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Multistakeholder approaches to socio-economic transitions in mining

Resource Key: FYRHX8SN

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: London

Institution: International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM)

Date: May 2025

This handbook has been developed to address a gap identified in the availability of information on how to develop and use multistakeholder approaches for socio-economic transitions. It is part of ICMM’s ongoing work around community resilience and mine closure and is relevant to Indigenous Peoples’ participation in mining. Mine closure was one of the first priority areas that ICMM developed guidance on, producing publications on f inancial assurance for mine closure in 2005 and 2006. In 2008, the Planning for Integrated Mine Closure: Toolkit was launched, which was then updated as the Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide (2nd edition) in 2019. ICMM has also developed additional resources to support the industry in implementing responsible closure practices, including Financial Concepts For Mine Closure (2019), and the Closure Maturity Framework (2020) which is designed to assess, drive and track assets’ progress toward sustainable closure. The handbook also complements ICMM’s existing portfolio of work in community resilience and various resources on social performance and community engagement. The handbook should also be considered alongside ICMM’s Position Statement on Indigenous Peoples and Mining and Good Practice Guide as well as the various supplementary resources on human rights due diligence. The handbook is therefore intended to: — be used by mining companies and external stakeholders to co-design or contribute to socio economic transition processes that foster community resilience and enable site-to-regional scale planning — lay the groundwork for local economic participation, sustainable land use, and environmental resilience in and around mining communities, such that they will be resilient during the up and down cycles of mining and beyond closure — provide mining companies with a suite of tools and options to support multistakeholder processes for socio-economic transition, which they could choose to apply across the varied contexts within which they operate. While the handbook has been developed primarily with a mining company audience in mind, it also contains suggestions and approaches which may be of interest to governments, NGOs and civil society groups.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessments in Mining Legal Frameworks: Case studies from California, United States; Kazakhstan; and Queensland, Australia

Resource Key: AATPJFC7

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Winnipeg, Canada

Institution: Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)

Date: 2023

Language: en

A sustainable mining industry starts with a strong legal framework for environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and management. Developing a strong legal framework takes time. Much can be learned from other countries’ frameworks and continually reviewing and improving one’s own framework. The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) published its Guidance for Governments: Improving Legal Frameworks for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Management in Mining in June 2020. IGF is now conducting case studies to support the implementation of this guidance, the first three of which are presented here for California in the United States, Kazakhstan, and Queensland in Australia—three mineral-rich jurisdictions in contrasting stages of development of their ESIA legal frameworks. This report first presents the main components of a legal framework pertaining to ESIA in mining then looks at the three case studies. California has a well developed ESIA framework and is adapting to the latest challenges, which include the concerns of Indigenous communities and issues of climate change in a litigious jurisdiction. Kazakhstan is in the process of developing its ESIA framework to meet the country’s more recent sustainability goals and commitments and is in the process of putting the changes into practice. Queensland, Australia, provides an example of a comprehensive ESIA legal framework but is still challenged with managing the underlying risks of corruption. These three case studies were chosen to demonstrate that ESIA is a critical tool in the legal framework for meeting sustainability goals. Yet each jurisdiction is unique and must strive for continual improvement to keep the ESIA legal framework effective in practice. The case studies show • the importance of leadership and ongoing evaluation in developing and improving ESIA legal frameworks; • the benefit of looking for assistance and feedback from outside the jurisdiction; and • that there is always room for improvement, irrespective of the economic development stage and political situation.

Independent Evaluation of the GCF’s Result Area “Health and Wellbeing, and Food and Water Security” (HWFW)

Resource Key: FR4YC48B

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Incheon, Republic of Korea

Institution: Green Climate Fund Independent Evaluation Unit

Date: January 2025

Language: en

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a key institution in the global architecture for responding to the challenges of climate change. It advances and promotes a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development, supporting countries and their development partners in doing so, as per the objectives and targets set by the global community. GCF funding and financing are delivered to support the achievement of both mitigation and adaptation results, in line with the global and national priorities articulated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. The GCF delivers programmes and projects targeting eight mitigation and adaptation result areas (RAs), identified for their “potential to deliver a substantial impact on mitigation and adaptation” (Green Climate Fund, 2021b). As outlined in relevant Board decisions, the RAs were to serve as a basis for the GCF and its stakeholders to pursue a strategic approach to developing programmes and projects. The GCF Secretariat divisions and programming teams provide guidance and support for RA(s) selection for funding proposals (FPs) and facilitate result monitoring and management. These eight mitigation and adaptation RAs provide some guidance to the GCF and its stakeholders for producing impact from their collective investments. In 2024, the GCF’s Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) undertook the Independent Evaluation of the GCF’s Result Area “Health and Well-being, and Food and Water Security” (HWFW) in line with its Board-approved 2024 work plan. The HWFW result area is one of the four GCF adaptation results areas.1 The evaluation assessed the GCF’s approach to and portfolio of the HWFW result as well as the GCF’s result management system, against the GCF’s evaluation criteria, including relevance, effectiveness, country ownership, coherence and complementarity, results and impact, and sustainability of results.

Independent Evaluation of the Green Climate Fund’s Approach to Indigenous Peoples

Resource Key: BIYIGXTS

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Incheon, Republic of Korea

Institution: Green Climate Fund Independent Evaluation Unit

Date: January 2025

Language: en

At the thirty-seventh meeting of the Board (B.37) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 23 – 25 October 2023, the Board approved the Independent Evaluation Unit’s (IEU) workplan for 2024. The approved workplan included a mandate for the IEU to independently evaluate the GCF’s approach to Indigenous Peoples (IPs). The evaluation aimed to objectively assess the GCF’s approach towards IPs, focusing on the relevance and effectiveness of the Indigenous Peoples Policy (hereafter referred to as “IPs Policy” or “the Policy”). The GCF’s approach to IPs is anchored in its Governing Instrument (GI) paragraph 71, which states that “the Board will develop mechanisms to promote the input and participation of stakeholders, including private-sector actors, civil society organizations, vulnerable groups, women and Indigenous Peoples, in the design, development and implementation of the strategies and activities to be financed by the Fund”. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognized the rights and roles of IPs in climate action, and references to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Declaration 10/4 on climate change and human rights (2009) in several UNFCCC decisions (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2010; 2015). Additional guidance from the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the GCF on working with IPs has been provided through various COP decisions aimed at adopting specific measures to protect IPs’ rights. This guidance culminated in the request for the GCF Secretariat to develop a Fund-wide policy regarding IPs. The GCF articulated the IPs Policy adopted by the Board and contained in annex XI to decision B.19/11. The IPs Policy aims to provide a structure that ensures GCF activities are designed and implemented in ways that respect and safeguard IPs, are culturally appropriate, and do not cause harm. The evaluation examines the GCF’s overall approach, assessing its relevance and alignment with international commitments related to IPs. It also examines how the GCF GI, the UNFCCC, and a range of IPs-related policies have shaped the Fund’s approach to IPs. The evaluation also assesses the GCF’s strategies for implementing the IPs Policy alongside other GCF policies. Additionally, the evaluation examines the strengths and weaknesses of key aspects of the Policy and their alignment with IPs’ priorities, including integrating traditional knowledge, co-benefits for Indigenous communities, gender inclusivity, and grievance mechanisms. Finally, the evaluation addresses the role of country context, the implementation of free prior and informed consent, and compliance as underpinning factors in the Policy’s implementation.

Human well-being outcomes of large-scale marine protected areas

Resource Key: QSNXCVHM

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: March 2025

Language: en

Large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs, >100,000 km2) account for over half of the global ocean under protection, yet little is known about their outcomes for people. We conducted a review of the peer-reviewed literature to identify studies that investigated human well-being outcomes from forty-four (44) LSMPAs worldwide. Sixty-four (64) peer-reviewed articles were identified, which analyzed well-being outcomes in 18 of the 44 LSMPAs. For LSMPAs where human well-being outcomes have been studied, outcomes were highly variable and LSMPAs with more than three studies had both positive and negative outcomes. Fifty-two (52) percent of human well-being outcomes reported were positive, while 42 percent were negative, and 6 percent showed no change. Results highlight diverse domains of human well-being as the subject of studies, indicating that as increasing attention is placed on human well-being and MPAs, more aspects of social outcomes are being investigated. However, the scientific literature also left important variables of human well-being understudied, including the differentiated outcomes that LSMPAs can impart on race, gender, social class, and diverse cultural groups. Our review is a first step towards synthesizing existing knowledge but highlighted that our understanding is nascent. Future studies are needed that focus on understanding the differentiated impacts of LSMPAs across different social groups and that examine the processes that lead to different human well-being outcomes. With global commitments to protect 30 % of the oceans driving ongoing interest in LSMPA establishment, it is crucial to gain a better empirical understanding of the effect of LSMPAs on human well-being.

Māori engagement across the infrastructure system: Te whakapāpā a ngāi Māori huri noa i te pūnaha tūāhanga

Resource Key: XU6A3VM7

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Wellington, New Zealand

Institution: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission - Te Waihanga

Date: 2025

Language: en

One of the functions of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission | Te Waihanga (Te Waihanga) is, at least every five years, to provide the Minister for Infrastructure with a strategy report which, among other things, identifies the priorities for infrastructure for the next 30 years (section 13(1)(b), New Zealand Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga Act). The first of these strategy reports, Rautaki Hanganga o Aotearoa | the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2052 (New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga, 2022) (the Strategy) was released in 2022. The Strategy recognizes the many roles Māori undertake in the New Zealand infrastructure system (New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga, 2022, fig. 7). It also identifies several opportunities where infrastructure can have a role in improving Māori wellbeing, including (relevant to the matters discussed in this report) (2022, pp. 43–44): • supporting iwi (extended kinship group or tribe) aspirations, plans, and goals • using procurement as a mechanism to unlock opportunities for Māori • promoting employment opportunities and improving diversity across the infrastructure workforce • enhancing wellbeing through access to infrastructure services. The Strategy acknowledges that to achieve a thriving New Zealand, and lift the performance of our infrastructure system, we need to: • “strengthen partnerships with and unlock opportunities for Māori” (2022, p. 10) • “recognise and respect Te Tiriti o Waitangi and look for opportunities to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships with Māori” (2022, p. 13). It prioritises three action areas in relation to these matters (2022, p. 42): • “Creating stronger partnerships with Māori across infrastructure planning and delivery” • “Unlocking opportunities for Māori across the infrastructure system” • “Incorporating mātauranga Māori [Māori knowledge] into infrastructure design, planning and delivery”. The Strategy contains three recommendations regarding how to achieve these things (each with sub-recommendations). The first sub recommendation (1 a.) is: “Undertake a ‘State of Play’ of current Māori engagement activity for infrastructure to help inform and educate readers on how infrastructure providers can engage and work with Māori in a way that works for Māori and infrastructure providers.” In September 2022 the Government released its response to the Strategy (New Zealand Government, 2022a). In relation to the recommendations around strengthening partnerships with and opportunities for Māori, the Government (New Zealand Government, 2022a, pp. 9–11): • supported the proposal to undertake the State of Play work • noted that it supported other recommendations in principle and would consider implementing them (in several cases following the completion of the State of Play).

Integrando la Seguridad Alimentaria en la Evaluación de Impactos: Una Introducción

Resource Key: G6G3KDN7

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Fargo, USA

Institution: IAIA

Date: December 2024

Language: sp

Esta introducción provee a los miembros de la Asociación Internacional para la Evaluación de Impactos (IAIA) y a otros, con una guía sobre cómo incorporar el concepto de seguridad alimentaria en la evaluación de impacto (EI). Este proyecto apoya la visión de la IAIA para “un mundo justo y sustentable para las personas y el ambiente”, al destacar la seguridad alimentaria -un tema de política con importancia global- y el rol que la EI puede desempeñar para abordarlo. La evaluación de la seguridad alimentaria en la EI sirve a poblaciones vulnerables (a menudo indígenas), subrayando sus derechos a la supervivencia, la dignidad y el bienestar, mientras enfrentan las crecientes presiones de factores de gran escala, tales como el desarrollo urbano e industrial, y el cambio climático.

Behind ESG Ratings: Unpacking Sustainability Metrics

Resource Key: V5VQLW6Y

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Paris

Institution: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Date: February 2025

