Snapshot co-organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the Business & Human Rights Resource CenterClimate change is both a growing catastrophe and an enormous opportunity for the world. It requires a rapid, global energy transition. The speed of the shift will depend on the scale and scope of investment available. But it will also depend on building broad public support, and particularly from those directly affected by renewable mega-projects and the vast new transition mineral operations essential to powering them. Replicating abuses of the traditional extractive sector risks further entrenching power inequalities between workers and frontline communities – many of which are Indigenous Peoples – and companies, threatening the transition as a whole, as rightsholders increasingly reject abuse and unfair terms.
A smart mix of measures – national, international, voluntary and mandatory – can mitigate these risks and provide pathways to a just energy transition grounded in a corporate duty of care for human rights, fair negotiations, and commitment by business, investors, and governments to true shared prosperity. The mix includes:
- New regulatory advancements and guidelines demanding human rights due diligence and increased corporate accountability from regions as diverse as Latin America, Asia, and the EU.
- A limited – but growing – set of examples of better business and investor practice reflecting commitment to an equitable, sustainable and inclusive transition that respects rights and prioritises shared benefits.
- The informed and assertive role of trade unions, workers’ organisations and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations and communities to achieve fair outcomes to negotiations.
The discussion will seek to highlight the smart mix strategies necessary to deliver a fast and fair transition and a new social contract.
