Power, Responsibility, and Accountability

The report argues that for climate finance to be effective and legitimate, there must be a redistribution of power from traditional contributor countries to recipient countries, enhancing national ownership. It suggests a hybrid approach of reforming existing institutions, such as Multilateral Development Banks, while creating new global and national mechanisms to meet the scale of the climate challenge. The authors emphasize the need for strengthened national institutions in developing countries, increased civil society monitoring, and a governance framework based on the three dimensions of power, responsibility, and accountability.

• A future global deal on climate finance will likely require a significant redistribution of power, responsibility, and accountability from traditional contributor countries to recipient countries to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of investments.
• To achieve the necessary scale of funding, the international community will need both the reform of existing financial institutions—many of which have historically supported fossil fuel growth—and the creation of new financial mechanisms at both global and national levels.
• There is a deep ideological divide in negotiations: developed countries prefer using existing institutions they control, while developing countries view these institutions as tools for contributor interests and prefer new mechanisms.
• Short-term climate finance delivery will likely require a combination of new and reformed mechanisms due to political complexities, using existing institutions while improving COP guidance and national planning.
• To improve legitimacy, the international community should identify revenue sources, such as new levies or long-term commitments, that are independent of the discretion of contributor governments.
• Climate finance should prioritize strengthening the national institutions of recipient countries to ensure transparency and accountability to their own citizens and the international community.
• The 2009 Copenhagen Accord established a goal to mobilize USD 100 billion annually by 2020 for developing countries, but disputes remain regarding the proportion of public versus private funding and the institutional delivery method.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Power, Responsibility, and Accountability. https://www.wri.org/research/power-responsibility-and-accountability

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Power, Responsibility, and Accountability. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/power-responsibility-and-accountability.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Power, Responsibility, and Accountability |url=https://www.wri.org/research/power-responsibility-and-accountability |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendpower, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Power, Responsibility, and Accountability}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/power-responsibility-and-accountability}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }