Transformative Transparency in Environmental Governance

This research paper examines the conditions under which transparency leads to transformative change in environmental governance, specifically analyzing the relationship between transparency, accountability mechanisms, and power structures. Using the case of climate finance under the Paris Agreement, the authors argue that transparency alone is insufficient for an equitable climate policy regime if accountability and compliance are weak.

• The authors propose a theoretical framework that views transparency as a 'terrain of political conflict' where various coalitions pursue interests, acknowledging both the structural constraints on transformation and the agency of less powerful actors.
• The ability of transparency to transform inequality depends on a cascading process where transparency norms are recognized, translated into accountability mechanisms, and subsequently complied with.
• In the specific case of climate finance under the Paris Agreement, the study finds that while strong transparency norms exist, the translation into accountability mechanisms is weak and donor country compliance is limited, meaning transparency alone will likely not achieve an adequate and equitable climate policy regime.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2018). Transformative Transparency in Environmental Governance. https://www.sei.org/publications/transformative-transparency-environmental-governance/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Transformative Transparency in Environmental Governance. 2018. https://www.sei.org/publications/transformative-transparency-environmental-governance/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Transformative Transparency in Environmental Governance |date=10 August 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/transformative-transparency-environmental-governance/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2018transformative, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Transformative Transparency in Environmental Governance}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/transformative-transparency-environmental-governance/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }