Liljana Cvetanoska, CFAC Policy Manager
With over half of the countries included in the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scoring below the global average, there is still much to be done to stamp out public sector corruption.
What is the CPI?
The CPI evaluates 180 countries and ranks them from 0–100, with zero being highly corrupt and 100 being very clean. The report is released annually by Transparency International (TI). In the latest edition, Denmark is at the top of the list, ranking 90 out of 100.
Also close to the top are Finland, Singapore and New Zealand. There are no big surprises at the bottom of the list. South Sudan has a score of eight, followed by Somalia and Venezuela. They are all well below the global average score of 43.
The reliability of the CPI data has been questioned, as corruption is often a matter of perception so cannot be easily quantified. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most important measures of global corruption that we have.
Declining trends across the UK
The UK has a score of 71, having dropped 11 points since 2017, which is a record low. This means that since 2017 the UK has dropped out of the top ten least corrupt nations and is in the top 20. The UK score has decreased since the mid-2010s, raising concerns over enforcement of anti-corruption measures and declining public trust in institutions.
Challenges across Europe
The latest index also paints a gloomy picture for the Western Europe and EU countries region. Despite holding the average top score regionally, 19 out of 31 European countries declined and only six improved their score. Some countries, like Belgium, Portugal and Hungary have worsened by 10 points or more since 2015.
Even countries like Norway and Sweden that often ranked in the top ten have dropped by seven and nine points respectively. Public procurement is one of the main culprits for corruption across the EU, as well as lack of accountability and effective anti-corruption controls.
Corruption and the climate crisis
Corruption is a significant threat to climate change, and this year’s CPI was accompanied by a thematic focus on the link between corruption and climate change. Corruption undermines efforts to tackle climate change and increases CO₂ emissions due to regulatory failure. It also promotes greenwashing, a practice whereby organisations portray themselves as more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Climate funds also cause issues, as highly corrupt countries aren’t always able to manage them. Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa is often linked to climate change, which is concerning as it holds the lowest average CPI score. Similarly, the Americas, who face severe climate challenges, are not well equipped to resist misuse of funds due to corruption.
Progress amid challenges: the way forward
While we still face significant challenges, there are some positive efforts to be recognised. In Europe, Italy and Estonia scores have risen by ten points since 2015. This may be due to increased transparency and accountability of public spending. In addition, Uruguay has continued to maintain strong scores over the past ten years and sets a good example for the region when it comes to environmental efforts.
While the 2024 CPI raises alarm bells for several high-risk areas, it also demonstrates that positive trends are possible through persistent reforms and sustained commitments. However, it is worth remembering that progress takes time and that drastic changes rarely occur from one year to the next. What is certain is that tackling corruption in climate change must remain a global priority or it risks undermining efforts towards a greener future for us all.