Reforming money politics to reduce environmental harm

Money politics undermines governance when campaign finance and lobbying serve as tools for undue influence. One overlooked consequence is environmental harm. Industries with vested interests often channel money into politics to weaken regulations and delay reforms. Evidence links political finance to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and reform efforts are emerging – such as civil society monitoring, international transparency initiatives, and national advocacy campaigns – alongside proposed actions to strengthen oversight and reduce corruption-driven environmental damage.