Activists protesting against fossil fuels during the COP29 venue in Baku. Photo: Habib Samadov/UN Climate Change
As COP29 concludes in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the G20 Summit wraps up in Rio de Janeiro, Transparency International has expressed deep concern over the lack of meaningful progress in addressing corruption within international climate negotiations.
Despite the urgency of climate action, key opportunities to tackle corruption risks were missed, threatening the credibility and effectiveness of global climate finance and the Just Transition.
Negotiators at COP29 struggled to agree on the next international climate finance goal (New Collective Quantified Goal), with science demanding US$1 trillion in climate finance, yet falling short of that target.
Although the EU proposed a US$200–$300 billion target, no new transparency measures were introduced to ensure better management of climate finance. Of particular concern is the absence of anti-corruption measures from the COP29 agenda, with the issue treated as a silo, unaddressed at the high level necessary for real systemic change. Furthermore, new carbon credit rules were rushed through without adequate scrutiny, leaving unresolved corruption risks highlighted in Transparency International’s 2022 geoengineering report.
The Just Transition Work Programme has also sparked debate on access to quality finance, particularly for developing countries. However, the lack of precision in the draft text regarding developed countries’ financial responsibilities makes it difficult to implement or hold parties accountable. This vagueness undermines the program’s potential to deliver a fair and just transition for all.
Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Overwhelmingly Present at COP29
In addition to these structural failures, the presence of fossil fuel, carbon capture, and agriculture industry lobbyists at COP29 has raised concerns. Transparency International’s data reveals that nearly 50% of COP29 participants, including 26,113 individuals, either failed to disclose their relationship with their COP nominator or registered under vague labels, making it unclear who was influencing critical climate discussions. The presence of so many fossil fuel advocates, as noted by former UN Special Envoy for Climate Change Mary Robinson, weakens negotiations and slows down progress.
Anti-Corruption Measures Missing at the G20 Summit
While climate finance was also a key topic at the G20 Summit in Rio, anti-corruption measures were notably absent from discussions. UN Secretary General António Guterres urged major economies and emitters to “lead by example,” but no substantive steps were taken to combat corruption in these critical conversations. In response, Transparency International held a striking protest just before the G20 Summit, with paragliders flying over Rio carrying US$100-bill designs to call attention to the lack of anti-corruption action.
The Need for a Transparent, Accountable Approach
Both COP29 and the G20 Summit demonstrate that without addressing corruption and ensuring transparency, international agreements risk remaining mere aspirations. As Transparency International warned, without robust anti-corruption measures, climate action will remain ineffective.
Looking forward to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Transparency International calls for stronger rules around corporate sponsorships, clearer criteria to prevent conflicts of interest, and unrestricted civil society participation. We also welcome President Lula’s proposed “global ethical stocktake” for COP30, but urge Brazil to take the lead in demonstrating true transparency and accountability in the fight against climate change.
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