This Week

Business, People and Planet Three Developments This Week

In Brief

I hope these updates are helpful to you in your work. For further information on each area, click on the hyperlinked text. Please do reach out if you have any feedback. My brief summaries of reports are not intended to replace reading the full reports which I encourage you to do if you have time! I repeat, and at times adjust, language from reports in summaries – you can click on the links to the full reports for exact quotes, if you need them. And many thanks to Maddie Wolberg for supporting me in this endeavour.

Week of 22 February 2021

Making peace with nature means grappling with humanity’s impact on climate, biodiversity and beyond

Week of 22 February 2021 Making peace with nature means grappling with humanity’s impact on climate, biodiversity and beyond What...

Digital labour platforms are delivering social and economic benefits, but at a cost to workers

Week of 22 February 2021 Digital labour platforms are delivering social and economic benefits, but at a cost to workers...

Ranking Digital Rights: “Machines betray us again and again, yet we are more dependent on them now than ever before.”

Week of 22 February 2021 Ranking Digital Rights: “Machines betray us again and again, yet we are more dependent on...

Money talks (about climate risk and how to manage it)

Week of 15 February 2021 Money talks (about climate risk and how to manage it) Last month, BlackRock’s Chairman and...

The new European law should push directors to longer-term thinking; explicitly amending director duties could be overkill

Week of 15 February 2021 The new European law should push directors to longer-term thinking; explicitly amending director duties could...

No point in developing human rights policies and processes if the company’s culture is at odds with them

Week of 15 February 2021 No point in developing human rights policies and processes if the company’s culture is at...

SOS: Urgent action on the part of the private sector to dislodge the military regime in Myanmar needed

Week of 8 February 2021 SOS: Urgent action on the part of the private sector to dislodge the military regime...

Influential companies in high-emitting sectors take note: you will be ranked on both your reduction of emissions and how you address social challenges of a low-carbon transition

Week of 8 February 2021 Influential companies in high-emitting sectors take note: you will be ranked on both your reduction...

Now that human rights due diligence is becoming the law, the next question becomes how can regulators assess the seriousness of efforts taken by companies

Week of 8 February 2021 Now that human rights due diligence is becoming the law, the next question becomes how...

Like it or not, companies are now a part of global governance and expected to act to defend shrinking civic space

Week of 1 February 2021 Like it or not, companies are now a part of global governance and expected to...

Prevent climate-related human rights harms through enhanced ambition for rights-based climate action

Week of 1 February 2021 Prevent climate-related human rights harms through enhanced ambition for rights-based climate action We can’t take...

We can’t make social, economic, technological or environmental progress without protecting people

Week of 1 February 2021 We can’t make social, economic, technological or environmental progress without protecting people “Leave no one...

Larry Fink to all CEOs: Tectonic shifts are happening and now is the time to prepare for a net zero transition that is just, equitable, and protects people’s livelihoods

Week of 25 January 2021 Larry Fink to all CEOs: Tectonic shifts are happening and now is the time to...

Tackling modern slavery in your company’s supply chain? Consider your role in altering the rules of the game, empowering people and changing exploiter incentives

Week of 25 January 2021 Tackling modern slavery in your company’s supply chain? Consider your role in altering the rules...

A lot to accomplish in 2021 on sustainable business, including putting people at the centre of circular economy models

Week of 25 January 2021 A lot to accomplish in 2021 on sustainable business, including putting people at the centre...

Let us put the global cooperation clinic on speed dial as the ramifications of COVID-19 shape the effectiveness of our response to climate change

Week of 18 January 2021 Calling the global cooperation clinic as the ramifications of COVID-19 shape the effectiveness of our...

If you want to know how workers feel about their working conditions: ask them. Workers in food and footwear supply chains have a lot to share

Week of 18 January 2021 If you want to know how workers feel about their working conditions: ask them. Workers...

What does human rights due diligence for climate change impacts look like?

Week of 18 January 2021 What does human rights due diligence for climate change impacts look like? As laws on...

Move over governments: Business now only institution seen as both competent and ethical

Week of 11 January 2021 Move over governments: Business now only institution seen as both competent and ethical According to...

Human rights due diligence is holistic and includes – you guessed it – climate risk

Week of 11 January 2021 Human rights due diligence is holistic and includes – you guessed it – climate risk...

Calling all company boards: where are your ESG experts?

Week of 11 January 2021 Calling all company boards: where are your ESG experts? Responsible corporate boards seek to understand,...

The cost of climate change in 2020? Financial losses in the billions and thousands of lives lost

Week of 4 January 2021 The cost of climate change in 2020? Financial losses in the billions and thousands of...

Journalism: deadly profession, with 50 killed in 2020 for reporting news we need to know

Week of 4 January 2021 Journalism: deadly profession, with 50 killed in 2020 for reporting news we need to know...

The end of secrecy for individuals hiding behind companies to engage in criminal activity and human rights harm

Week of 4 January 2021 The end of secrecy for individuals hiding behind companies to engage in criminal activity and...

A turning point for climate action?

Week of 14 December 2020 A turning point for climate action? Five years on, the world is still behind on...

Human rights are a “binding bridge” between the UNGPs and the SDGs

Week of 14 December 2020 Human rights are a “binding bridge” between the UNGPs and the SDGs Backed by international...

Time for the next phase of sustainability disclosures

Week of 14 December 2020 Time for the next phase of sustainability disclosures When it was implemented in 2014, the...

2020 was a global turning point for human rights, but 2021 is the time for action

Week of 7 December 2020 2020 was a global turning point for human rights, but 2021 is the time for...

Mind the (emissions) gap

Week of 7 December 2020 Mind the (emissions) gap UNEP’s annual emission gap report is here and the results show...

Sustainable investing is becoming part of the mainstream, but with a few caveats

Week of 7 December 2020 Sustainable investing is becoming part of the mainstream, but with a few caveats “Sustainability is...

For Swiss companies competing in the global marketplace, due diligence is still the name of the game – regardless of Sunday’s referendum result

Week of 30 November 2020 For Swiss companies competing in the global marketplace, due diligence is still the name of...

While COVID-19 is slowing down travel and the economy, it’s not relieving migrant workers of the burden of recruitment fees – quite the contrary

Week of 30 November 2020 While COVID-19 is slowing down travel and the economy, it’s not relieving migrant workers of...

Global Games … and global gains for human rights

Week of 30 November 2020 Global Games … and global gains for human rights The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive...

It’s time for companies to put their money where their mouth is on racial inequality

Week of 23 November 2020 It’s time for companies to put their money where their mouth is on racial inequality...

Nailing down the details of the EU Green Deal: what is a ‘sustainable’ economic activity anyway?

Week of 23 November 2020 Nailing down the details of the EU Green Deal: what is a ‘sustainable’ economic activity...

How to operationalise stakeholder capitalism? Through human rights due diligence

Week of 23 November 2020 How to operationalise stakeholder capitalism? Through human rights due diligence Putting ‘stakeholder capitalism’ into practice...

The business and human rights community came together this week: we shared insights, swapped lessons learned and confronted our challenges – all through our screens

Week of 16 November 2020 The business and human rights community came together this week: we shared insights, swapped lessons...

