11th February 2025
Corruption could derail global efforts to fight climate change, Transparency International warned in its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index report.
The report revealed that many countries involved in climate action, either as hosts of UN climate summits or those most at risk from rising temperatures, scored poorly. Transparency International CEO Maira Martini emphasized the urgent need to eliminate corruption before it undermines meaningful progress.
The report highlighted how corruption can divert climate funds and weaken environmental regulations. Brazil, host of the 2025 UN climate summit (COP30), received its lowest-ever score of 34, while Azerbaijan, which hosted the previous summit, scored just 22. The UAE, which chaired COP28 in 2023, had a relatively better score of 68.
Some wealthier nations, traditionally leaders in climate discussions, also saw declining scores. Countries like Canada (75), New Zealand (83), and the U.S. (65) were noted for their weakened anti-corruption efforts, which the report said could hinder global climate progress.
Meanwhile, nations most vulnerable to climate change, such as South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10), had some of the worst corruption scores. The report stressed that marginalized communities suffer the most, as they have fewer resources to cope with environmental disasters.
To tackle this issue, Transparency International called for stronger accountability measures and better systems to track climate funding and progress.
