Environmental Offences 2024 – Statistical Evaluation
This descriptive statistic provides a quantitative overview of the development and status of environmental crime in Germany between 2013 and 2024. It is based on data from the police crime statistics ("Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik", PKS) and the Federal Statistical Office's criminal prosecution statistics ("Strafverfolgungsstatistik").
In addition to outlining general trends, the report includes in-depth analyses of individual environmental offences. It was prepared by a team from Ecologic Institute on behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency.
Development of Case Numbers
The number of known cases of all environmental offences decreased by 9% between 2013 and 2024 – from 19,652 cases in 2013 to 17,933 cases in 2024.
Over the same period, the total number of offences recorded in the PKS declined by 2%.
This continues the trend identified in the previous edition of the “Environmental Offences” publication. However, between 2010 and 2020 the decline amounted to only 3%, with rising case numbers in recent years (compared to 10% for overall crime). The current decrease is again significantly stronger – in contrast to the decline in overall crime. The years 2022 to 2024 show the lowest figures in the entire reporting period.
Possible Causes and Dark Figure
Possible reasons for the decline include both increased awareness of rules and improved compliance, as well as reduced capacities for criminal prosecution and law enforcement within the competent authorities. In addition, a high number of unreported cases is assumed.
Distribution of Offence Types in 2024
- 43% of all known cases concerned offences under the Animal Protection Act (TierSchG).
- 33% related to offences involving the unlawful handling of waste (§ 326 except paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code).
- 11% concerned water pollution.
Together, these three categories accounted for 87% of all known environmental offences in 2024. This roughly corresponds to the situation in 2020.
Clearance Rate
The clearance rate for environmental offences remained largely stable between 2013 and 2024. It ranged between 56% and 61% in every year during this period and was thus slightly higher than the clearance rate for overall crime in Germany.
The publication continues the “Environmental Offences” series published by the German Federal Environment Agency, most recently issued in 2023 as “Environmental Offences 2021”.
Downloads und weiterführende Links
Environmental Offences in Germany 2016: a statistical analysis
Climate Change and Criminal Justice
Prosecution Under the Amended Environmental Crime Directive
Contact at Ecologic Institute
Dr. Stephan Sina
E-Mail: stephan.sina@ecologic.eu