Just transition you say? Not without business and human rights good practice

Week of 16 November 2020 Just transition you say? Not without business and human rights good practice There is increasing...

Company scorecards are out – and it’s a C for effort, and an E for impact

Week of 16 November 2020 Company scorecards are out – and it’s a C for effort, and an E for...

Biden-Harris buzzwords: climate action, economic equality, racial justice and workers’ rights

Week of 9 November 2020 Biden-Harris buzzwords: climate action, economic equality, racial justice and workers’ rights The election of President-elect...

By 2040, every UK customer will be able to make purchases – in store and online – knowing that they are not contributing to climate change: that’s the plan

Week of 9 November 2020 By 2040, every UK customer will be able to make purchases – in store and...

For investors, the future for companies is paved with signposts (spoiler alert: signposts are named stakeholder primacy, social issues, intersection of social with environmental issues, transparency, and executive compensation)

Week of 9 November 2020 For investors, the future for companies is paved with signposts (spoiler alert: signposts are named...

COVID 19 crisis + millions of workers already in vulnerable situations = devastating consequences

Week of 2 November 2020 COVID 19 crisis + millions of workers already in vulnerable situations = devastating consequences The...

The sixth round of negotiations on the UN’s draft treaty on business and human rights has concluded – and the discussions continue to be lively

Week of 2 November 2020 The sixth round of negotiations on the UN’s draft treaty on business and human rights...

Are companies mining with meaning, i.e., are they managing their human rights risks in the shift to clean energy? No – is the answer from a recent study

Week of 2 November 2020 Are companies mining with meaning, i.e., are they managing their human rights risks in the...

Note to commissioner Reynders: as human rights due diligence becomes EU law, don’t forget that the UN Guiding Principles already define it!

Week of 26 October 2020 Note to commissioner Reynders: as human rights due diligence becomes EU law, don’t forget that...

How to bridge and amplify the narratives of sustainability, inequality, stakeholder capitalism, ESG and human and social capital? You guessed it – through the narrative of business and human rights

Week of 26 October 2020 How to bridge and amplify the narratives of sustainability, inequality, stakeholder capitalism, ESG and human...

Investors, are you feeling the human rights heat yet? Do you know what to do about it?

Week of 26 October 2020 Investors, are you feeling the human rights heat yet? Do you know what to do...

‘Add diversity and stir’ is not working for business

Week of 19 October 2020 ‘Add diversity and stir’ is not working for business: the missing ingredient is a learning-and-effectiveness...

Title for ‘Third National Action Plan in Asia’ goes to Japan —but staying on the podium will depend on future implementation efforts

Week of 19 October 2020 Title for ‘Third National Action Plan in Asia’ goes to Japan — but staying on...

Reduced prices, delayed payments, late shipment fees: it’s not a walk in the park for suppliers in global apparel supply chains

Week of 19 October 2020 Reduced prices, delayed payments, late shipment fees: it’s not a walk in the park for...

Another cross-border lawsuit using the new French duty of vigilance law

Week of 12 October 2020 Another cross-border lawsuit using the new French duty of vigilance law The indigenous Zapotec community...

Food and beverage companies are ranked once again: greater effort needed on purchasing practices and worker voice

Week of 12 October 2020 Food and beverage companies are ranked once again: greater effort needed on purchasing practices and...

Carbon emissions declined during COVID but it’s still not enough. Institutional investors are responding with specific 2025 emissions reduction targets

Week of 12 October 2020 Carbon emissions declined during COVID… but it’s still not enough. Institutional investors are responding with...

Mandatory human rights due diligence (HRDD) being debated at the EU level will help level the playing field so long as it (1) is accompanied by consequences (i.e. liability) strong enough to ensure companies do carry out HRDD, (2) is accompanied by accountability measures that incentivize companies to look at their full value chain – beyond those business partners that may give rise to liability risks, and (3) supports companies to conduct ‘quality’ HRDD, which includes certain key features of internal governance (Shift)

Week of 5 October 2020 Mandatory human rights due diligence (HRDD) being debated at the EU level will help level...

Clothing retailer Boohoo’s directors knew for a fact that there were very serious issues about the treatment of factory workers in Leicester and whilst it put in place a programme intended to remedy this, it did not move quickly enough. Recommendations to the company include enhancing visibility of the full supply chain, promoting Tier 2 suppliers to Tier 1, establishing a new senior-level governance mechanism, having supply chain compliance as a standing item on every Board meeting agenda, educating buyers in the actual cost of fabricating garments, conducting due diligence and engaging suppliers (Alison Levitt QC Report)

Week of 5 October 2020 Clothing retailer Boohoo’s directors knew for a fact that there were very serious issues about...

JPMorgan Chase, which has the largest loan exposures to fossil fuel companies of any bank, committed to setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for its portfolio in line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement. This move comes as climate activists, consumers and regulators put pressure on financial actors to take action on climate change, and signals a growing momentum towards financial sector accountability for the environmental and social impacts of their investments and loans (JPMorgan Chase)

Week of 5 October 2020 JPMorgan Chase, which has the largest loan exposures to fossil fuel companies of any bank,...

152 million children are in child labour, and it is becoming more prevalent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic This challenge will exacerbate gaps in some countries’ efforts to end child labour, which in 2019 included policies that prevent or fail to support refugee, migrant, indigenous, disabled and rural children from attending school or accessing social services; corruption that precludes adequate legal enforcement; under-resourced and unempowered labour inspectorates; and a lack of laws and penalties to enforce minimum age of work and prevent children from undertaking hazardous or exploitative work (U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs)

Week of 28 September 2020 152 million children are in child labour, and it is becoming more prevalent in the...

New Zealand is seeking to introduce the world’s first regulatory regime requiring institutions with over NZ$1bn in assets under management to disclose their climate risks following the framework set out by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD); the policy would cover approximately 90% of assets under management in the country and call for information on climate-related governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets (Minister for Climate Change, New Zealand Ministry of the Environment)

Week of 28 September 2020 New Zealand is seeking to introduce the world’s first regulatory regime requiring institutions with over...

European companies that produce spyware and wiretapping tools export such technologies to a number of countries with poor human rights reputations where such technology can be used to monitor and crack down on journalists, dissidents and other individuals. The EU’s export regulation framework needs to be updated to tackle the growing EU biometric surveillance industry which is forecasted to experience at least five-fold growth by 2025 worldwide. In particular, facial recognition software linked to GPS location data is increasingly used (e.g. in China against the Uyghur ethnic minority group) to track individuals and groups, identify their ethnicity, analyse their behaviour and impose wide-ranging restrictions on their movement (Amnesty International)

Week of 28 September 2020 European companies that produce spyware and wiretapping tools export such technologies to a number of...

The European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs proposes text for the corporate due diligence and corporate accountability directive that EU Member States would transpose into national law. This new law would apply both to companies in the EU as well as companies providing goods and services in the internal market. It would require companies to conduct due diligence on human rights, environment (including climate change) and governance risks, with specific requirements to engage stakeholders and trade unions, create grievance mechanisms, provide remedy, and ensure boards and senior managers have the necessary responsibility and expertise (The European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs)

Week of 21 September 2020 The European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs proposes text for the corporate due diligence and...

The UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015 will undergo changes to strengthen implementation, effectiveness and compliance. The UK Home Office has committed to mandating which areas statements must cover, making statements available on a Government-run reporting service and instituting a single reporting deadline to increase accountability and public awareness. It is also extending reporting requirements to public sector supply chains and will be considering stronger enforcement options, such as civil penalties for non-compliance (Home Office, Government of the United Kingdom)

Week of 21 September 2020 The UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015 will undergo changes to strengthen implementation, effectiveness and...

Corporate commitments to purpose, such as those espoused by the Business Roundtable in 2019, are not clear indicators of a company’s future performance on social and human capital issues during times of crisis. Rather, companies that have a history of effectively and proactively managing challenging social issues are more likely to perform positively in the face of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the movement for social equality (KKS Advisors and Test of Corporate Purpose initiative)

Week of 21 September 2020 Corporate commitments to purpose, such as those espoused by the Business Roundtable in 2019, are...

For the first time, a U.S. regulatory body has found that climate change poses serious emerging risks to the US financial system, and calls on policymakers to take urgent and decisive steps to address these risks, including by implementing economy-wide carbon pricing, mandatory corporate climate-risk disclosure, and standardized reporting on risks and emissions (Subcommittee on Climate-Related Market Risk of the Committee on Market Risk Advisory, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission)

Week of 14 September 2020 For the first time, a U.S. regulatory body has found that climate change poses serious...

Investor and civil society pressure played a significant role in Rio Tinto’s removal of its CEO and two other senior leaders following the company’s reliance on a legal permit to destroy sacred Aboriginal sites in Australia; this outcome—which impacts the top leadership of one of the largest mining companies in the world—is a powerful indicator of a growing shift towards investors holding companies accountable for their impacts on human rights and demonstrates to senior leadership that legal compliance is insufficient where the laws fall short of international standards

Week of 14 September 2020 Investor and civil society pressure played a significant role in Rio Tinto’s removal of its...

There is a need to quantify and measure human rights impacts in a meaningful, robust way. This should entail (1) measuring data that provides a stronger indicator of actual impacts on people such as freedom of association, ratio of full employees to contract workers, CEO-worker pay ratios, and gender and racial equity and pay gaps, (2) measuring underlying structural factors that can be determiners of human rights risks, such as business model, corporate culture and governance and (3) moving away from metrics that can generate perverse incentives not to find issues (Caroline Rees and Robert G. Eccles)

Week of 14 September 2020 There is a need to quantify and measure human rights impacts in a meaningful, robust...

As companies and investors seek to scale up climate action to meet the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement, green bonds have become prevalent tools to finance investments in climate mitigation solutions. Yet, they exclude companies and activities with some of the highest greenhouse gas emissions levels. Proposed ‘transition bonds’ can be leveraged to help large emitters reimagine themselves in a world that has renewed priorities for greenhouse gas management and climate resilience (Climate Bonds Initiative and Credit Suisse)

Week of 7 September 2020 As companies and investors seek to scale up climate action to meet the targets of...

When operating in conflict-affected areas, companies have a responsibility to conduct heightened human rights due diligence which includes seeking out conflict-sensitive resources and advisors, incorporating atrocity prevention and conflict prevention tools into due diligence, developing conflict-sensitive operational-level grievance mechanisms, actively engaging local communities and groups, applying a gender-responsive approach, and actively participating in truth and reconciliation processes (UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights)

Week of 7 September 2020 When operating in conflict-affected areas, companies have a responsibility to conduct heightened human rights due...

New evidence shows that revenue from a Myanmar conglomerate (Myanma Economic Holdings – MEHL) finances the Myanmar military and the atrocities committed, including the recent genocide against the Rohingya Muslims. Companies that have business relationships with MEHL are viewed as financing the military’s human rights violations and – faced with MEHL’s secrecy and lack of leverage – have no other option than to disengage responsibly (Amnesty International)

Week of 7 September 2020 New evidence shows that revenue from a Myanmar conglomerate (Myanma Economic Holdings – MEHL) finances...

Qatar has introduced new labour laws: the country is establishing the first minimum wage in the Gulf States, which will increase the wages of 400,000 migrant workers by 33%. The country is also dismantling the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system and enabling migrant workers to change employers, and exit and enter the country for work more easily. Observers welcomed the reforms in the context of the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which relies heavily on migrant labour in the construction sector, and are now focused on implementation.

Week of 31 August 2020 Qatar has introduced new labour laws: the country is establishing the first minimum wage in...

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency issued its first penalty (of $575,000) against a company (Pure Circle) for importing goods (stevia leaves) into the U.S. processed in China with prison labour; we are seeing growing use of Section 307 of the U.S. Tariff Act to push companies to remove forced labour from their supply chains, with recent scrutiny on goods produced with cotton from the Xinjiang region of China

Week of 31 August 2020 The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency issues its first penalty (of $575,000) against a...

Biodiversity loss is a systemic risk, and the unprecedented loss of biodiversity places more than half of the world’s gross domestic product (US$44 trillion) at risk. Institutional investors are urged to take action, including by (1) promoting investor awareness, commitments and initiatives; (2) investing in companies that protect biodiversity; (3) engaging with companies to promote biodiversity objectives; (4) advocating for strong biodiversity regulation; and (5) requesting meaningful data on biodiversity risks and impacts (Principles for Responsible Investment)

Week of 31 August 2020 Biodiversity loss is a systemic risk, and the unprecedented loss of biodiversity places more than...

The UK Government is seeking public comment on a proposal to implement due diligence legislation requiring companies to root out commodity-driven deforestation from their supply chains. The proposal builds on recent UK commitments to halt climate change and aid the growth of climate-resilient agriculture in developing countries, and echoes regulations being considered by the EU, Germany and others to implement mandatory due diligence (UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Week of 24 August 2020 The UK Government is seeking public comment on a proposal to implement due diligence legislation...

As risk managers, insurers and investors, the insurance industry plays an important role in promoting economic, social and environmental sustainability. Insurance companies can manage ESG risks in their business by taking 8 steps: (1) developing an ESG approach; (2) establishing an ESG risk appetite; (3) integrating ESG issues throughout the organisation; (4) establishing clear roles and responsibilities for ESG issues; (5) escalating ESG risks to decision-makers; (6) detecting and analysing ESG risks; (7) making strategic decisions on ESG risks; and (8) tracking and reporting publicly on ESG risks (UNEP-FI Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative)

Week of 24 August 2020 As risk managers, insurers and investors, the insurance industry plays an important role in promoting...

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging technology like contact tracing apps has arisen as a key tool to track the spread of the virus and protect public health. Faced with a growing risk of governments using these technologies to violate human rights and exacerbate conflict, tech companies have a responsibility to address the impacts of their products, including collectively through multi-stakeholder initiatives and individually through strong policies and oversight mechanisms (JustPeace Labs)

Week of 24 August 2020 In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging technology like contact tracing apps has arisen...

