Mar 2026
Beneath the surface
The Environmental and Financial Crime Nexus in Illegal Mining Operations
Environmental crime is the third-largest criminal sector globally, valued at $110–280 billion annually. It is no longer solely a conservation concern – its links to bribery, money laundering, tax evasion, and human rights violations mean financial institutions are increasingly exposed to significant risks.
To address these challenges, WWF, together with financial crime specialist Themis and the philanthropic support of HSBC, launched in 2024 the Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit. An open access digital platform that helps financial institutions detect, monitor, and assess risks linked to environmental and financial crimes. It supports client screening, onboarding, and risk management across the financial sector.
This research highlights how illegal mining damages nature and creates financial crime risks, forming part of the Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit.