Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024

GS2 – GOVERNANCE , REPORTS & INDICES 

About CPI:

• The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Published by Transparency International.
• CPI 2024 highlights how corruption hampers global climate action, making it harder to combat climate change.

Key Highlights of CPI 2024

• 85% of the world’s population lives in countries with CPI scores below 50, showing widespread corruption.
• India’s Performance:
  • Score: 38/100 (1-point drop from 2023).
  • Rank: 96th out of 180 countries.
• Least Corrupt Countries:
  • Denmark (Rank 1), Finland, Singapore.
• Most Corrupt Countries:
  • South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela.

How Corruption Affects Climate Action?

1. Weakens Climate Policies – Corruption benefits narrow interest groups over public welfare, delaying urgent climate actions.
2. Undermines Governance – Poor law enforcement and lack of transparency in environmental policies enable corporate lobbying.
3. Misuse of Climate Funds – Countries most vulnerable to climate change often score below 50 on CPI, indicating higher risks of fund misallocation.
4. Marginalizes Vulnerable Populations – Corruption disproportionately harms poorer communities already suffering from climate change effects.
5. Reduces Trust in Climate Diplomacy – Climate conferences become less transparent, allowing fossil fuel lobbyists to influence decisions.

Recommendations from the CPI 2024 Report

1. Put Integrity at the Core of Climate Action:
   • Use the UN Convention against Corruption as a framework to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
2. Enhance Investigations and Protections:
   • Strengthen anti-corruption agencies and protect environmental activists.
3. Shield Climate Policymaking from Corporate Influence:
   • Implement conflict of interest rules to prevent undue lobbying in climate decisions.
4. Increase Citizen Engagement:
   • Ensure climate finance data is open and transparent for public scrutiny.

Corruption remains a major barrier to achieving global climate goals. Strengthening governance and transparency is crucial for effective climate action.