Language: en

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics, aggregated in rating products, increasingly inform a wide range of business and investment decisions. For policy makers, investors, business and other stakeholders, having sufficient levels of transparency and quality with respect to the ESG metrics used in these products is key to ensuring clarity, consistency, and accountability when it comes to measuring sustainability performance of business. For investors, this means making informed investment decisions and for policy makers being able to monitor and evaluate the impact of sustainable finance-related policies. Against this background, this report aims to assess the scope and characteristics of over 2 000 ESG metrics from eight major ESG rating products. The analysis helped identify four key findings as presented below. Metric scope: significant imbalances and gaps across ESG topics More nascent or less standardised ESG issues typically lack comprehensive and granular metrics compared to more established topics. For instance, over 20 different metrics are used on average to measure performance related to topics such as corporate governance, business ethics and environmental management, compared to less than five metrics for topics such as biodiversity, business resilience, and community relations. In some cases, certain topics are entirely omitted from ESG rating products, including human rights and corruption. While it cannot be assumed that a higher number of metrics leads to better measurement, an extremely limited number of metrics associated with a topic may infer that topical impacts, risks, and opportunities are not being captured in a meaningful and comprehensive way. Metric comparability: Considerable divergences in measurement approaches across products Significant divergences exist when comparing the scope of metrics for the same topic across rating products. For instance, one rating product uses 28 times more metrics to measure Corporate Governance performance compared to another. The range varies from 1 to 47 metrics to measure corporate GHG Emissions, and from 4 to 113 metrics to gauge a company’s corporate governance. High variations in the number of metrics available per topic across rating products usually reflect distinct methodological approaches, divergent levels of granularity applied, and likely disagreement as to how performance ought to be measured. Metric characteristics: ESG performance largely measured by focusing on business’ effort rather than effect ESG rating products rely primarily on input-based metrics (68%). These metrics capture self-reported policies and activities put in place to address potential and actual ESG impacts, risks, and opportunities. Meanwhile, a third of the metrics rely primarily on output-based metrics, focusing on the outcomes of these policies and activities. The reliance on input-based metrics could incentivise “tick-boxing” approaches over actual risk prevention and mitigation actions. It may also benefit large companies over SMEs, as multinational enterprises may have more resources to adopt, implement and disclose measures underpinned by such metrics. Moreover, ESG performance is predominantly assessed using qualitative metrics (72%). Noticeably, input based metrics account for the vast majority of qualitative metrics. These metrics may not always provide a reliable proxy of a company’s ESG performance but rather infer ESG performance based on the existence of policies and measures to manage impacts, risks and opportunities related to that topic, irrespective of the actual effectiveness of such measures. Conversely, only 17% of all metrics are quantitative output-based metrics. For policy makers, the potential disconnect between the proxy metric and the performance measurement can also have implications with regard to assessing the effectiveness of public policies. Lastly, there seems to be a positive correlation between low shares of quantitative data and low numbers of metrics per topic. For instance, biodiversity, climate resilience, taxation, and competition are among the topics with the lowest shares of quantitative data and the lowest number of metrics overall, further suggesting that assessment of performance against certain topics may not be sufficient. Looking forward: metrics are insufficient to assess observance of OECD standards on responsible business conduct OECD instruments on responsible business conduct promote risk-based due diligence, including the identification and prioritisation of adverse impacts. In contrast, ESG rating products tend to measure how companies manage impacts, risks, and opportunities with respect to a specific topic—not across topics—irrespective of their interlinkages and interdependencies. Less than 5% of input-based metrics could be associated with explicit risk-based due diligence measures and steps without being associated with one single topic. This siloed and topical structure is also at odds with recent sustainability-related standards structures (e.g. ESRS and ISSB), creating potential challenges for investors wishing to leverage ESG metrics to assess the quality and effectiveness of companies’ due diligence across sustainability issues. Moreover, most ESG rating products assess observance or “violations” of the OECD Guidelines through controversy-related metrics as a proxy. These metrics usually look at the existence and prevalence of controversies in a company’s operations and/or supply chains, rather than evaluating a company’s due diligence efforts and effectiveness in mitigating sustainability impacts. 15% of all metrics could be broadly identified as ‘controversy-based’. Finally, measurement of ESG performance beyond an entity direct operation is limited, including measurement of how businesses identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse impacts in their business relationships and global supply chains. Only 7% of all metrics could be associated with supply chain risk management metrics across topics and products.

How costly is a community benefit agreement for a private project developer?

Resource Key: JD2YA2X9

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: March 2025

Language: en

Community benefit agreements (CBAs), also referred to as impact and benefit agreements, are common resource governance tools that are negotiated across the globe between private project developers and local, often Indigenous, communities whose land must be accessed or disturbed for major extractive resource projects (O’Faircheallaigh, 2013). A relatively recent body of scholarship has focused on the benefits received by local communities from CBAs and their associated natural resource development projects. According to the literature, CBAs have the potential to help facilitate economic and social development of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities by providing revenue benefits (Adebayo and Werker, 2021; Agbaitoro, 2018; Alcantara and Morden, 2019; Bocoum et al., 2012), employment and training opportunities (Adebayo and Werker, 2021; Agbaitoro, 2018; Fidler and Hitch, 2007; V. Gibson, 2008; O’Faircheallaigh, 2006), contracting opportunities for local businesses (Adebayo and Werker, 2021; O’Faircheallaigh, 2010a; Shanks and Lopes, 2006; Wanvik, 2016), new community infrastructure (Agbaitoro, 2018; Cameron and Levitan, 2014; Glasson, 2017; O’Faircheallaigh, 2006), and impact mitigation measures (Craik et al., 2017; Fitzpatrick, 2007; Kielland, 2015; O’Faircheallaigh, 2010b, 2017). A smaller group of studies have focused on the benefits of negotiating CBAs for project developers, including increasing project certainty and reducing the potential for conflict by securing consent from local Indigenous communities (Bruckner, 2015; Dorobantu & Odziemkowska, 2017, 2017, 2017; Fidler, 2010; Henisz et al., 2014; Prno and Slocombe, 2012). There is a need, however, for research that focuses on the costs of negotiating CBAs for project developers.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to date to estimate the cost of a CBA for a private project developer, estimating the cost of the Mary River Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) for a project developer, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (Baffinland), that was a CBA negotiated with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) regarding the Mary River Iron Mine.1 This case study has received some attention in the past with studies analyzing community benefits from the IIBA (Adebayo and Werker, 2021; Loxley, 2019) and the economic viability of the mine (Loxley, 2019; West and Lépiz, 2021). These previous studies, however, do not analyze the impact of the IIBA on Baffinland. In addition to estimating the cost of the IIBA, this study estimates the impact of the IIBA on the economic viability of the mine and evaluates the cost of the IIBA relative to total after-tax project cash costs and relative to a hypothetical cost of conflict. Conflict is prevalent in extractive natural resource development industries and CBAs are believed to help reduce conflict (Agbaitoro, 2018; Dorobantu and Odziemkowska, 2017; Dyck, 2013; Haggerty et al., 2023; Le Meur et al., 2013; O’Faircheallaigh, 2017; Sternberg et al., 2020).
CBAs negotiated in Canada are legally binding through contract law and set out obligations for project developers and local communities (Browne and Robertson, 2009; Cameron and Levitan, 2014; Fidler, 2008; G. Gibson and O’Faircheallaigh, 2010). Although CBAs are only legally required in certain regions in northern Canada in accordance with lands claim agreements (Coppes, 2016), CBAs are negotiated for virtually every major extractive resource project developed in Canada and are becoming increasingly common all around the world (O’Faircheallaigh, 2013). Some attribute the prevalence of CBAs to private developers recognizing the right of communities to free, prior, and informed consent as affirmed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (Cascadden, 2018; Mahanty and McDermott, 2013; Papillon and Rodon, 2017) while others attribute the prevalence of CBAs to project developers managing social risk and attempting to satisfy consultation and accommodation requirements to obtain approval (Caine and Krogman, 2010; Cameron and Levitan, 2014; Grégoire, 2013). Ultimately, federal and provincial governments have a legal duty to consult and accommodate local Indigenous communities but some aspects of this duty can be delegated to private project developers (Newman, 2014; Peach, 2016). While the Canadian government has taken steps to recognize UNDRIP, legislation does not require consent from local Indigenous communities in order for consultation and accommodation requirements to be satisfied and for projects to be approved (Bankes, 2020).
Theoretically, CBAs have the potential to build mutually beneficial relationships between private project developers and (our focus here) Indigenous communities and to facilitate sustainable community development. The benefits provided to a community from a CBA are likely to be influenced by a number of factors including the fiscal mechanisms used (e.g., profit-based or volumetric royalty), the size of the project, the profitability of the project, the predicted adverse impacts of the project, the bargaining power held by each party, and, ultimately, the objectives of each party (Dale, 2020; Dorobantu and Odziemkowska, 2017; Gunton et al., 2021; Gunton and Markey, 2021; Odziemkowska and Dorobantu, 2021; O’Faircheallaigh, 1998, 2021). While CBAs can benefit communities and project developers, the benefits provided to communities, and the reduction in the likelihood of conflicts, often come at a cost to project developers (Dorobantu and Odziemkowska, 2017; Odziemkowska and Dorobantu, 2021).
In Section 2, we outline the theoretical framing for this study. In Section 3, we introduce the case study and summarize our methodology. Then, we present our assessment of which provisions of the IIBA generate incremental costs and which do not and present the to-date realized costs of the IIBA, which help inform the assumptions of our case study analysis. Next, we present the results of our analysis, estimating the incremental costs of the IIBA over the project’s lifetime. We then discuss the significance of the results in Section 4 and present conclusions in Section 5. While our case focus is on the Canadian North, we hope that the theoretically-informed study finds resonance with other jurisdictions host to CBAs.

