This chapter explores the multidimensional challenges of environmental crime and the evolving frameworks of environmental policy in Europe, situating these within the broader climate crisis and the urgent pursuit of sustainable development. It begins by highlighting the scale and profitability of ecological crimes—illegal logging, waste trafficking, wildlife smuggling, and e-waste dumping—that increasingly rival traditional organized crime. Through data from Europol, UNEP, and Interpol, the chapter shows how ecocide has become one of the fastest-growing transnational threats, with significant consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human health. The chapter then examines the European Union’s environmental policies, focusing on legislative instruments, regulatory frameworks, and strategic initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. In this vein, special attention is given to how these policies operationalize key principles—most notably the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle—while addressing pressing concerns across domains such as air quality, plastics, biodiversity, soils, and the urban environment. Case studies drawn from EU enforcement operations illustrate how environmental crimes are policed and prosecuted, with emphasis on transnational cooperation through mechanisms such as EMPACT and the SWIPE project. In addition, the chapter foregrounds the role of environmental education in cultivating eco-social competencies, raising awareness of ecological crises, and embedding values of empathy, responsibility, and civic participation into formal and informal learning. By linking education to legislative reform and governance strategies, this chapter underscores the necessity of integrating climate change education into broader social and political responses to ecological crime. Finally, the chapter reviews recent legislative developments in Romania and the EU, with particular emphasis on the expansion of criminal liability to include air pollution under Law no. 56/2025. This marks a significant advance in aligning national and European frameworks while closing long-standing regulatory gaps. Ultimately, the chapter argues that preventing and prosecuting environmental crime requires an integrated approach, combining strong legislation, transnational cooperation, and education-driven cultural transformation to safeguard ecological integrity and human well-being.