CiR2P Option 13 | Eradicate corruption
DISCUSSION:
Eradicating corruption is the single most important rule of law issue. Corruption can restrict economic growth, undermine the effectiveness of foreign aid, destroy trust in government and public institutions and officials, and in some instances, tip countries into state failure and precipitate conflict.
Approaches to assist in the fight against corruption require an integrated approach by government, the judiciary and civil society, with support from the international community, including businesses and NGOs.
Resource rich countries are particularly vulnerable to corruption. It is well established that widespread corruption exists within state structures and through the collusion between police and organised crime in the wildlife trade, poaching, mining and the production of oil and coal, land-clearing and deforestation activities and agricultural sprawl.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation programs are not immune from corruption.
Transparency International (TI) explain that billions upon billions of dollars are now flowing from developed to developing countries through new, uncoordinated and unmonitored channels, with grey areas and loopholes in regulations, which creates tempting opportunities for corruption.
To ensure that climate finance reaches those vulnerable people who most need it, TI advocate for recipient governments to build checks and balances into their climate policies, ensure flows of money are transparent, and monitor and be accountable for its use.
Countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts are the same countries that have suffered recent atrocity events, which are the same countries that occupy the top spots on various global corruption indexes.
Failure to fully implement internationally funded climate adaptation and mitigation programs because of corrupt systems and officials may result in significant climate-related harm to populations already struggling to survive.