Global Review: Integrating Gender Into Mining Impact Assessments

Resource Key: XS3MADHC

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Winnipeg, Canada

Institution: Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)

Date: October 2022

Language: en

“There are numerous ways to analyze and document the potential and ongoing impacts of a mining operation on people from different genders, ages, and sociocultural backgrounds.

This report takes stock of the toolkits, guidelines, and legal frameworks that have been devised and used by governments, international organizations, and civil society organizations to identify and address the gendered impacts of mining operations. It also features three case studies where these tools have been applied.

The main finding of this report is that governments, mining companies, and other stakeholders do not conduct sufficient comprehensive, systemic, and structured gender analysis before and during all phases of the mining project cycle.”

IGF Case Study: Leveraging Technologies for Gender Equality in Mining Communities – Case studies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and Peru

Resource Key: 786CBCX3

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Winnipeg, Canada

Institution: Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)

Date: February 2024

Language: en

While it has become an accepted practice for mining companies to share roads, electricity, and other traditional infrastructure with nearby rural communities, sharing new technological infrastructure, such as Internet access and mobile phone reception, is a more recent development.

This publication looks at how sharing technological infrastructure can support gender equality and serve the broad betterment of mining communities. It illustrates how mining companies in South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are sharing technological infrastructure with local communities and how partners are collaborating in Peru to add stakeholder voices to mining-related impact measurements.

This research shows that while programs might not be initially designed exclusively for women, an unintended consequence of making the technology available to all is that women who are traditionally underserved in technology and technological infrastructure benefit from its presence.

Gender-Responsive Mining Policies: IGF case studies on skills, employment, and inclusive governance

Resource Key: Y9F4VDYB

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Winnipeg, Canada

Institution: Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)

Date: January 2025

Language: en

This publication presents case studies of instances where mining companies adopted policies and practices to support gender equality and social inclusion in Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, and South Africa. Each of the following cases is accompanied by an analysis of the relevant regulatory framework enabling good mining practices, as well as key lessons learned:
Direct employment and skills development of local women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Local partnerships for intersectional and gender-responsive procurement in South Africa.
Skills development and partnerships with cooperative enterprises in Mauritania.
Inclusive community benefit agreement and horizontal linkages in Chile.

Land Divestment: Comparing Experiences with Returning Land to Local Communities in Mozambique & Tanzania

Resource Key: VPCYRXH7

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: USAID Integrated Land and Resource Governance Task Order under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II (STARR II) IDIQ.

Date: December 2023

Language: en

Guides for responsible land-based investments tend to focus on the beginning of an investment, but there has been far less attention to what happens to land at the end of an investment – when investments fail, projects reach a natural conclusion, or companies need to divest. National laws tend not to contemplate the end of an investment or the withdrawal of a company that has acquired community lands; best practices and international standards likewise provide limited direct guidance. While there is little information available on the extent of land divestment, available data on land investment indicates a significant amount of company-acquired land globally is not being used for its intended investment purpose and that some lands may be beneficial for companies and communities to return. A recent study of 4,558 land deals covering an area of 179,120,562 ha estimated that 19 percent of deals and 23 percent of land area subject to investment had been abandoned, were still under negotiation, had expired (without any use or occupation of the land), or the investment had failed or ended (Borras et al, 2022). These estimates suggest that a significant proportion of land deals have not resulted in the anticipated commercial use, and raises the question of how governments and companies have responsibly considered and addressed community rights in the process. Two recent cases of voluntary relinquishment of land by a company offer a rare opportunity to better understand land divestment, and to identify motivations, risks, and good practices to carry out a responsible exit that supports communities’ rights and benefits. Established in 1995, Green Resources, A.S. (GRAS) is the largest forest development and wood processing company in East Africa, with operations in Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique. The company recently carried out large-scale land divestments under different circumstances and at different scales in Mozambique and Tanzania. In Mozambique, GRAS carried out a divestment process in which it relinquished approximately 239,000 hectares (ha) of land and transferred related assets to communities in Zambézia, Nampula, and Niassa Provinces. Engaging in this process between 2018 and 2023, GRAS partnered with local subcontractor Terra Firma and a range of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations through financial support of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Integrated Land and Resource Governance Program (ILRG). The GRAS relinquishment process faced a number of challenges, including an unclear legal framework regarding the disposition of assets found on the land upon relinquishment; the need to address legacy land issues; poor record keeping and inconsistent processes; and the scale, complexity and relatively short timeline of the intervention. Despite these challenges, GRAS successfully relinquished all its rights of use and benefit of land – referred to by its Portuguese name Direito de Uso e Aproveitamento da Terra (DUAT) – titles to the state, registered high-value immoveable assets in the Real Property Register (Registo Predial), and drafted the sale and purchase contracts for the transfer of existing plantations and other assets to the communities. Over the course of the process, ILRG supported the delimitation or reconfirmation of community land, strengthened community governance institutions and capacity on land rights, supported the formation of community land associations with equitable gender representation, and supported communities to manage and benefit from natural resources and land. assets. These efforts reached over 109 communities comprising 334,00 people (177,000 adults age 15+) over more than 720,000 hectares. In Tanzania, Green Resources, Ltd. (GRL), a GRAS subsidiary, initiated and completed the voluntary relinquishment of three parcels comprising 14,173 ha to communities in Mufindi and Kilombero Districts in 2022 to 2023. With the support of Haki Ardhi, a Tanzanian land rights organization, and Landesa, an international land rights organization with offices in Tanzania, the project worked to fortify communities’ land rights and capacity to sustainably manage the returned land by supporting a review of each community’s Village Land Use Plans (VLUP) and through targeted capacity strengthening and awareness raising following the land return. The GRL land process aimed to ensure that communities benefited from the land return. The main barrier that the project faced was the legal framework, which offers few options for transferring company land back to communities. This report draws on project and company documents, supplementary desk research, and remote interviews with participants in the land divestment cases. A review of these experiences in Tanzania and Mozambique demonstrates good practices for responsible land investment that should apply to divestment, which is a part of the investment life cycle. The end of an investment should be planned for as any other aspect of investment and should employ many of the elements of good practice that should be familiar to responsible investors: risk assessment; identification of land rights holders; documentation of rights; engagement and establishing transparent, continual, multi-directional communication between a company and communities, as well as with government and civil society; support for institutional capacities to administer land and resources and support for participatory land management; and transparency. Having employed these elements, the GRAS examples demonstrate: Community outcomes can be positive, particularly where the company has an interest in maintaining a positive relationship with the communities involved; Responsible land divestment has monetary and time costs that companies should plan for; The legal framework – and how it defines communities’ rights to land and assets – is important to understanding how divestment can or should happen. Ambiguities or gaps in the legal framework can create conflicts and insecurity, especially in cases where communities and government authorities have competing interests; As with other phases of the land investment life cycle, responsible land divestment requires doing more than just following the letter of the law. Responsible divestment processes should include: Risk assessments for companies and communities; Rights clarification and boundary demarcation; and Additional support for communities to realize and defend their rights to land and assets; Despite the substantial benefits to communities seen in these two cases, such outcomes may not be the norm. Responsible divestment is more time-consuming and far costlier than just walking away from a failed investment and so may not be the path of choice for companies seeking to relinquish lands which tend to be companies in financial distress. Additionally, the Tanzania case in particular illustrates issues in the national legal framework that leave communities vulnerable to permanent disenfranchisement once village land has been ceded to an investor, a circumstance likely repeated in other country contexts. Further research and learning are needed to more fully understand the range of risks and opportunities land divestment presents for communities and companies and to develop guidance for responsible land divestment.

