As the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and the phase-out of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) progress in the U.S. and globally, illegal imports of these super pollutant substances are a serious and growing threat. Smuggled or counterfeit refrigerants not only break the law, but can pose significant safety risks to technicians, consumers, and equipment.
EIA’s evidence over the years has shown time and time again that a legal ivory trade cannot be part of the solution to protecting elephants – it just doesn’t work. While most major markets have closed in recent years, Japan has been holding tightly onto its ivory industry and its ivory market remains open. But right now, Japan has the opportunity to turn its stance around.
One of Romania’s largest sawmills has seen its ownership passed between three multinational timber companies in the last decade, but one thing that hasn’t changed is its questionable sourcing practices.
Southern Africa represents the last significant stronghold for both white and black rhinos, yet mining for coal and critical minerals threatens to erode decades of conservation progress and undermine the rights of Indigenous and local communities who steward these landscapes.
The recent arrest of ivory traders in Japan is unsurprising, and indicative of a broken system. EIA continues to urge the Japanese government to make revisions that close the domestic ivory market to reduce demand, simplify enforcement efforts domestically, and eliminate a legal supply of ivory for illegal export.
While most countries previously regarded as major ivory consumers have already taken steps to close their markets for commercial trade in ivory, Japan alone still authorizes a significant legal market for commercial trade in a wide variety of ivory items. Domestic legal markets are vulnerable to the risks associated with illegal international trade in ivory, particularly the illegal export of ivory to other countries.