TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL has cautioned that corruption is threatening and derailing global cooperation to tackle climate change and worsening climate crises.
The global think tank explained this in its report released on Tuesday, February 12.
Its “Corruption Perceptions Index” for 2024 showed that many countries involved in climate action — either as hosts of the United Nations climate summits or because they are most at risk from rising temperatures — scored poorly or worse than before.
“Corrupt forces not only shape but often dictate policies and dismantle checks and balances,” Transparency International CEO Maira Martini said in a statement.
“We must urgently root out corruption before it derails meaningful climate action.”
According to the organisation, the graft may cause funding meant to combat global warming to be misdirected and erode the enforcement of environmental laws.
On a scale of 0 to 100, the annual assessment gives a lower score to nations that are thought to be more vulnerable to corruption in the public sector.
For instance, Brazil, which is hosting the UN COP 30 climate conference this year, scored its lowest-ever score of 34.
Oil-producing Azerbaijan, which funded the last meeting for global climate action, only received a score of 22.
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Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, which appointed the head of the state oil firm to chair the COP it hosted in 2023, had a relatively better score of 68.
The report also highlighted declining scores in wealthier countries, which have often taken a leading role in talks, including Canada (75), New Zealand (83) and the United States (65).
Corruption in these countries “undermines global progress the most,” the report said.
“These nations hold the greatest responsibility to lead on ambitious climate goals, reduce emissions at scale, and build resilience worldwide,” it said.
Among the countries most exposed to climate change were also some of those with the worst scores on the index, such as South Sudan (eight), Somalia (nine), and Venezuela (10).
“Marginalised people usually have fewer options for adapting to extreme weather and pollution, leaving them most in need of government support,” the report said.