Toolkit para sa mga Tagapagtanggol ng Pangkapaligirang Karapatang Pantao

Resource Key: 8JFTN4JP

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED)

Date: December 2022

Language: filipino

Ang makatlong pamplanetang krisis nang pagbabagong klima, polusyon at pagkawala nang saribuhay ay kumakatawan sa nag-iisang pinakadakilang pagsubok na karapatang pantao sa panahong ito. Nitong Hulyo 2022, pinagtibay nang Pangkalahatang Asembliya nang UN ang makasaysayang resolusyong “Ang karapatang pantao para sa malinis, malusog at sustinableng kapaligiran” (A/Res./76/300). Ang resolusyong ito ay “pagkilala na dapat ang sustinableng pag-unlad, sa tatlo nitong dimensyon (sosyal, ekonomiko, at pangkalikasan), at ang proteksyon ng kalikasan, kabilang ang ekosistema, ay nag-aambag at nagsusulong nang makataong kagalingan at ang kabuoang kasiyahan nang lahat nang karapatang pantao, para kasalukuyan at hinaharap na mga henerasyon. Ang Lupa at Tagapagtanggol ng Pangkapaligirang Karapatang Pantao o Tanggol Kalikasan (EHRDs) ay may mahalagang papel sa pag-aangat nang pagbabago para maprotektahan ang kapaligiran at tumindig para sa mga komunidad at indibidwal sa hindi patas na naapektuhan sa pagkapinsala nang kapaligiran. Sa pagdaan nang ilang taon, sila ang humaharap sa pagsusulong para sa sustinableng kasanayan at makatarungang pagpapaunlad, at upang paghawakan ang mga kinauukulan at mga negosyanteng responsable sa hindi sustinableng kagawian at paglabag sa karapatan nang mamamayan para sa malinis, malusog at sustinableng kapaligiran. Ang toolkit na ito ay mula sa orihinal na kasulatan sa Ingles at naisalin sa Filipino sa pangunguna ni Associate Professor Schedar D. Jocson kabilang sina Prof. Jimmuel Naval, Ms. Zarina Joy Santos, Ms. April Perez at Florentino Iniego. Hinihikayat din ang ibang mga bansa na iayon ang saggunian na ito ayon sa pangangailangang pagpapalakas at proteksyon ng mga Tanggol Kalikasan (EHRDs) upang panghawakan ang ating karapatan sa pangangalaga nang kapaligiran para sa lahat.

Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) Toolkit

Resource Key: 9TFJIRCP

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED)

Date: December 2022

Language: en

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss represents the single greatest human rights challenge of our era. In July 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution on ‘The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment’ (A/Res./76/300). The resolution “recognises that sustainable development, in its three dimensions (social, economic and environmental), and the protection of the environment, including ecosystems, contribute to and promote human well-being and the full enjoyment of all human rights, for present and future generations.” Land and Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) play a vital role as levers of change in protecting the environment and standing up for communities and individuals who are disproportionately impacted by en vironmental harm. For years, they have been at the front line as advocates for sustainable practices and rights-based development, and in holding duty bearers and businesses responsible for unsustainable practices and violations of all peoples’ right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. At the same time, EHRDs continue to be vulnerable to human rights violations as they face growing resistance to their vital work to support a just and sustainable future for people and the planet. Violations against EHRDs are observed in different forms including criminalisation, harassment, threats, and killings. Analysis by Front Line Defenders found that in 2021, 358 human rights defenders were killed, more than half of which (59%) worked on land, environmental, and indigenous rights. By failing to provide adequate support and enabling frameworks to protect and bolster the work of EHRDs, there are many missed opportunities to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, advance environmental rule of law and increase compliance with in ternational environmental commitments. However, the challenges and obstacles faced by EHRDs, as well as their important contributions to the attainment of environmental goals including Agenda 2030, are increasingly being recognised across all regions. There are also strengthened efforts to continue to support their work and improve the conditions in which EHRDs work. This toolkit will provide a set of resources to enable EHRDs to protect, promote and realise the right to a healthy environment and support their important role to tackle the planetary crisis and reach Agenda 2030. This knowledge toolkit aims to provide a practical reference for EHRDs to support their work in promoting environmental rights and to prevent and mitigate security issues.

पर्यावरणीय मानवाधिकार रक्षक (EHRDs) टूलकिट

Resource Key: I7A22MJ9

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED)

Date: December 2022

Language: hindi

जलवायु परिवर्तन का त्रिग्रही संकट प्रदूषण और जैव विविधता की हानि हमारे युग की सबसे बड़ी मानवाधिकार चुनौती का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है। जुलाई 2022 में संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा द्वारा मानव अधिकार के लिए स्वच्छ, स्वस्थ और टिकाऊ पर्यावरण का एक ऐतिहासिक संकल्प अपनाया। इस संकल्प का मानना है कि सतत् विकास के तीन आयाम है जो कि (सामाजिक, आर्थिक और पर्यावरणीय) और पर्यावरण की सुरक्षा जिसमें पारिस्थितिकी प्रणाली वर्तमान और भविष्य की पीढ़ियों के सभी मानव अधिकारों की मानव कल्याण और मानव की खुशी में योगदान एवं बढ़ावा देती है।

भूमि और पर्यावरणीय मानव अधिकार रक्षक (ई एच आर डी) की सुरक्षा में परिवर्तन के उत्प्रेरक के रूप में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं और असंगत रूप से प्रभावित होने वाले समुदायों और व्यक्तियों के लिए खड़े होते हैं। कई वर्षों से ,टिकाऊ अभ्यास और विकास अधिकार के लिए समर्थक के रूप में सीमावर्ती पर रहे हैं। साथ ही कर्तव्यों धारकों को धारण कर के उसमें अरक्षणीय अभ्यास और सभी लोगों के स्वच्छ, स्वस्थ और टिकाऊ पर्यावरण के अधिकार का उल्लंघन के लिए जिम्मेदार मानते हैं।

उसी वक्त ईएचआरडी मानव अधिकार के उल्लंघन के प्रति असुरक्षित बने हुए है क्योंकि उन्हें लोगों और सभी के लिए न्यायसंगत और भविष्य का समर्थन करने के अपने महत्वपूर्ण कार्य के प्रति बढ़ते प्रतिरोध का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। ईएचआरडी के विरुद्ध उल्लंघन विभिन्न रूपों में निरीक्षण होते हैं जिसमें अपराधीकरण, उत्पीड़न, धमकी और हत्याएं शामिल है।

सीमावर्ती के रक्षक द्वारा विश्लेषण में पाया गया कि ‍‌‌2021 में 358 मानवाधिकार रक्षक मारे गए जिसमें से आधे से अधिक (59%) ने भूमि, पर्यावरण और स्वदेशी अधिकारों पर काम किया। ईएचआरडी के कार्य को बढ़ावा देना और रक्षा के लिए पर्याप्त समर्थन और ढांचा को सक्षम करने में असफल रहने से सतत् विकास लक्ष्य की उपलब्धि में गति बढ़ाना, अग्रिम पर्यावरणीय विधि को आगे बढ़ाने और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय पर्यावरण प्रतिबध्दताओं के अनुपालन को बढ़ाने के कई अवसर चूक गए हैं।

हालांकि ईएचआरडी के सामने आने वाली चुनौतियाँ एवं बाधाएं, साथ कार्य सूची 2030 पर्यावरणीय लक्ष्यों की प्राप्ति में उनके महत्वपूर्ण योगदान को सभी क्षेत्रों में तेजी से पहचाना जा रहा है। उनके काम का समर्थन जारी रखने और ईएचआरडी के काम करने की स्थितियों में सुधार करने के लिए ठोस प्रयास किए गए हैं

यह उपकरण (टूलकिट) ईएचआरडी को एक संसाधनों का सेट प्रदान करते हैं जिसमें स्वस्थ पर्यावरण के अधिकार को सुरक्षा एवं बढ़ावा देना और एहसास करना साथ में ग्रह संकट से निपटने और कार्यसूची 2030 तक पहुँचने में उनकी महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका का समर्थन करता है।

इस ज्ञान की उपकरणों (टूलकिट) का लक्ष्य ईएचआरडी के व्यावहारिक संदर्भ को प्रदान करना है ताकि पर्यावरण अधिकार के कार्य को बढ़ावा देने में सहायता मिले एवं सुरक्षा समस्या को रोके एवं कम करे।

एचआरडी उपकरण (टूलकिट) के पाँच खंड है जैसे-
खंड 1: पर्यावरण अभियान का आरंभ
खंड 2: जोखिम मूल्यांकन करना
खंड 3: विश्वस्तर पर मानवाधिकार तंत्र का प्रवेश
खंड 4: ईएचआरडी के लिए समर्थन पहुँचाना तथा
खंड 5: मनोसामाजिक कल्याण सुनिश्चित करना

Байгаль орчны салбар дахь хүний эрх хамгаалагчдад зориулсан гарын авлага

Resource Key: JGTJYD8T

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED)

