We write to you today to ask you and the relevant Ministers to do exactly that — to act with courage, and to seize an upcoming opportunity to protect the natural world on the matter of transnational environmental crimes, at the 13th Conference of Parties (COP13).Throughout her lifetime, Dr. Jane spoke about how the fates of animals, people, and the environment are inextricably connected. The forest cannot thrive when its creatures are silenced. Communities cannot flourish when the ecosystems that sustain them are hollowed out. And hope cannot take root in a world where wildlife trafficking, poaching, and habitat destruction proceed unchecked.That is, unfortunately, the case today. Transnational environmental crime represents one of the most serious and fastest-growing categories of organized crime in the world.This challenge touches every continent and every country — whether as a source, a transit route, or a destination. In Canada, among other crimes, hundreds of tonnes of foreign species have been seized over the last two decades, and one million kilograms of illegal waste have been intercepted.These crimes do not just harm biodiversity and the climate — they destabilize communities, compromise livelihoods, threaten human health, and erode the ecological foundations upon which all living things depend. They also directly imperil the progress that Canada and its partners have committed to through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the work that has been done by the Canadian government to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.These crimes are economically destructive, too. Our forestry, fisheries, and mining sectors price strict environmental and reporting obligations into each export — and then compete against illegally-sourced supplies that carry none of these costs. With up to one third of the world’s paper drawn from illegally-sourced wood, for example, the economic consequences most directly affect countries like Canada — countries that strictly regulate these sectors. Taking action against transnational environment crimes, therefore, does not compete with the government’s economic agenda — it protects it.By taking action against transnational environmental crimes, the government can defend the margin that legal compliance costs Canadian producers, reinforce border and anti-money-laundering priorities already underway, and keep Canadian exports credible under the due-diligence regimes our largest trading partners now enforce. We recognize the importance of the government’s priorities, outlined yesterday with the introduction of the Building Canada Strong Act — and we also know that, in an interconnected world, our strength relies on building a resilient ecosystem, where animals, people and the environment can thrive together. We believe that this is only possible when every sector receives the support, attention, and protection required.This year, we have an opportunity before us to ensure the environment receives that support, attention, and protection — and to build the better world for animals, people, and the environment that Dr. Jane knew was possible. At the 13th Conference of Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) in October, a growing coalition of countries led by Brazil is expected to propose a mandate to negotiate an international protocol to better prevent and combat certain transnational environmental crimes.In the spirit of acting with courage and protecting the natural world as well as Canadian interests, we urge the Canadian government to support these efforts at COP13. We also urge officials to participate constructively and productively at the 15th United Nations Crime Congress this coming week, where this issue is expected to be discussed.Dr. Jane once said that “no organization on its own, no country on its own, can effectively stop the illegal wildlife trade that knows no borders. Only through our collective efforts, continued collaboration across borders, can we stamp out this cruel and devastating trade — wildlife trafficking. Together, we simply must.”This is not an issue any one country can solve alone, but we do call on Canada to work with its international partners to make real progress. Together, we simply must.With respect,Bella LamChief Executive OfficerJane Goodall Institute of CanadaExplore Related Content Dr. Jane, News and UpdatesDr. Jane Goodall celebrates her 90th birthday with upcoming events in Canada, working tirelessly to safeguard the future of the planetSeptember 22, 2026 Read more Dr. Jane, News and UpdatesDr. Jane Goodall returns to Canada twice this fall as she continues her 90th birthday tourSeptember 22, 2026 Read more News and UpdatesAnnouncing Bella Lam as Our New CEOSeptember 22, 2026 Read more
