Climate integrity in action: Stories of reform and lasting impact
To mark World Environment Day, Transparency International launches a new mini-series spotlighting climate impact stories from around the world.
Members of indigenous communities from different countries react after the world's biggest nature protection conference held in Cali, Colombia on November 1, 2024 agreed to create a permanent body to represent the interests of Indigenous people under the UN's biodiversity convention. Photo: JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP
This blog features powerful examples from Colombia and Zambia, where chapter-led advocacy has strengthened whistleblower protections and helped shape fairer climate policies. These stories show how fighting corruption is essential to protecting people and the planet. Stay tuned throughout the year as we share more stories of local action driving global impact.
Speaking up for the environment: How whistleblower protections are strengthening environmental governance in Colombia
A civil society leader from the Colombian Amazon basin planting seeds during a capacity building workshop on environmental governance organised by TI chapters in Colombia and Peru. Photo: Transparency International Colombia.
In Colombia, environmental degradation is not only driven by illegal activities and poor regulation, but also by corruption within the institutions meant to protect natural resources. For years, concerned officials and citizens who witnessed misconduct in the environmental sector felt silenced. Despite the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS by its acronym in Spanish) having a whistleblower channel, the lack of regulations on whistleblower protection rendered it ineffective.
Among those concerned was a group of civil servants within MADS, professionals committed to environmental protection but deeply frustrated by their inability to safely report wrongdoing. The heart of the problem was not just environmental mismanagement, but a broken reporting system. Whistleblowers lacked trust in existing mechanisms, fearing job loss, harassment, or worse. These factors have historically fostered a culture of silence around environmental crimes, which without safe and reliable channels, went unreported and unpunished.
In 2024, Transparency International’s chapter in Colombia stepped in to assess the shortcomings of MADS' whistleblower system. Their evaluation revealed key procedural gaps and structural weaknesses. More importantly, they provided a roadmap for reform. MADS responded, initiating a comprehensive overhaul of its whistleblower procedures, marking a pivotal shift from neglect to accountability.
Learn how whistleblowing helps fight corruption
Speak upOur chapter in Colombia played a key role in driving this transformation, partnering with MADS to co-develop targeted reforms and clear action plans. They also created educational materials on corruption reporting and whistleblower protections, now embedded in MADS’ training programmes, helping to rebuild trust and promote a culture of accountability. As a result, what was once a neglected system is becoming a cornerstone of more transparent and participatory environmental governance. Colombia is not only confronting environmental misconduct but also breaking the silence that once enabled it, demonstrating the power of collaboration between civil society and public institutions.
When advocacy sparks reform: Embedding transparency in Zambia’s carbon market regulations
Participants during the round table meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Zambia Parliamentary Caucus on the Environment and Climate Change (ZPCECC). Photo: Transparency International Zambia
In Zambia, the rise of carbon markets brought both promise and concern: local communities and civil society organisations began raising questions about transparency and fairness. By 2023, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment had begun drafting the Green Economy and Climate Change Bill - a legislation poised to shape the country’s climate future. However, without clear safeguards and oversight, there was a risk that carbon market mechanisms could benefit a few at the expense of many.
At the heart of this legislative process were civil society actors like Transparency International’s chapter in Zambia, who, along with a coalition of organisations, brought a clear and persistent voice to the table, demanding openness in how carbon deals were made and ensuring local communities would not be left in the dark.
A breakthrough came during a roundtable with Members of Parliament, where our chapter in Zambia successfully pushed for the disclosure of carbon market agreements and the inclusion of regulatory frameworks to protect environmental and community interests. Their sustained advocacy resulted in several of their recommendations being incorporated in the final version of the Bill. Beyond participating in consultations, the chapter mobilised public awareness and presented clear, actionable recommendations.
Enacted in December 2024, the legislation now includes enforceable carbon market regulations, public disclosure requirements, and safeguards to ensure community participation. It marks a major step forward in climate governance, showing that transparency and inclusive policymaking are essential for fair and effective climate action.
Today, Transparency International’s chapter in Zambia continues to monitor the law’s implementation, helping to ensure it delivers lasting impact for both people and the environment.
Carbon market corruption risks and mitigation strategies
As a new market with a developing architecture, the carbon market has proven susceptible to corruption and other integrity risks. These risks are significant, because any attempt to undermine the carbon market jeopardises one of the major elements of our global response to climate change. This paper examines these risks and the carbon market’s vulnerability in terms of both its environmental and financial integrity.