One year on from the Business Roundtable statement, corporate purpose has been widely adopted by companies without a shared understanding of what this means in practice. A new initiative launched this week to provide a SCORE (Simplify, Connect, Own, Reward and Exemplify) framework to guide boards of directors in embedding and enacting purpose-led strategies in business decision-making (the Enacting Purpose Initiative)

Week of 17 August 2020 One year on from the Business Roundtable statement, corporate purpose has been widely adopted by...

As the post-pandemic recovery ramps up, investors should engage strategically with policymakers to ensure that recovery plans are inclusive, sustainable and promote respect for human rights and the environment. Recommended actions include aligning engagement with investment objectives, working within the resource constraints and timelines of public policymaking processes and providing technical expertise, working collaboratively with other investors, influencing public debate through the policy process and the media, and being transparent about the investment impacts of policies (Principles for Responsible Investment)

Week of 17 August 2020 As the post-pandemic recovery ramps up, investors should engage strategically with policymakers to ensure that...

A survey of 2,000 Americans found that, while companies are viewed as having an equal responsibility to all of their stakeholders, over half of respondents don’t believe companies are having a positive impact on workers. Corporations are perceived to be having the greatest negative impacts on the environment, workers’ financial well-being, and workers’ health and well-being (JUST Capital)

Week of 17 August 2020 A survey of 2,000 Americans found that, while companies are viewed as having an equal...

There are seven key problem drivers that contribute to corporate short-termism within EU publicly traded companies. A possible future EU action in the area of company law and corporate governance should pursue the objective of fostering more sustainable corporate governance and contributing to more accountability for companies’ sustainable value creation (European Commission-commissioned study)

Week of 10 August 2020 Technology business models and the rapidly evolving landscape of the technology sector create conditions enabling...

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers should protect the rights and health of migrant workers in their own operations and supply chains by protecting their physical and mental health, ensuring safe living and working conditions, providing economic support, implementing ethical recruitment practices, requiring suppliers to implement safeguards for their own workers and conducting due diligence in supply chains (IOM and ICC)

Week of 10 August 2020 In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers should protect the rights and health of...

Garment workers around the world are owed in between 3.19 and 5.78 billion USD in unpaid wages for the first three months of the pandemic. Brands are asked to both sign onto the ILO-coordinated Covid-19 Action Plan for the Garment Industry and to take specific, enforceable measures to ensure workers in their supply chain will receive their wages and benefits, including back pay or severance pay (Clean Clothes Campaign)

Week of 10 August 2020 Garment workers around the world are owed in between 3.19 and 5.78 billion USD in...

Technology business models and the rapidly evolving landscape of the technology sector create conditions enabling tech companies to adversely impact human rights. Companies, their investors and policymakers must conduct human rights due diligence, increase transparency and consider the wide-reaching human rights impacts of tech products and services throughout their lifecycle (OHCHR B-Tech Project)

Week of 3 August 2020 Technology business models and the rapidly evolving landscape of the technology sector create conditions enabling...

Investors are uniquely positioned to (and have a responsibility to) conduct due diligence and leverage their collective influence to help end state-sanctioned forced labour in Xinjiang, China; there are a number of concrete actions they can take today with civil society, industry, governments and international organisations (Investor Alliance for Human Rights)

Week of 3 August 2020 Investors are uniquely positioned to (and have a responsibility to) conduct due diligence and leverage...

A Thai civil court has agreed to grant class-action status to a case filed by over 700 Cambodian families seeking remedy for the seizure of farmlands and razing of homes and crops by a Thai company in Cambodia; the decision by the court marks the first transboundary class-action lawsuit in Southeast Asia for adverse human rights impacts and could have implications for future corporate accountability cases in the region (Smit Tit, Hoy Mai & Others vs. Mitr Phol Co. Ltd)

Week of 3 August 2020 A Thai civil court has agreed to grant class-action status to a case filed by...

2019 saw a record 212 killings of land and environmental defenders globally, with actual killings likely higher in number. Over half of all reported killings occurred in Colombia and the Philippines; Latin America experienced the most killings of any region; and indigenous communities and women are particularly vulnerable. Killings have significantly increased in the logging sector, and are high in the mining, extractives and agribusiness sectors (Global Witness)

Week of 27 July 2020 2019 saw a record 212 killings of land and environmental defenders globally, with actual killings...

Since 2017, over 1 million Uyghurs have been detained in ‘re-education’ camps in Xinjiang, China, and forced to work in factories that supply companies – including in the apparel and textiles sector and food sector. A coalition of organizations and trade unions calls on companies to trace their supply chains and end sourcing of goods produced with forced labour (Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region)

Week of 27 July 2020 Since 2017, over 1 million Uyghurs have been detained in ‘re-education’ camps in Xinjiang, China,...

Companies should stop framing their responses to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement as voluntary: they need to consider ways (1) to support workers participating in protests, (2) in which their own operations, products of services could be connected to racial discrimination and (3) to meaningfully inform their BLM advocacy, through engagement with affected stakeholders (Shift)

Week of 27 July 2020 Companies should stop framing their responses to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement as voluntary:...

A review of 40 standard-setting multi-stakeholder initiatives shows that such initiatives can play the role of bringing stakeholders together to influence norms and laws, but are failing to strengthen corporate accountability, transparency and access to remedy for human rights impacts (MSI Integrity)

Week of 20 July 2020 A review of 40 standard-setting multi-stakeholder initiatives shows that such initiatives can play the role...

The global pandemic brings an opportunity for food retailers to recognize workers’ and farmers’ true value. A “transformative change” would include designing meaningful metrics, enabling senior ownership, incentivizing suppliers, training purchasing and supply chain management to become champions of human rights due diligence, pushing investors to take a long-term stakeholder value approach and engaging in advocacy with governments (Oxfam)

Week of 20 July 2020 The global pandemic brings an opportunity for food retailers to recognize workers’ and farmers’ true...

The anti-corruption and business and human rights agendas are closely interconnected, with corruption-related human rights abuses occurring in particular in public procurement and concessions, land acquisition, health and pharmaceutical supply chains and the extractive sector. Companies can leverage anti-corruption compliance to embed consideration of risks to people into core business processes (UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights)

Week of 20 July 2020 The anti-corruption and business and human rights agendas are closely interconnected, with corruption-related human rights...

Momentum is building quickly for mandatory human rights diligence legislation; effective legislation needs to take into account scope, substance, enforcement mechanisms, policy coherence and consistency across jurisdictions (OHCHR)

Week of 13 July 2020 Momentum is building quickly for mandatory human rights diligence legislation; effective legislation needs to take...

Five strategies used by companies to avoid responsibility (for human rights and environmental impacts) are constructing deniability, avoiding liability through judicial strategies, distracting and obfuscating, undermining defenders and communities and utilising state power (Mind The Gap)

Week of 13 July 2020 Five strategies used by companies to avoid responsibility (for human rights and environmental impacts) are...

Commodity-driven deforestation is linked to climate change and poses risks to investors and companies, as well as to broader society; meeting climate targets requires addressing supply chain deforestation and there are a number of areas related to targets, policy, supply chain implementation and disclosure that investors should push companies on (Ceres)

Week of 13 July 2020 Commodity-driven deforestation is linked to climate change and poses risks to investors and companies, as...