Date: December 2022

Language: mongolian

Дэлхий ертөнцөд нүүрлээд буй гурвалсан хямрал гэгдэх уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлт, орчны бохирдол, биологийн олон янз байдлын хомсдол нь энэ цаг үед хүний эрхийг хамгаалахад тулгарч буй сорил бэрхшээлийн нэг хэсэг юм. НҮБ-ын Ерөнхий Ассамблей 2022 оны 07 дугаар сард “Аюулгүй, эрүүл, зохистой орчинд амьдрах эрх”-ийг тунхагласан түүхэн тогтоол (A/Res./76/300) батлав. Тогтоолд “тогтвортой хөгжлийг нийгэм, эдийн засаг, байгаль орчин гэсэн гурван хүрээнд хангаж, хүрээлэн буй орчин, экосистемийг хамгаалснаар хүн бүр эрхээ бүрэн дүүрэн эдэлж, сайн сайхан амьдрах боломж нөхцөлийг өнөөгийн болон хойч үедээ бүрдүүлнэ” гэжээ. Байгаль орчны салбар дахь хүний эрх хамгаалагчид (БОСДХЭХ) нь байгаль орчныг хамгаалж, орчны аюулд зүй бусаар өртсөн иргэд, зорилтот бүлгийн талд зогсож, далайцтай өөрчлөлт бий болгох чухал үүргийг гүйцэтгэдэг билээ. Тэд олон жилийн туршид зохистой дадал, эрхэд суурилсан хөгжлийг түүчээлэн дэмжихийн сацуу хүн ардын эрүүл, аюулгүй, тогтвортой орчинд амьдрах эрхийг зөрчиж, зохисгүй үйл ажиллагаа явуулж буй байгууллага, бизнес эрхлэгчдэд хариуцлага тооцохыг уриалан тэмцсээр байна. БОСДХЭХ нь дэлхий ертөнц, ард түмний төлөө шударга, тогтвортой ирээдүйг бүтээх амин чухал үйл хэргийг биелүүлэхдээ ямагт эсэргүүцэлтэй тулгарч, эрх нь зөрчигдсөн хэвээр байгаа юм. Тэдний эрхийг эрүүгийн хариуцлага хүлээлгэх, дарамтлах, айлган сүрдүүлэх, амь насанд нь халдах гэх мэт төрөл бүрийн хэлбэрээр зөрчиж байна. “Фронт Лайн Дефендэрс” (FrontLine Defenders) байгууллагын “Даян дэлхийн шинжилгээ 2021”-д тэмдэглэснээр 2021 онд 358 хүний эрх хамгаалагч амь насаа алдсаны 59 хувь нь байгаль орчин, газар нутаг, уугуул иргэдийн эрхийг хамгаалах чиглэлд ажиллаж байжээ. БОСДХЭХ-ийг хамгаалж, тэдний үйл хэрэгт зохих дэмжлэг үзүүлээгүй, зохицуулалт бий болгоогүйгээс “Тогтвортой хөгжлийн зорилго” (ТХЗ)-ын биелэлтийг түргэсгэж, байгаль орчны хууль дүрмийг сахиулж, хүрээлэн буй орчны талаар олон улсад хүлээсэн үүрэг амлалтыг ханган биелүүлэх олон арван боломжийг алдаад байна. Хэдий тийм боловч БОСДХЭХ-д тулгардаг сорил бэрхшээлээс гадна тэдний “Тогтвортой хөгжлийн хөтөлбөр-2030” (ТХХ) зэрэг байгаль орчны салбарын зорилтуудад хүрэхэд оруулж буй чухал хувь нэмрийг хүлээн зөвшөөрөх байдал бүхий л бүс нутагт нэмэгдсээр байгаа юм. Түүнчлэн БОСДХЭХ-ийн үйл хэргийг үргэлжлүүлэн дэмжиж, ажиллах нөхцөлийг нь сайжруулахад ихээхэн хүчин чармайлт гаргах болжээ. Энэхүү гарын авлага нь хүний эрүүл орчинд амьдрах эрхийг хамгаалах, дэмжих, хангах, байгаль орчинд нүүрлээд буй хямралыг шийдвэрлэх, 2030 он хүртэлх Тогтвортой хөгжлийн хөтөлбөрийг хэрэгжүүлэх чухал үүргийг гүйцэтгэхэд нь БОСДХЭХ-д тус дөхөм болохуйц цогц хэрэглэгдэхүүнийг агуулсан болно. Энэхүү гарын авлагын зорилго нь байгаль орчны салбар дахь хүний эрх хамгаалагчийн үйл хэрэгт дэмжлэг болж, аюулгүй байдалд нь асуудал үүсэхээс сэргийлэх, эрсдэлийг бууруулах практик хэрэглэгдэхүүнээр хангахад чиглэнэ.

Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Target-setting guidance for banks

Resource Key: 8LASN3WR

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Geneva and New York

Institution: UNEP FI; UN Women

Date: 2024

Language: en

Banks have a vital and multidimensional role to play in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. As employers, financiers, financial service providers and participants in broader economic, political and social ecosystems, banks are uniquely positioned to advance gender equality within their own institutions, in the marketplaces within which they operate and in the communities that they serve. Despite progress, gender inequality remains a persistent challenge, sustained in part by chronic financing gaps. Systemic barriers such as adverse gender and social norms and structural discrimination constrain women’s access to resources and opportunities, affecting women as both employees and customers of the banking sector. Women make up over half of the banking workforce but are under-represented in leadership roles, holding just 23 per cent of executive positions. Meanwhile, gender gaps in f inancial health and inclusion persist across many regions of the world, including an estimated global credit gap of USD 1.5 trillion for women entrepreneurs. Gender equality is a human right and is crucial for fostering healthy and inclusive economies. It is also a strategic imperative for banks. Aligning finance with gender equality objectives can help banks to tap into new markets, customer segments and unmet demand. Globally, it is estimated that new interest income from banks providing small and medium-sized enterprise loans to women at the same rate as men would be USD 30 billion. Empowering women as leaders, employees, entrepreneurs, suppliers and customers can help a bank to strengthen its climate and social risk governance, boost innovation, and foster trust and loyalty with its customers. This guidance aims to support banks in building holistic gender equality and women’s empowerment strategies structured around four interconnected outcome areas: 1. Gender-responsive leadership and work environment focuses on a bank’s role as an employer in providing decent work in which employees of all genders, roles and levels participate fully. 2. Portfolio shift considers how banks—as financiers—can drive changes in the real economy through corporate and business clients, by integrating gender-focused criteria into due diligence processes and aligning financial flows with gender equal ity and women’s empowerment objectives. 3. Financial health and inclusion focuses on a bank’s role as a financial service provider in supporting women, girls and women-owned and women-led micro, small and medium-sized businesses to access, use and benefit from financial products and services that ultimately support their financial health. 4. Ecosystem shift considers banks’ wider impact in influencing or partnering with governments, suppliers and communities to drive systemic change beyond the f inancial sector. Aligned to the Principles for Responsible Banking and the Women’s Empowerment Principles, this guidance equips banks to set targets, drive progress and establish transparent and accountable monitoring and reporting practices in each of the four outcome areas. Resources and tools are provided to support banks at each step in this process, enabling them to: ◾ Undertake a context analysis to understanding the gender-related needs, risks and opportunities and relevant regulatory and policy frameworks within the bank’s operating context. ◾ Complete a performance assessment to understand the bank’s current performance across the four outcome areas, which can be used to set a baseline for targets. ◾ Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) targets. ◾ Design and deliver action plans to achieve the targets set, with clearly defined roles, timelines and resources. ◾ Monitor and report on progress. Whether a bank is just beginning its gender equality journey or seeking to deepen its commitment, this guidance provides a clear, actionable pathway to impact. It supports banks to take meaningful steps to integrate gender equality into workplace-related policies and practices, business strategies and portfolios, products and services. By applying these insights, banks can drive progress towards a more equitable and resil ient financial system, and healthier and more inclusive economies that benefit people of all genders.

Private Businesses and Armed Conflict: An Introduction to Relevant Rules of International Humanitarian Law

