NEW YORK, December 16 (IPS) – The writer is Deputy Director, Program and Policy Support Department, UNDP Climate change is the defining issue of our time. In the words of the UN Secretary-General at COP27, “we’re on the highway to climate hell with our feet still on the accelerator.” Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 is critical once the 1.5°C target is reached.
At the same time, if we fail to effectively tackle corruption in climate action, it will seriously impede our ability to combat the climate crisis through mitigation and adaptation efforts. on a large scale.
According to Transparency International, up to 35% of climate action funds, depending on the program, have been lost to corruption in the past five years.
Corruption and the climate crisis reinforce each other
On the one hand, corruption fuels the climate crisis by depriving countries of much-needed revenue to respond to climate change and build resilience, while dramatically altering the distribution and efficient allocation of resources to achieve development goals.
For example, according to the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource CenterThe top recipients of climate finance are among the most corrupt in the world.
On the other hand, climate impacts reinforce corruption by creating economic and social instability and inequality, fostering an environment more conducive to corruption and misuse of funds. , which will ultimately deprive the poorest and hardest-hit people.
Tackling corruption in the race against the climate crisis requires collective action and strong partnerships between government, the private sector and civil society to recognize and combat this problem. through more effective program and resource management.
This requires:
- • Government strengthens efforts in environmental governance, • Businesses strengthen business integrity, • Media, youth and community continue to campaign against corruption.
Three immediate actions require commitment from all parties involved:
1. Fund management: Much greater transparency and accountability is needed in the use and management of climate finance in adaptation and mitigation programmes.
Access to finance is often cited as the main obstacle to achieving a just convert and climate change action, but that’s only one side of the problem. The other is ensuring that the resources so needed to tackle the climate crisis are not lost to corruption and mismanagement.
A good example is of Colombian Climate Financial Tracking Systemprovides up-to-date data on national, public, private and international climate finance.
It is one of the first countries in the world to have developed a comprehensive Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) framework to transparently track the flow of climate finance in and out from public, private and private sources. and international.
2. Voice and Accountability: This means leveraging the power of advocacy and accountability mechanisms, and providing civic space for meaningful participation by society, empowering them to hold accountable for policymakers and the private sector.
For example, UNDP is empowering communities in Uganda and Sri Lanka, using digital tools to integrate integrity and transparency in environmental resource management. In Ceylon,
UNDP has launched a digital platform, in collaboration with the Ministry of Wildlife and Forestry and other partners, for people to engage with and monitor illegal environmental activities. This initiative is supported through the UNDP Global Project – Fighting corruption for peaceful and inclusive societies (ACPIS) funded by Norad— Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, UNDP and the National Forest Service launched Uganda Natural Resource Information System (NARIS)designed to monitor and mediate deforestation across Uganda in order to protect the country’s forests and biodiversity.
On the climate change agenda, fighting corruption is not just a matter of money. It is also about building trust in institutions and restoring hope for the future. Studies show that ‘eco-anxiety’ is on the rise, especially among young people.
One global research of 10,000 young people from 10 countries in 2021 shows that more than 50% of young people feel sad, worried, angry, helpless, helpless and guilty about climate change. But we have also seen youth, civil society and communities taking action against environmental damage and climate change from Serbia to India.
Only through the UNDP Climate Promise, more than 110,000 people participated in stakeholder consultations revising key national climate strategies, known as nationally determined contributions –, which help build social consensus and explicitly recognize the leadership role of youth and women in Innovative climate pledges in 120 countries.
3. The private sector plays a key role: Public capacity needs to be strengthened to implement policies that regulate private sector activities to protect the environment. At the same time, businesses should also do their part with fair business practices, based on human rights, business integrity and environmental sustainability goals.
4. Legal framework to protect human rights: There is an increased focus on ‘environmental justice’ at the national and global levels. On July 28, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a historic resolution has universally recognized the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (R2HE). UNDP promotes responsible business by reinforcing human rights standards over 17 countries, with support from Japan.
UNDP has supported more than 100 national human rights organizations to address issues human rights impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. In Tanzania, UNDP supported the ‘Committee on Human Rights and Good Governance’ to manage disputes related to environmental human rights violations. In Chile, UNDP has supported an ongoing constitutional reform process, which includes strong references to environmental rights.
The development community needs to ensure approaches that integrate and break down barriers between governance and the environmental community; and between the public and private sectors to address crises related to corruption and climate change.
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© Inter Press Service (2022) — All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service