As the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights launches the UNGPs10+/NextDecadeBHR project, global leaders reflect on priorities, including national and EU due diligence legislation, protection of environmental and human rights defenders, access to remedy for victims, a just climate transition, the role of investors and alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

Week of 6 July 2020 As the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights launches the UNGPs10+/NextDecadeBHR project, global...

The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear appeals by Nestlé and Cargill to dismiss allegations of complicity in child labor and slavery in cocoa supply chains in Côte d’Ivoire; the Supreme Court’s decision will have significant implications on the use of the Alien Tort Statute to bring U.S. companies to court for violations of international human rights law abroad (John Doe I et al v. Nestlé et al)

Week of 6 July 2020 The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear appeals by Nestlé and Cargill to dismiss allegations...

As the COVID-19 pandemic creates a “new normal” for countries, companies and communities globally, upcoming trends include the strengthening of the sustainable energy transition, the shift to sustainable transportation options, a greater need for improved ESG data and for credit ratings agencies to play a stronger role, and the push from citizens and consumers for governments and companies to be taking actions aimed at addressing climate change (Generation Investment Management LLP)

Week of 6 July 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic creates a “new normal” for countries, companies and communities globally, upcoming...

With a decade left to achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, businesses have made progress in creating internal awareness and setting goals on climate and decent work, but struggle to integrate the SDGs into their core business strategies and create ambitious, targeted goals for social goals. The UN Global Compact launches an urgent call to action with specific asks of all companies for the next ‘Decade of Action’.

Week of 29 June 2020 With a decade left to achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, businesses have made...

Women workers are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are more likely to work in sectors severely affected economically as well as the health and social work sector, and they suffer from unequal distribution of family care and increases in domestic violence; there are risks of regressing on gender equality (ILO)

Week of 29 June 2020 Women workers are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are more likely to work...

The transition to a net-zero carbon economy is necessary, but in a way that considers the rights of workers and neighbouring communities; a new benchmark reveals significant risks of harm taking place in the renewable energy sector, including killings, threats, and intimidation; land grabs; dangerous working conditions and poverty wages; and harm to indigenous peoples’ lives and livelihoods (Business & Human Rights Resource Centre)

Week of 29 June 2020 The transition to a net-zero carbon economy is necessary, but in a way that considers...

2019-2020 has seen a rise in repression of workers’ rights by governments and employers globally, with violations of workers’ rights hitting a seven-year high; breakdowns in rights to freedom of association, speech and collective bargaining pose challenges for companies seeking to responsibly operate in or source from a number of countries (ITUC Global Rights Index 2020)

Week of 22 June 2020 2019-2020 has seen a rise in repression of workers’ rights by governments and employers globally,...

As the EU develops its proposed 2021 mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, two briefing papers commissioned by the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights make concrete recommendations to the European Parliament on how to ensure the legislation is robust, actionable and enforceable

Week of 22 June 2020 As the EU develops its proposed 2021 mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, two briefing...

The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing and in some cases deepening systemic inequalities in global economies, particularly for low-wage essential workers at the frontlines; U.S. supermarket companies are viewed as failing to protect their vulnerable workers at a time of heightened risk and insecurity and are being asked to strengthen their policies (Oxfam)

Week of 22 June 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing and in some cases deepening systemic inequalities in global economies,...

The U.S. Supreme Court finds that an employer who fires an individual for being gay or transgender engages in unlawful discrimination which violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia)

Week of 15 June 2020 The U.S. Supreme Court finds that an employer who fires an individual for being gay...

Following COVID-19, we are likely to see millions more children pushed into child labour after 20 years of progress, linked to the increase in poverty, growth of the informal sector, decline in international remittances, lack of access to credit and schools, shift in foreign direct investment to industries prone to hiring children and COVID-19-related deaths and illnesses (ILO and UNICEF)

Week of 15 June 2020 Following COVID-19, we are likely to see millions more children pushed into child labour after...

In 2019, OECD National Contact Points decided a number of cases, including related to company responsibility for climate targets, bank responsibility for ensuring clients respect indigenous peoples’ rights, online platform responsibility for harmful content and responsibility for remediation to harmed communities; a number of structural barriers to NCPs’ effectiveness remain (OECD Watch)

Week of 15 June 2020 In 2019, OECD National Contact Points decided a number of cases, including related to company...

Few company grievance mechanisms are fulfilling their envisaged role and rights holders continue to report significant problems with identifying, accessing and using such mechanisms in practice; companies should consider a number of steps to enhance remedy, including focusing on meaningful stakeholder engagement (according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – OHCHR)

Week of 8 June 2020 Few company grievance mechanisms are fulfilling their envisaged role and rights holders continue to report...

A Swiss referendum will take place in late 2020 on whether voters want Swiss companies to have civil liability for failing to prevent human rights and environmental violations in their supply chains; this follows Swiss parliament’s decision to reject the provisions of the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative

Week of 8 June 2020 A Swiss referendum will take place in late 2020 on whether voters want Swiss companies...

Making human rights due diligence work for farmers and textile workers will require a specific focus on (1) fair purchasing practices, living wages and living incomes and (2) addressing systemic issues such as unequal power relations, land tenure security and environmental damage (according to University of Greenwich, The Fair Trade Advocacy Office and Brot für die Welt)

Week of 8 June 2020 Making human rights due diligence work for farmers and textile workers will require a specific...

Week of 1 June 2020

“The theme for World Environment Day, 5 June 2020 is biodiversity — a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. … The good news is that we can reverse the trends of biodiversity loss by reimagining our relationship with nature and acting now to increase ambition and accountability for its protection. We must conserve and restore wildlife and wild spaces, change the way we produce and consume food, promote environmentally friendly infrastructure and transform economies to become custodians of nature.”

Certain business models carry inherent human rights risks (e.g. selling certain products, operating in certain sectors, relying on certain suppliers and business partners, implementing certain sales-maximization and cost-minimization measures); this needs to be addressed at Board level and cannot be fixed at the operational level (Shift’s Valuing Respect Project)

Week of 1 June 2020 Certain business models carry inherent human rights risks (e.g. selling certain products, operating in certain...

Impacts of COVID-19 on garment supply chain workers continue, with millions left without wages, laid off without severance, or working with reduced pay. As protests continue in Bangladesh and Cambodia, the BHRRC COVID-19 Apparel Tracker links these impacts to brand’s requests for discounts and extended payment times

Week of 1 June 2020 Impacts of COVID-19 on garment supply chain workers continue, with millions left without wages, laid...

Calls for companies to take meaningful action against racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death intensify; company leaders are urged to acknowledge the harm, affirm people’s right to safety and personhood and use their power to effect change (Harvard Business Review)

Week of 1 June 2020 Calls for companies to take meaningful action against racism in the wake of George Floyd’s...

Company quarterly calls can be used to meaningfully discuss ESG, provided the company take specific actions to lay the groundwork for these discussions (with concrete recommendations provided by the NYU Stern School of Business Center for Sustainable Business and Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose)

Week of 25 May 2020 Company quarterly calls can be used to meaningfully discuss ESG, provided the company take specific...

The European Green Deal is placed at the heart of the EU’s recovery strategy, with a European Commission-proposed €1.85 trillion budget to lay the cornerstone for a climate neutral, digital and resilient EU

Week of 25 May 2020 The European Green Deal is placed at the heart of the EU’s recovery strategy, with...

