Financial Transparency Coalition

Robin Hodess, Knowledge & Research Director at Transparency International, Draws the Dots between Financial Transparency and Climate Change This year’s Transparency International Global Corruption Report, launched this week in Dhaka, Bangladesh, tackles corruption and climate change. The message? Without better governance, climate change measures could go awry. The risk is corruption. The result could be lack of progress in the reduction of greenhouses gases, putting the planet at risk. The new TI report collects more than 50 articles on corruption threats that could affect climate governance, such as policy capture, and it highlights the challenges that will arise as large amounts...

WASHINGTON, DC – Global Financial Integrity (GFI) joined 76 civil society organizations in calling upon the G20 to take action on corruption. In a letter submitted to G20 officials last week, the civil society groups affirmed their support for the G20’s work combating corruption, urged swift action and made recommendations.

76 civil society organizations, including 7 members of the Task Force—Christian Aid, Eurodad, Global Financial Integrity, Global Witness, Tax Justice Network, Tax Research UK, and Transparency International—submitted the attached letter to G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group officials on February 11, 2011. The letter affirmed the civil society groups' support for the G20’s work combating corruption, urged swift action and made recommendations.

OK, it seems a bit premature to be thinking about Mexico’s G20 before we’re anywhere near November 2011 and Paris. But there are good reasons to start thinking about 2012 – and good reasons to think that it could be the first G20 that puts financial integrity and the combating of illicit flows right up front and centre. There are important measures that can be pursued in 2011, and pressure must be maintained on President Sarkozy to deliver concrete actions to back his administration’s strong words on the damage done by secrecy in tax havens. With luck, however, the French...