While environmental legislations have multiplied across the globe, too often they are not enforced. In Europe only, the gap between policies and practices costs society €50bn per year. Furthermore, environmental crimes at a global scale lead to €12-48bn (illegal mining), €10-12bn (illegal waste), €51-152bn (forestry crimes) of economic loss for countries deprived of future revenues and development opportunities. In 2016, INTERPOL and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimated that natural resources worth as much as USD 91 billion to USD 258 billion annually are being stolen by criminals [The rise of environmental crime: A growing threat to natural resources peace, development and security [UNEP-INTERPOL, 2016]. They also indicated that environmental crimes rose by 5-7 % annually, and increased of 26% in 2014. The European Commission further stated the high legal costs associated to environmental damage. Member States engage a large amount of their budget in measures aiming to prevent and remedy damage taken by the liable operators under the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD). In 2016, the 142 reported cases of legal environmental damages in Europe is estimated to a total of €173.711.841 [European Commission, Brussels, 2016].
If the weight of environmental non-compliance is established, various factors impede the enforcement of environmental legislation and the access to a legal remedy for companies or individuals harmed by environmental damage. Environmental cases are hard to prove or to litigate, partly due to their complexity. Recent reports are stressing the global “lack of human resources associated with the investigation and prosecution of environmental crimes” [Eurojust, 2014]. The absence of available and reliable data to constitute evidence remains a major obstacle for the enforcement of environmental law.
To face this challenge, satellite image analysis offer a significant tool. The various instruments embedded on satellites offer an infinite source to gather and analyze information related to environmental damages. CybELE developed a unique expertise in this area with an operational monitoring of deforestation & threats to protected habitats, maritime pollution as well as soil pollution. We developed a market-creating innovation to help environmental officers or victims proving infringement of environmental law and/or assess the damage they suffered. We analyse satellite data to produce reports carefully designed to be directly presented in front of a judge, and make polluters pay by bearing the cost of remedial action. The applications range from operational monitoring of deforestation & threats to protected habitats to maritime pollution as well as soil pollution.
Besides providing clear benefits for society (notably by supporting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)), CybELE EO investigative services generate important market opportunities. We have estimated our total addressable market (TAM) at 537M€/y. With the SME Phase I we conducted a market and feasibility study to analyse with more accuracy the potential of the targeted market, the social and commercial impacts resulting from our activities and the different strategies that should be implemented to reach our objectives.
