“Cleaning Up COPs: Exposing Corruption and Ensuring Integrity in Climate Diplomacy”

The aftermath of COP29 has left many in the international climate community feeling despondent and betrayed. This sentiment arises from the fact that for the third consecutive year, a repressive petrostate has hosted the conference, turning what was intended to be a platform for reducing global emissions into a deal-brokering event for some of the world’s biggest polluters.

The recent COP in Baku was marred by the influence of the fossil fuel industry, with the Azerbaijani COP29 chief executive caught discussing fossil fuel “investment opportunities” before the conference. The president of Azerbaijan even hailed oil and gas as a “gift from god” and signed new gas deals with Bulgaria and Slovakia during the summit. Meanwhile, developing nations were left scrambling for vital climate financing amidst the presence of 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists at the event.

The issue of climate corruption poses significant challenges to the integrity of the negotiation process and erodes trust among nations participating in climate summits. The upsurge of climate denialism and dwindling faith in multilateralism further emphasize the need to root out undue fossil fuel influence and conflicts of interest.

To address these concerns, Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective have proposed reforms to strengthen climate multilateralism. These include stricter criteria for selecting host nations, mandating full disclosure of participant affiliations, and reviewing the Code of Ethics for Elected and Appointed Officers to ensure transparency and accountability.

Moving forward, it is crucial for the UNFCCC and the COP Bureau to lead by example in implementing structural changes to prevent corruption and ensure that climate summits serve the interests of those committed to fighting climate change, rather than those seeking to profit from it. By cleaning up COPs and promoting transparency, the international community can work towards meaningful climate action and a sustainable future.