Statement of the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2022
Every 09 December, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day, a day designated to commemorate the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and to highlight the rights and responsibilities of all in tackling corruption.
Corruption has immediate impacts on averting climate change. First, it erodes trust in institutions and weakens the legitimacy of public policies. Second, without transparency in the process of implementing climate-resilient infrastructure, it becomes impossible to take risks and learn. And third, the perception of corruption makes it harder to close the enormous finance gap for climate projects.
Integrity is a powerful tool that must be utilised to optimise climate action and scale up the impact and reach of climate projects to vulnerable communities. GCF is a partnership organisation working with over 200 accredited and delivery partners. It leverages its capacity building for accredited entities and delivery partners, its second-level due diligence and its independent accountability mechanisms to establish strong lines of defence against corruption and optimise climate impact.
At COP27, the GCF Independent Integrity Unit launched an initiative to engage civil society for greater transparency and accountability. GCF joins the larger international community united against corruption with the core notion that through the cooperation of every sector, we can defend climate action from corruption and, as a result, overcome the threat of climate change.
YANNICK GLEMAREC
Executive Director
Green Climate Fund