Corruption poses a significant threat to global initiatives aimed at addressing climate change, according to a report released on Tuesday by the graft watchdog Transparency International.

“Corruption hampers effective climate action by obstructing the implementation of ambitious policies,” stated the organization.

In its 2024 “Corruption Perceptions Index,” Transparency International revealed that numerous nations, including those grappling with increasing temperatures or those that have hosted UN climate summits, recorded declines in score.

For instance, Brazil, the venue for this year’s COP30 climate talks, achieved a score of 34—its lowest rating ever, indicating an elevated level of corruption.

“Corrupt entities not only influence but often dictate policies, undermining essential checks and balances,” remarked Maira Martini, CEO of Transparency International.

Germany’s Plummet in Rankings

Germany has been found to be struggling in its battle against corruption, falling to 15th place out of 180 nations in the latest corruption perception rankings. This is a decline from its previous position at 12th. A major issue identified was the lack of transparency in political party financing.

During the report’s presentation in Berlin, Alexandra Herzog, chair of Transparency Germany, highlighted concerns regarding the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the new populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), pointing to substantial donations, including significant contributions from abroad. She cited a million-euro donation from an Austrian businessman to the AfD as particularly concerning. Herzog argued that such practices jeopardized fair political competition and could diminish public trust in democracy in light of Germany’s upcoming February 23 general election.

Global Ranking Overview

A number of wealthier nations, previously regarded as leaders in climate discussions, such as Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, have also seen their rankings decline.

“These countries bear a significant responsibility to pursue ambitious climate objectives, reduce emissions substantially, and enhance global resilience,” according to Transparency International.

The annual report assigns lower scores on a scale from zero to 100 to nations perceived to have a higher risk of public sector corruption.

The latest rankings reveal that 85% of the global population resides in countries that scored below 50.

Among the nations with the poorest scores are those predominantly affected by conflict, including Sudan, Venezuela, Somalia, Syria, Eritrea, and Yemen. South Sudan occupies the lowest position, whereas Denmark received the highest score.

Additionally, the report indicated that 47 out of the 180 countries assessed achieved their lowest scores since Transparency International adopted its current ranking methodology in 2012. This includes nations like Germany, Austria, Brazil, France, Haiti, and Hungary.

Over the last five years, some countries, such as Kosovo, the Maldives, and Kuwait, have notably improved their corruption rankings.

Edited by: Natalie Muller