Africa has the highest vulnerability to climate change impacts further deepened by corruption cases. This means African countries desperately need vast amounts of climate finance to implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). However, according to the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, Sub-Saharan Africa’s systemic corruption is severely undermining climate action.
According to the index, the region has once again registered the lowest average score globally, 33 out of 100, well below the global average of 43. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The threats to climate action from corruption in the region stem from misappropriation, theft, and misallocation.
Consequently, there is a need for robust mechanisms to ensure that funds allocated to climate projects benefit communities that are desperately dependent on them. Paul Banoba, Africa Regional Advisor of Transparency International, said, “Climate change damage costs the continent between US$290 billion and US$440 billion annually. All resources mobilized for the climate change response must be corruption-proofed through robust anti-corruption systems to shield the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Africans directly affected by harsh impacts of climate change.”
More concern is drawn to the fact that Countries suffering the worst effects of the climate crisis, including Equatorial Guinea (13), Eritrea (13), Somalia (9), and South Sudan (8), also rank among the most corrupt. In Somalia, climate change has wreaked havoc on the country’s agricultural economy and worsened its 30-year-long conflict.
The highest-scoring countries in the region are Seychelles (72), Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (57), and Rwanda (57). Seychelles stands out as the biggest global improver, having gained 20 points since 2012. Other notable improvements include Côte d’Ivoire (45), which has risen by 10 points since 2019, and Tanzania (41), up 10 points since 2014. However, some countries have experienced significant declines, with Lesotho (37) dropping 12 points and Eswatini (27) falling 16 points since 2014. Gabon and Liberia (both 27) have also seen a decrease of 10 points over the same period.
In Eswatini (27), unauthorized expenditure in the national budget by various ministries, coupled with inaction from the Anti-Corruption Commission, continues to undermine the fight against corruption. Additionally, rising temperatures—having increased by more than three degrees since 1950—are worsening drought conditions, leaving 25 percent of the population with limited access to food and water.
In contrast, Seychelles (72) has made significant progress by prosecuting high-profile corruption cases and strengthening information exchange among law enforcement institutions, leading to its removal from the EU blacklist of non-compliance. The country has also been praised for its innovative approach to reducing emissions, including circular economy initiatives and increased civic participation.
Maíra Martini, Chief Executive Officer of Transparency International said “Urgent action is needed worldwide to root out corruption that undermines climate action through theft, misuse of funds, and undue influence. Governments and multilateral organizations must embed anti-corruption measures in climate efforts to protect funding and rebuild trust.”
She further added that only by tackling corruption head-on, can the global community unlock the full power of climate action and accelerate the fight for our planet, and our future.
