The International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) 2024 Conference was held in Galway, Ireland, from August 27 to 28, 2024. As the most influential academic exchange platform in the field of environmental forensics, researchers from various countries exchanged and discussed research findings, key issues, and development trends in their respective fields. The conference highlighted that the identification and detection methods for emerging contaminants, research on the environmental fate of pollutants, the environmental health risks and ecological impacts of emerging pollutants, and studies on pollution tracing and liability determination have become cutting-edge topics or widely discussed issues. This review of the conference aims to provide insights and references for the research and development of environmental damage forensic identification in China.