4 October 2024 –
The Arab states have an average score of 34 out of 100 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), the region scored the second lowest globally, with a median score of 43.2.
Worth noting is the MENA-Region’s substantial wealth of natural resources, including natural gas, mineral resources, and crude oil. Its strategic location at the crossroads of major economies in Europe, Asia, and Africa further enhances the region’s economic growth. The region’s vulnerability to rising global temperatures is increasing. Studies predict that temperatures in the MENA region will exceed global warming projections due to factors such as desert warming amplification and desertification, further exacerbating governance challenges. In fact, good environmental governance and anti-corruption efforts are necessary to ensure the implementation of sustainable practices and policies.
The Natural Resources Curse: Impacts on the political, economic and environmental spheres
According to Dr. Aled Williams, Principal Adviser at U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Center, environmental corruption and political impact as a result is not a one-way street: in many cases, it is a two-way relationship. Corruption generates power concentration, and in its most extreme cases, can lead to a form of state capture. It can manifest in terms of repression of dissent and limiting civil society space in order to keep the power organisation intact. This, ultimately, is the core of the natural resources curse theory: Wealth in natural resources can disrupt democratic processes and make it harder to democratise.
Beyond the impact of environmental corruption in the political sphere, environmental corruption leaves behind a wide range of environmental and economic impacts. As for the latter, natural resources wealth creates incentives for abuse or misuse, and could make it harder for non-resource sectors to develop, or can lead to the so-called dutch disease, referring to the increase in a specific sector, e.g., natural resources, and a decline in others. Moreover, this could lead to making it harder for non-resource sectors or non-extractive industries to develop.
As for environmental impacts, it is contended that policies and regulations aiming at conservation and environmental protection or addressing environmental ills such as deforestation can be severely undermined by corruption. As such, corruption basically directly and indirectly contributes to environmental harm, leading to increased pollution, deforestation, and increasing carbon emissions.
How are CSOs in the region trying to combat environmental corruption?
1. Legal action
The first avenue highlighted to fight environmental corruption in the MENA region was legal action.
Souhaieb Ferchichi, Senior Campaigner at IWATCH, gave the example of the organization’s current litigation against SICAM – a canned goods company accused of environmental pollution in Tunisia.
The senior campaigner maintains that legal action is important – in spite of challenges relating to judicial independence in Tunisia – as it creates visibiltiy regarding cases, influences public opinion and inspires others to use the legal system to fight corruption.
2. Strategic advocacy
The second approach raised in the meeting was strategic advocacy efforts.
In Jordan, the Jordan Transparency Center has established an “energy committee” comprised of a multi-disciplinary group of experts (academics, technical experts, legal professionals etc.) to advocate in favor of sustainable renewable energy.
The committee has been successful in influencing both parliamentary discussions and public opinion by means of its dissemination strategies, and has had success in advancing its recommendations.
3. Youth engagement
A third approach which should be considered when fighting environmental corruption is youth engagement.
Ms. Hilda Ajeilat, Chair and CEO of the Jordan Transparency Center highlighted how her organization integrates information regarding environmental corruption into educational settings in order to mobilize youth.
4. Supporting Local Movements and Raising Marginalised Voices
A fourth approach to tackling environmental corruption involves supporting grassroots mobilization and elevating marginalized voices.
In Tunisia, IWATCH does this through several channels, including icheck SHBAEBK, SonFM, and the ibg BLOG – different communications platforms where the voices of affected communities can be heard.
SON FM, for example, is a community radio station which prioritizes youth voices and those of other marginalized groups.
The organization also participates in campaigns together with other local organizations. For example, it is currently involved in a campaign against the production of green hydrogen in Tunisia, which primarily benefits European interests while generating serious environmental costs.
5. Using and strengthening international frameworks
The final approach that was discussed at the meeting was the existence of relevant international frameworks and how they could be put to use to combat environmental corruption.
Dr. Aled Williams, from the U4 anti-corruption resource center, explained how the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) could be an important basis upon which to advocate for reform.
UNCAC Resolution 8/12, for example, “Affirms that the United Nations Convention against Corruption constitutes an effective tool and an important part of the legal framework for preventing and combating corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment and for strengthening international cooperation in this regard”.
The UNCAC review mechanism – the Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) – could therefore be a fundamental tool to fight environmental corruption.
There is also a need, however, to strengthen international frameworks and standards relating to environmental corruption.
Gaps identified include the fact that no specific UNCAC resolution has to date targeted biodiversity loss or climate finance. Similarly, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change doesn’t address the issue of corrruption. These gaps would need to be filled to have a truly effective international framework on this issue.
Conclusion
There are many ways that civil society can contribute to the fight against corruption in the MENA region. The examples provided above are just some potential avenues.
What’s clear, however, is that in a region that is facing the devastating effects of climate change and environmental degradation, measures must be taken to stamp out corruption in the environmental sphere.