Business, People and Planet Three Developments This Week
In Brief
Week of 10 August 2020
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...
Read MoreIn 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...
Read MoreGarment 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...
Read MoreWeek of 3 August 2020
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...
Read MoreInvestors 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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreWeek of 27 July 2020
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...
Read MoreSince 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,...
Read MoreCompanies 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:...
Read MoreWeek of 20 July 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 13 July 2020
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...
Read MoreFive 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...
Read MoreCommodity-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...
Read MoreWeek of 6 July 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreAs 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...
Read MoreWeek of 29 June 2020
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...
Read MoreWomen 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 22 June 2020
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,...
Read MoreAs 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...
Read MoreThe 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,...
Read MoreWeek of 15 June 2020
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...
Read MoreFollowing 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...
Read MoreIn 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...
Read MoreWeek of 8 June 2020
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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreMaking 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...
Read MoreWeek of 1 June 2020
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...
Read MoreImpacts 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...
Read MoreCalls 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...
Read MoreWeek of 25 May 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreYoung 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,...
Read MoreWeek of 18 May 2020
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...
Read MoreDuring 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)...
Read MoreAs 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...
Read MoreWeek of 11 May 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreWeek of 4 May 2020
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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreThere 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...
Read MoreWeek of 27 April 2020
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...
Read MoreEU-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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 20 April 2020
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...
Read More103 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...
Read MoreImpacts 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...
Read MoreWeek of 13 April 2020
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...
Read MoreNew 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...
Read MoreNew 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...
Read MoreWeek of 6 April 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreWeek of 30 March 2020
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...
Read MoreInstitutional 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...
Read MoreAs 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...
Read MoreWeek of 23 March 2020
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)...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreA 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,...
Read MoreWeek of 16 March 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 9 March 2020
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...
Read MoreTechnology, 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 2 March 2020
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...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 24 February 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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,...
Read MoreDiscussions 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...
Read MoreWeek of 17 February 2020
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...
Read MoreCompany 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 10 February 2020
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...
Read MoreBP 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...
Read MoreHalf 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...
Read MoreWeek of 3 February 2020
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,...
Read MoreQuasi-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...
Read MoreDiscussions 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...
Read MoreWeek of 27 February 2020
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)...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreClimate 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...
Read MoreWeek of 24 February 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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,...
Read MoreDiscussions 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...
Read MoreWeek of 17 February 2020
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...
Read MoreCompany 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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreWeek of 10 February 2020
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...
Read MoreBP 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...
Read MoreHalf 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...
Read MoreWeek of 10 February 2020
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...
Read MoreBP 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...
Read MoreHalf 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...
Read MoreWeek of 3 February 2020
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,...
Read MoreQuasi-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...
Read MoreDiscussions 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...
Read MoreWeek of 27 January 2020
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)...
Read MoreA 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...
Read MoreClimate 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...
Read MoreWeek of 20 January 2020
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...
Read MoreTimed 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...
Read MoreThe 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,...
Read MoreWeek of 13 January 2020
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...
Read MoreThe 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...
Read MoreClimate 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,...
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