Young people are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The disruption to education and training, combined with job losses and obstacles to finding work and better jobs could lead to a “lockdown generation”, with young people being scarred throughout their working lives (according to the ILO)

Week of 25 May 2020 Young people are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The disruption to education and training,...

An alliance of asset owners and managers finds that addressing risks to people as part of efforts to integrate ESG into investment activities remains widely neglected, and provides guidance on how to thread the UN Guiding Principles throughout ESG practices (Investor Alliance for Human Rights)

Week of 18 May 2020 An alliance of asset owners and managers finds that addressing risks to people as part...

During this period of market turbulence and economic uncertainty, BlackRock (the world’s largest asset manager) finds that sustainable companies fared better (with 94% of sustainable indices outperforming their parent benchmarks in Q1 2020) and investors have preferred sustainable funds (with a 41% increase year-over-year in Q1)

Week of 18 May 2020 During this period of market turbulence and economic uncertainty, BlackRock (the world’s largest asset manager)...

As countries work on economic aid and recovery packages in response to COVID-19, 150 CEOs and business leaders (representing over 5 million employees and a market capitalisation of over $2.4 trillion) call on governments to prioritize a faster and fairer transition from a grey to a green economy, grounded in bold climate action

Week of 18 May 2020 As countries work on economic aid and recovery packages in response to COVID-19, 150 CEOs...

Oil and gas companies have made more ambitious goals for decarbonisation recently, but none of them align with a 2°C scenario; now is the time for investors to establish a net zero standard for the oil and gas sector (according to asset-owner led Transition Pathway Initiative)

Week of 11 May 2020 Oil and gas companies have made more ambitious goals for decarbonisation recently, but none of...

The ILO calls on developing countries to seize the opportunity provided by COVID-19 to accelerate building universal social protection systems and extending sickness benefit coverage to all, including protecting workers in the informal economy, ensuring the protection of incomes and jobs and promoting decent work

Week of 11 May 2020 The ILO calls on developing countries to seize the opportunity provided by COVID-19 to accelerate...

A large number of the world’s largest asset managers are not taking meaningful steps to tackle human rights, do not have commitments to influence corporate behaviour on salient human rights impacts, and have a weak, non-existent or reactive approach to human rights engagement (according to ShareAction)

Week of 11 May 2020 A large number of the world’s largest asset managers are not taking meaningful steps to...

A cross-sectoral group of companies (in the European Corporate Leaders Group) call on the EU to fully commit to a Green Deal and make the case that climate policies will help Europe increase employment as it faces the megatrends of (1) technological change, (2) globalisation, (3) demographic change, and (4) resource scarcity

Week of 4 May 2020 A cross-sectoral group of companies (in the European Corporate Leaders Group) call on the EU...

A growing number of influential companies call on their governments to place climate considerations at the heart of all economic recovery plans (18 companies in the UK, 90 in France, 68 in Germany, 37 at the EU level)

Week of 4 May 2020 A growing number of influential companies call on their governments to place climate considerations at...

There will be a 20% increase in domestic violence due to the lockdowns; this represents 15 million cases in a 3-month lockdown, with an additional 5 million for every additional month of lockdown (according to the UN Population Fund – UNFPA)

Week of 4 May 2020 There will be a 20% increase in domestic violence due to the lockdowns; this represents...

While companies are starting to integrate workforce related issues into financial incentive structures, they are also (i) confusing living wage with minimum wage, (ii) reluctant to provide data on contingent workforce and social dialogue mechanisms and (iii) less able to provide data on implementation of responsible sourcing commitments (according to the Workforce Disclosure Initiative – WDI)

Week of 27 April 2020 While companies are starting to integrate workforce related issues into financial incentive structures, they are...

EU-wide mandatory cross-sectoral human rights and environmental due diligence legislation will form part of the EU’s COVID-19 recovery package; this will feed into the European Green Deal with consultations starting now to feed into a legislative proposal debated at the EU in 2021 (according to the EU Commissioner for Justice)

Week of 27 April 2020 EU-wide mandatory cross-sectoral human rights and environmental due diligence legislation will form part of the...

The equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs will be lost this quarter, as we face a 10.5 per cent decline in global working hours; 1.6 billion informal economy workers (out of 2 billion) are in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed – this represents half of the total global working population of 3.3 billion (according to the ILO)

Week of 27 April 2020 The equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs will be lost this quarter, as we face...

As annual meeting season kicks off in this time of COVID-19, the climate crisis remains a priority for investors; Royal Dutch Shell and Barclays make new commitments, and a recent study describes the full array of engagement strategies – including naming laggards, drafting open letters, coordinating collective engagement and urging policy action – that asset managers are adopting to amplify their influence (Morningstar)

Week of 20 April 2020 As annual meeting season kicks off in this time of COVID-19, the climate crisis remains...

103 investors (representing US$5tn AUM) called this week on all governments to develop, implement, and enforce mandatory human rights due diligence requirements for companies; they argue that this would be good for business, create uniformity and efficiency, and support investors in fulfilling their own responsibility to respect human rights

Week of 20 April 2020 103 investors (representing US$5tn AUM) called this week on all governments to develop, implement, and...

Impacts of COVID-19 on both the food supply side (transport and processing disruption) and the food access side (purchasing power) could double the number of people suffering from acute hunger – from 135 million in 2019, to 265 million in 2020 (according to the UN World Food Programme)

Week of 20 April 2020 Impacts of COVID-19 on both the food supply side (transport and processing disruption) and the...

New guidance (by Business Fights Poverty and Harvard Kennedy School – CRI) provides guidance on the three areas (core business, philanthropy and policy engagement) companies can focus on to mitigate impacts on people’s lives, livelihoods and learning

Week of 13 April 2020 New guidance (by Business Fights Poverty and Harvard Kennedy School – CRI) provides guidance on...

New guidance (by the IFC) describes how COVID-19 may disproportionately impact vulnerable segments of the workforce and provides tips for companies on how to (i) address safety, (ii) protect jobs and address insecurity and (iii) conduct appropriate retrenchment as a last resort

Week of 13 April 2020 New guidance (by the IFC) describes how COVID-19 may disproportionately impact vulnerable segments of the...

New guidance (by the IHRB) examines companies’ responsibilities for workers and affected communities; provides that business should be guided by the principle of duty of care in responding to emergencies like COVID-19 and outlines the range of measures companies can take – ranging from workplace practices to communication and engagement

Week of 13 April 2020 New guidance (by the IHRB) examines companies’ responsibilities for workers and affected communities; provides that...

An ever growing number of companies are taking measures that seek to (i) tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) protect their employees and (iii) consider impacts on their value chain workers

Week of 6 April 2020 An ever growing number of companies are taking measures that seek to (i) tackle the...

The coronavirus lockdowns are shining the spotlight on the overcrowded and squalid conditions migrant workers live in. The longer-term impacts on migrant workers and their families (increase in illicit trafficking, remittance decreases that impact livelihoods etc.) are starting to be seen

Week of 6 April 2020 The coronavirus lockdowns are shining the spotlight on the overcrowded and squalid conditions migrant workers...

