Corruption undermines political, social and economic stability. It threatens security and damages trust and public confidence in systems which affect people’s daily lives. Although corruption frequently occurs at local or national level, its consequences are global; its hidden costs immense.
“Corruption undermines everything the law enforcement community works towards. It impoverishes whole communities, and threatens the safety and security of the many for the benefit of a very few”
Corruption is a multifaceted phenomenon supported by differing historical and socio-economic conditions in each country. It exists at all levels of society. Although in the past it could have been considered a largely domestic issue, corruption now often transcends national boundaries. Its consequences are global; its hidden costs immense.
The private sector has responded by implementing ethics and compliance standards and regulations, while the public sector benefits from the ratification of recent laws and international conventions. Oversight bodies and mechanisms have been created to ensure the smooth running of efforts in both sectors.
Nevertheless, corruption remains rampant in many countries, continuing to siphon off valuable resources and economic gains.
| Why does Corruption threaten good governance? | |
Corruption is a manifestation of institutional weakness, poor ethical standards, skewed incentives and insufficient enforcement.
When corrupt officials slowly drain the resources of a country, its potential to develop socially and to attract foreign investment is diminished, making it incapable of providing basic services to or enforcing the rights of its citizens.
Furthermore, corruption fuels transnational crime. Terrorists and organized criminals could not carry out their illegal activities without the complicity of corrupt public officials. It threatens security and damages trust in systems which affect people’s daily lives. It is a particular concern for the world’s police and judicial systems, as corruption in one country can compromise an entire international investigation.
Corruption itself does not produce poverty, but it does have a direct and immediate impact on economic growth and good governance, which in turn raises poverty levels. It remains a major obstacle to the achievement of the UN’s eight Millennium Developments Goals, whose primary aim is to reduce poverty.
The most recent analyses indicate that corruption continues to thrive globally. But as the awareness of corruption increases, so too does the understanding of its negative effects on political, economic and social reforms.
Transparency International’s 2006 report shows that corruption is rampant despite improved legislation and counter efforts. More than US$1 trillion is paid in bribes alone each year, according to a World Bank Institute report – compared to the estimated size of the world economy at that time of just over US$30 trillion
governance challenge the world has ever faced.
The global response to climate change will demand
unprecedented international cooperation, deep
economic transformation and resource transfers at a
significant scale.
Corruption threatens to jeopardise these efforts. Many
of the institutions, governance processes and initiatives
designed to mitigate and adapt to climate change
are vulnerable to a broad range of corruption risks.
These range from undue influence on policies and
regulations, to misallocation of funds, and manipulation
of markets, reporting and verification mechanisms.
Understanding these corruption risks is crucial if the
regime to address climate change and secure a stable
future for our planet is to be effective. It is equally
urgent to identify effective integrity measures to be
built into the emerging frameworks for climate governance
from the international to local level. Controlling
corruption in climate governance is essential to make
the global response to climate change work.
THE GLOBAL CORRU PTION RE POR T 2010:
CORRUPTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Transparency International’s 2010 Global Corruption
Report (GCR) will be the first comprehensive publication
of its kind to explore the corruption risks related
to tackling climate change. It will provide policy-makers,
business and civil society with essential analysis for
understanding corruption risks in climate governance
and make the case for integrating essential transparency
and integrity.
The analysis will cover four key areas:
• G overnance: Investigating major governance
challenges towards tackling climate change.
• M itigating climate change: Reducing greenhouse
gas emissions with transparency and accountability.
• A dapting to climate change: Identifying corruption
risks in climate-proofing development, financing
and implementation of adaptation.
• F orestry governance: Responding to the corruption
challenges plaguing the forestry sector,
which accounts for 20 per cent of greenhouse
gas emissions.
THE GLOBAL CORRUPTION REPORT:
COMBINING ANTI-CORRUPTION
AND CLIMATE CHANGE EXPERTISE
The 2010 Global Corruption Report will bring
together the perspectives of more than 50 experts
and practitioners. From international policymaking
to national mitigation and adaptation
strategies, the Global Corruption Report will
draw on the expertise of the anti-corruption movement
and the knowledge of climate change experts.
The 2010 Global Corruption Report contributors
include international experts from leading
think-tanks, universities, civil society organisations,
international institutions and the private sector,
for example: International Institute for Environment
and Development, Indian Institute of Technology,
Harvard University, Stockholm Environment
Institute, Oxfam and the UN Economic Commission
for Europe.
In addition, experts from Transparency International’s
movement of national chapters throughout
the world will present corruption-related case
studies on climate change.
SWADESH :: VIJAY
