Corruption levels of countries and progress on ensuring environmental sustainability

Published date07 April 2015
Date07 April 2015
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-02-2015-0007
Pages90-99
AuthorBeverlee B. Anderson
Subject MatterPublic policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation
Corruption levels of countries
and progress on ensuring
environmental sustainability
Beverlee B. Anderson
Department of Marketing, California State University, San Marcos,
California, USA
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships of selected measures of
environmental sustainability and the level of corruption within countries.
Design/methodology/approach The design uses secondary data from Transparency
International on perception of corruption within countries. The World Economic Forums (WEFs)
environmental sustainability assessment is one measure of environmental sustainability used in the
study. World Bank data on CPIA Policies and institutes for environmental sustainability that foster
and protect sustainable use of natural resources and manage pollution and its data on the Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) target of the percent of population with access to improved drinking water
were two specific measures used to indicate environmental sustainability. A series of statistical tests
were used to examine the relationships among perceptions of corruption and a countrys policies and
reported improvements in environmental sustainability.
Findings The findings are mixed; the level of corruption does not appear to always be negatively
associated with environmental sustainability as was expected.
Research limitations/implications The research is limited by the availability of data from reliable
sources over a period of time. The corruption data, while the best available, are based on opinions and
perceptions. Only selected aspects of a countrys environmental sustainability were examin ed; these
included the Environmental Sustainability Index, evaluations of selected countries; policies and
institutions; and the improvement in the percent of th e population with access to safe drinking water.
Social implications In general, the less corruption, the better the record of environmental
sustainability. However, corruption may not be a negative influence on specific selected aspects of
environmental sustainability as would be anticipated.
Originality/value This study examines selected aspects of the potential relationships between
corruption and environmental sustainability measures. There is little, if any, research into this
relationship.
Keywords Sustainability, Sustainable development, Sustainable environment,
UN Millennium Development Goals
Paper type Research paper
Introduction and background
In 2000, under the sponsorship of the United Nations (UN), the leaders of many nations
came together at the Millennium Summit and committed their nations to a new global
partnership. The purpose of this partnership was to reduce extreme poverty in the
world with time-bound quantified targets. The eight goals that were developed at this
summit became known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Included among
the goals was one goal specific to the environment, Goal No. 7 was ensuring
environmental sustainability.
This environmental goal included four specific targets:
(1) integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and
programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources;
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 12 No. 2, 2015
pp. 90-99
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/WJSTSD-02-2015-0007
Received 19 February 2015
Revised 19 February 2015
Accepted 2 March 2015
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
90
WJSTSD
12,2

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