A growing number of companies cut executive pay (over 70 CEOs in the US, close to 40 in the UK); investors urge companies to ‘share the pain’, with a growing focus on those laying off staff as well as sectors beyond airlines (including finance, retail, hospitality and manufacturing)

Week of 6 April 2020 A growing number of companies cut executive pay (over 70 CEOs in the US, close...

Supplier associations in Bangladesh, Cambodia and India issue urgent pleas asking buyers to pay for goods produced, as millions of workers face unemployment without wages, severance and an adequate safety net; H&M steps up and other companies follow suit

Week of 30 March 2020 Supplier associations in Bangladesh, Cambodia and India issue urgent pleas asking buyers to pay for...

Institutional investors (195 representing over $4.7 trillion USD AUM) call on companies to put the welfare of their stakeholders first, including by retaining workers, maintaining payments to suppliers and limiting executive compensation

Week of 30 March 2020 Institutional investors (195 representing over $4.7 trillion USD AUM) call on companies to put the...

As unemployment levels soar without precedent (10 million jobs lost in the US in 2 weeks), a growing number of governments are devising packages to protect workers (including self-employed) from unemployment

Week of 30 March 2020 As unemployment levels soar without precedent (10 million jobs lost in the US in 2...

The spotlight is growing on how companies previously managed their finances (e.g. share buyback programmes) and are now responding (e.g. drawing down credit lines and executive pay) to the financial pressures of COVID-19

Week of 23 March 2020 The spotlight is growing on how companies previously managed their finances (e.g. share buyback programmes)...

A growing number of companies are offering support to enable the survival of their economically fragile business partners, including by providing early payments, reducing payment terms and extending credit to small suppliers, and suspending payments owed by business partners until business resumes

Week of 23 March 2020 A growing number of companies are offering support to enable the survival of their economically...

A growing number of companies are providing products and services to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from repurposing production lines to manufacture face masks, hand gel and medical equipment, to providing computing resources, open data and product donations

Week of 23 March 2020 A growing number of companies are providing products and services to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Biopharmaceutical companies make individual and collective commitments to tackle the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus – including launching joint R&D collaborations, providing grants to support healthcare systems, donating drugs and prioritising the development of vaccines and relevant manufacturing capabilities

Week of 16 March 2020 Biopharmaceutical companies make individual and collective commitments to tackle the rapid spread of the novel...

The ILO predicts a substantial rise in global unemployment (loss of between 5.3 million and 24.7 million jobs) and underemployment (downward adjustments to wages and working hours); calls on governments to adopt policies to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the world of work

Week of 16 March 2020 The ILO predicts a substantial rise in global unemployment (loss of between 5.3 million and...

The economic fallout of social distancing (lay-offs and wage reductions) is being hardest felt by those on lower incomes and without savings, with most at-risk workers in retail, air transport, hotels and restaurants, motor vehicle hire, cleaning, arts and entertainment, and personal services (according to Resolution Foundation)

Week of 16 March 2020 The economic fallout of social distancing (lay-offs and wage reductions) is being hardest felt by...

A typical economy only gives women three-quarters the rights of men in the workplace (World Bank), and it will take 99.5 years to attain gender parity if we continue at the present rate of change (World Economic Forum)

Week of 9 March 2020 A typical economy only gives women three-quarters the rights of men in the workplace (World...

Technology, logistics and gig economy companies go beyond legal requirements to continue paying contract workers and self-employed workers who are unable to work as a result of COVID-19 (linked to office closures or illness)

Week of 9 March 2020 Technology, logistics and gig economy companies go beyond legal requirements to continue paying contract workers...

The economic effects of COVID-19 are significant (S&P 500 suffered its quickest descent into a bear market in history) and are being felt by investors, companies and their workers around the world — in particular low wage workers without a safety net in Asian supply chains

Week of 9 March 2020 The economic effects of COVID-19 are significant (S&P 500 suffered its quickest descent into a...

In a first for the financial sector, an Australian bank (ANZ bank) provides remedy to families displaced by a Cambodian sugar project the bank financed; underscores importance of ensuring policy and screening practices are aligned, of undertaking human rights due diligence before providing loans and of considering remedy

Week of 2 March 2020 In a first for the financial sector, an Australian bank (ANZ bank) provides remedy to...

A group of mainstream UK investors representing £7.7 trillion AUM and owning one third of the value of UK listed companies tell companies they need to take climate change seriously at the boardroom and adapt their business models accordingly; climate change will be the priority in this year’s AGM season

Week of 2 March 2020 A group of mainstream UK investors representing £7.7 trillion AUM and owning one third of...

The Supreme Court of Canada finds for the first time in Canadian legal history that a mining company (Nevsun Resources) can be sued for breaches of customary international law (including modern slavery) in its majority-owned joint venture overseas; decision paves the way for other lawsuits in common law countries

Week of 2 March 2020 The Supreme Court of Canada finds for the first time in Canadian legal history that...

Investors responsible for $2.4 trillion in assets join forces to request that Alphabet (Google) put in place Board-level oversight of human rights and take its growing human rights risks related to technology seriously

Week of 24 February 2020 Investors responsible for $2.4 trillion in assets join forces to request that Alphabet (Google) put...

The Paris Agreement needs to be considered by the UK government when approving new projects, says the UK Court of Appeal (rejecting Heathrow airport’s third runway); this sets the stage for climate change to be considered for all high-carbon emitting projects moving forward

Week of 24 February 2020 The Paris Agreement needs to be considered by the UK government when approving new projects,...

Discussions regarding an EU-wide mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirement (as a legal duty or standard of care) intensify with the release of a European Commission-sponsored study

Week of 24 February 2020 Discussions regarding an EU-wide mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirement (as a legal...

Discussions on a legal duty to prevent human rights harms, building on the UK Bribery Act, take place in the UK (with release of BIICL report)

Week of 17 February 2020 Discussions on a legal duty to prevent human rights harms, building on the UK Bribery...

Company reporting on climate and human rights following the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive represent warm words, rather than concrete targets (according to the Alliance for Corporate Transparency’s review of 1,000 reports)

Week of 17 February 2020 Company reporting on climate and human rights following the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive represent warm...

The health and future of children in every country is threatened by climate change, ecological degradation, migrating populations, conflict, pervasive inequalities, and predatory commercial and marketing practices (according to the WHO, UNICEF and the Lancet)

Week of 17 February 2020 The health and future of children in every country is threatened by climate change, ecological...

New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships to conduct human rights due diligence and the rise in deaths of workers dismantling ships in Bangladesh

Week of 10 February 2020 New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships...

BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its entire operations by 2050 or sooner

Week of 10 February 2020 BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its...

Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the cotton they source (according to the Sustainable Cotton Ranking 2020)

Week of 10 February 2020 Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about...

Companies steps in to protect trade unions in their supply chains (17 companies sourcing garment, footwear, and travel goods from Cambodia; adidas sourcing from Myanmar) and Turkish metalworkers’ trade unions tackle the effect of inflation on wages

Week of 3 February 2020 Companies steps in to protect trade unions in their supply chains (17 companies sourcing garment,...

