Fact Sheet: International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE)

 

Date of establishment 1989
Legal basis Informal network of government and non-government enforcement and compliance practitioners convened by non-governmental host organization (the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD) – non-profit s.501(c)(3) under U.S. law incorporated in the District of Columbia and founded on 12 May 2003)
Objective The INECE mission is to contribute to the rule of law, good governance, and sustainable development at all levels, through efficient and effective compliance with and enforcement of environmental requirements.
Nature Informal network of government and non-government enforcement and compliance practitioners convened by a non-governmental host organization (IGSD).
Membership +4000 participants 120 countries – governmental agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.  Notifications of interest in becoming a participant can be sent to inece@inece.org or be submitted through the INECE website.
Observers Not applicable.

Geographical scope

Global and regional and national.

Substantive scope

Any environmental requirement. Historically looked at waste pollution, and air and water quality issues, but also works on biodiversity issues.

Governance structure

The Executive Planning Committee is the governing body, composed of no more than 30 persons with representation among regions of the world (government/public officials, representatives from international organizations including UNEP, World Bank and NGOs). The Executive Planning Committee agrees upon the goals, activities, and multi-year work program of the INECE partnership, reviews and approves of work products produced under the auspices of the partnership, and catalyzes and facilitates enforcement and institution building by countries and cooperation among related organizations.
Cooperation Various forms of and fora for cooperation within the INECE network e.g. (i) East African Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (ii) INECE International Network for Environmental Compliance Training Professionals (iii) working groups on e.g., climate compliance, performance indicators Cooperation also with partners like SBC; Asian Network; BCRCs; INTERPOL; IMPEL TFS cluster; SCRCs etc. (See separate fact sheets)
Activities INECE activities are geared toward government officials active in environmental compliance and enforcement, and international organizations.  They aim at:
  • Developing networks for enforcement and compliance cooperation, including on seaport security, climate compliance, environmental prosecutors, compliance training professionals, and other topics.
  • Strengthening capacity throughout the regulatory cycle to implement and secure compliance with environmental requirements, including training programs on Principles of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, environmental inspections, performance measurement indicators, and other topics.
  • Raising awareness of the importance of environmental compliance and enforcement, including through conferences and the conference proceedings, publications, and the INECE.org website and resource center.
See Strategic Implementation Plan 2009 – 2012  http://inece.org//StrategicPlan_2009.pdf
Source of funding The Dutch and US environmental agencies, who founded INECE in 1989, remain key funders, with additional support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, and the European Commission, as well as governments including UK, Canada, Belgium, Czech Republic..
Contact information Office of the INECE Secretariat
2300 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 300B, Washington, DC 20007, USA, Tel.: +1 (202) 338-1300; Fax: +1 (202) 338-1810; Email: inece@inece.org
Website http://www.inece.org
Date 30 Sept. 2012