Quasi-judicial mechanisms (OECD National Contact Points) are used to shine a spotlight on banks’ financing activities: ANZ and Australian bushfires, Credit Suisse and pipeline impacts on indigenous peoples in the United States, ING Group and palm oil

Week of 3 February 2020 Quasi-judicial mechanisms (OECD National Contact Points) are used to shine a spotlight on banks’ financing...

Discussions take place in Switzerland on environmental and human rights due diligence legislation, and in Canada on modern slavery legislation

Week of 3 February 2020 Discussions take place in Switzerland on environmental and human rights due diligence legislation, and in...

Attacks against people shining the spotlight on negative impacts of business-related activities (human rights defenders) continue, with 2,000 attacks in the last 4 years and close to 600 attacks in 2019 alone, according to the BHRRC

Week of 27 January 2020 Attacks against people shining the spotlight on negative impacts of business-related activities (human rights defenders)...

A lack of decent work combined with rising unemployment and persisting inequality affects nearly half a billion people worldwide, according to the ILO

Week of 27 January 2020 A lack of decent work combined with rising unemployment and persisting inequality affects nearly half...

Climate change could cause the next financial crisis (Bank for International Settlements); European investors doubled investments in sustainable funds in 2019 (€120bn compared to €48.8bn in 2018, Morningstar); and asset owners take decisive actions to incentivise asset managers to invest in sustainable companies (e.g. Brunel Pension Partnership, Church of England Pension Board)

Week of 27 January 2020 Climate change could cause the next financial crisis (Bank for International Settlements); European investors doubled...

Investors responsible for $2.4 trillion in assets join forces to request that Alphabet (Google) put in place Board-level oversight of human rights and take its growing human rights risks related to technology seriously

Week of 24 February 2020 Investors responsible for $2.4 trillion in assets join forces to request that Alphabet (Google) put...

The Paris Agreement needs to be considered by the UK government when approving new projects, says the UK Court of Appeal (rejecting Heathrow airport’s third runway); this sets the stage for climate change to be considered for all high-carbon emitting projects moving forward

Week of 24 February 2020 The Paris Agreement needs to be considered by the UK government when approving new projects,...

Discussions regarding an EU-wide mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirement (as a legal duty or standard of care) intensify with the release of a European Commission-sponsored study

Week of 24 February 2020 Discussions regarding an EU-wide mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirement (as a legal...

Discussions on a legal duty to prevent human rights harms, building on the UK Bribery Act, take place in the UK (with release of BIICL report)

Week of 17 February 2020 Discussions on a legal duty to prevent human rights harms, building on the UK Bribery...

Company reporting on climate and human rights following the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive represent warm words, rather than concrete targets (according to the Alliance for Corporate Transparency’s review of 1,000 reports)

Week of 17 February 2020 Company reporting on climate and human rights following the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive represent warm...

The health and future of children in every country is threatened by climate change, ecological degradation, migrating populations, conflict, pervasive inequalities, and predatory commercial and marketing practices (according to the WHO, UNICEF and the Lancet)

Week of 17 February 2020 The health and future of children in every country is threatened by climate change, ecological...

New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships to conduct human rights due diligence and the rise in deaths of workers dismantling ships in Bangladesh

Week of 10 February 2020 New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships...

BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its entire operations by 2050 or sooner

Week of 10 February 2020 BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its...

Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the cotton they source (according to the Sustainable Cotton Ranking 2020)

Week of 10 February 2020 Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about...

New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships to conduct human rights due diligence and the rise in deaths of workers dismantling ships in Bangladesh

Week of 10 February 2020 New UK High Court case shines the spotlight on the need for companies selling ships...

BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its entire operations by 2050 or sooner

Week of 10 February 2020 BP sets new targets for the extractive sector by committing to net zero across its...

Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the cotton they source (according to the Sustainable Cotton Ranking 2020)

Week of 10 February 2020 Half of apparel and furniture companies sourcing significant amounts of cotton are not thinking about...

Companies steps in to protect trade unions in their supply chains (17 companies sourcing garment, footwear, and travel goods from Cambodia; adidas sourcing from Myanmar) and Turkish metalworkers’ trade unions tackle the effect of inflation on wages

Week of 3 February 2020 Companies steps in to protect trade unions in their supply chains (17 companies sourcing garment,...

Quasi-judicial mechanisms (OECD National Contact Points) are used to shine a spotlight on banks’ financing activities: ANZ and Australian bushfires, Credit Suisse and pipeline impacts on indigenous peoples in the United States, ING Group and palm oil

Week of 3 February 2020 Quasi-judicial mechanisms (OECD National Contact Points) are used to shine a spotlight on banks’ financing...

Discussions take place in Switzerland on environmental and human rights due diligence legislation, and in Canada on modern slavery legislation

Week of 3 February 2020 Discussions take place in Switzerland on environmental and human rights due diligence legislation, and in...

Attacks against people shining the spotlight on negative impacts of business-related activities (human rights defenders) continue, with 2,000 attacks in the last 4 years and close to 600 attacks in 2019 alone, according to the BHRRC

Week of 27 January 2020 Attacks against people shining the spotlight on negative impacts of business-related activities (human rights defenders)...

A lack of decent work combined with rising unemployment and persisting inequality affects nearly half a billion people worldwide, according to the ILO

Week of 27 January 2020 A lack of decent work combined with rising unemployment and persisting inequality affects nearly half...

Climate change could cause the next financial crisis (Bank for International Settlements); European investors doubled investments in sustainable funds in 2019 (€120bn compared to €48.8bn in 2018, Morningstar); and asset owners take decisive actions to incentivise asset managers to invest in sustainable companies (e.g. Brunel Pension Partnership, Church of England Pension Board)

Week of 27 January 2020 Climate change could cause the next financial crisis (Bank for International Settlements); European investors doubled...

We now have a list of the 2,000 most influential companies that will make or break the world’s ability to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, courtesy of the World Benchmarking Alliance

Week of 20 January 2020 We now have a list of the 2,000 most influential companies that will make or...

Timed for the WEF convening in Davos, Microsoft’s new carbon commitments shift the debate from avoiding and offsetting emissions to removing carbon from the atmosphere, with a particular focus on supply chain emissions

Week of 20 January 2020 Timed for the WEF convening in Davos, Microsoft’s new carbon commitments shift the debate from...

The time on the Doomsday Clock has changed. With the climate crisis and nuclear threats, the world is the closest it has ever been to catastrophe since the end of World War II

Week of 20 January 2020 The time on the Doomsday Clock has changed. With the climate crisis and nuclear threats,...

The European Commission launches consultations to discuss how to ensure that every worker in the EU is protected by adequate minimum wages

Week of 13 January 2020 The European Commission launches consultations to discuss how to ensure that every worker in the...

The last decade was the hottest decade ever, and years 2016 and 2019 were the warmest years on record, according to NASA and NOAA

Week of 13 January 2020 The last decade was the hottest decade ever, and years 2016 and 2019 were the...

Climate risk will re-shape finance, according to the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock

Week of 13 January 2020 Climate risk will re-shape finance, according to the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock Larry Fink,...

This Week

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Business, People and Planet Three Developments This Week

In Brief

Week of 22 February 2021

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