Resource Key: NQ2ITCCQ

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Geneva, Switzerland

Institution: International Committee of the Red Cross

Date: 2024

This brochure explains why, when and how international humanitarian law (IHL) is relevant to private businesses. It is primarily intended for businesspeople, particularly corporate legal counsel and others in corporate compliance or human rights due diligence roles. However, it also aims to answer questions that humanitarian practitioners, legal experts, government officials and others frequently ask about business and IHL. Accordingly, additional technical information on several issues is provided in breakout boxes. Businesses need to be aware of and prepared to seek advice about IHL whenever there is a possibility their oper ations, supply chains, partnerships or investments may affect or be affected by a situation of armed conflict. A business may expand its operations or relationships in ways that bring it into contact with an armed con f lict, or an armed conflict may break out in a place where a business is already involved. Either way, such situations can present new and unfamiliar risks. What a business does or does not do in such circumstances can have important consequences for affected civilian populations, as well as its own personnel and assets. Beyond the harm to victims, being involved in IHL violations can negatively impact a business’ reputation, operations and financial situation. Businesses are increasingly aware of their human rights responsibilities. Many have adopted policies that align with initiatives like the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (see the breakout box below). In situations of armed conflict, international human rights law remains relevant, but IHL takes on an essential role as it is a separate set of specialized rules that aim to limit suffering during situations of armed conflict. IHL directly binds all individuals whose activities are sufficiently connected to an armed conflict. This can include the personnel of private business entities, depending on what they do. This means that under inter national law, IHL can directly apply to the operations of a private business. Business activities that physically take place in a country where an armed conflict is occurring may be more likely to become subject to IHL. However, other kinds of relationships can also make IHL relevant to a private business, even when its personnel and assets are not physically located where the conflict is taking place. If violations of IHL occur, private businesses and their personnel can be subject to civil liability or criminal liabil ity under international or national laws. States have obligations under IHL to ensure that private individuals and businesses under their authority respect IHL, including through enacting and enforcing national legislation. Humanitarian, reputational and operational considerations should also prompt a business to recognize its responsibility to ensure respect for IHL by its personnel and to promote respect for IHL by others with whom it has relationships. These could include government authorities or non state armed groups, other private business entities that are its customers or in its supply chain, as well as any entities in which it invests or to which it provides financial services. IHL also protects the personnel and assets of businesses. IHL restricts the circumstances in which parties to a conflict can seize, damage or destroy private property. Personnel and assets may not be directly attacked as long as they retain their civilian character. Even attacks targeting a valid military target are prohibited if the inciden tal damage to civilians and civilian objects, including the personnel and assets of businesses, would be expected to be disproportionate. However, the decisions a business takes on the activities of its personnel and the use of its assets can also result in its personnel and assets losing protection, thus being exposed to higher risks. For all these reasons, businesses need to be familiar with the rules of IHL that are relevant to their operations or that may become relevant to them. This brochure aims to improve this awareness and understanding, and to highlight further resources to help private business actors adopt appropriate policies and practices.

Responsible business conduct for climate action: Strengthening the contribution of business to climate goals

Resource Key: EZJB7DL2

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Paris

Institution: OECD

Date: November 2024

Language: en

Businesses have a key role to play in driving effective and credible action in response to the climate crisis. This includes financing, developing, and supplying climate solutions and technologies, as well as by progressively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adverse impacts on carbon sinks in line with global temperature goals and by contributing to climate resilience and adaptation. Businesses are increasingly engaging in climate action, driven by stakeholders’ demands and expectations, a fast-evolving policy and regulatory landscape and an acute understanding of the financial risks posed by climate change. Setting net zero and emission reduction targets, adopting transition plans, and disclosing climate-related information are among the measures being adopted. In parallel, a range of voluntary methodologies, frameworks and coalitions have emerged to support investors and businesses in better managing and disclosing their exposure to climate change related risks and its financial impacts. This paper explores how OECD principles and standards on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) can support effective climate action by business in relation to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, while supporting a just transition. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the OECD Guidelines) and associated risk-based due diligence guidance can equip business with a useful framework to manage their adverse climate risks and impacts and align their conduct with climate policy goals. The OECD Guidelines constitute the only internationally agreed instrument calling on businesses to align their GHG emissions and impacts on carbon sinks with internationally agreed temperature goals, based on best-available science. They include expectations for climate mitigation as well as adaptation and call on companies to understand and respond to climate risks and impacts associated with their own activities and operations as well as those directly linked to their operations, products, and services by a business relationship. More specifically, the OECD Guidelines provide recommendations on: • Having commitments on climate mitigation and adaptation through science-based policies, strategies, and transition plans. • Adopting, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on short, medium and long-term mitigation targets which: o Are science-based. o Include absolute and also, where relevant, intensity based GHG reduction targets. o Take into account scope 1, 2, and, to the extent possible based on best available information, scope 3 GHG emissions. • Prioritising eliminating or reducing sources of emissions over offsetting, compensation, or neutralization measures in the context of climate mitigation actions • Avoiding activities, which undermine climate adaptation for, and resilience of, communities, workers and ecosystems. RBC instruments encourage a proactive, risk-based and engagement-centred approach to climate action. Under a risk-based approach businesses are encouraged to prioritise their most significant risks and take appropriate action. The RBC approach allows for continuous improvement over time and supports responsible engagement rather than de-risking wherever possible making it an appropriate framework to enable proactive action and transition-oriented and stakeholder driven approaches, which can contribute to effective and well-informed climate strategies. RBC instruments also provide a holistic framework for fostering consistency of business climate action with other environmental and social policy goals and contributing to a just transition. Further collaboration and dialogue between environment, labour, human rights, finance, and corporate governance policy communities will be important to supporting businesses in responding to and implementing growing expectations regarding climate action.

3D: From Social Readiness to Social Acceptance

Resource Key: TK4JDE6Y

Document Type: Conference Paper

Creator:

Place: Calgary, Canada

Date: 20-24 October 2024

Language: en

The “3D” industrial pilot aims to demonstrate an innovative process for capturing CO2 from industrial activities (the DMX™), currently operational at ArcelorMittal’s Dunkirk site. Supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, the project seeks to validate replicable technical solutions for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). It is driven by a consortium that includes TotalEnergies, ArcelorMittal, Axens, and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN). The paper will present the results from research focusing on social acceptance, led by TotalEnergies and with the collaboration of ERM and SYSTRA. A two phased methodology was employed. The first analysed the context and stakeholders’ perceptions through literature review and interviews with them (35 persons contacted, 30 interviewed among the principal groups of stakeholders identified). The second phase of the study involved forming a Civil Exploration Committee (CEC), comprising a selection of these stakeholders with the main ambition to strengthen dialogue on the technology and its deployment and co-construct an effective information and communication system for the future phases of the project 3D. Five CEC sessions were planned on different themes, co-defined with stakeholders (installation, visit of the demonstrator, landfill/storage, employment/training, safety/environment). These works done with stakeholders showed that the territory of Dunkirk offers good conditions for the development of the project 3D in terms of political support and industrial dynamics (energy and hub projects around the port, existing of the industrial ecosystem), which is positive in terms of social readiness. They also reveal positive elements for the social acceptance, because the interviewed stakeholders have trust in the Consortium and the technology of CCUS to fight climate change and believe that the project will bring economic and reputational benefits to the territory. In addition, participants of the CEC also recognized the efforts made by the Consortium to engage dialogue with them and appreciated the format of this committee. Nevertheless, some factors, such as the lack of knowledge on CCUS, the concerns about CO2 storage and local risks or the decline of the participation within the CEC may challenge this acceptance and must have been considered with attention. This papers also presents how these challenges are addressed for the preparation of the future dialogue strategy of the Consortium.

Extractive Industries: The Management of Resources as a Driver of Sustainable Development

Resource Key: TIMF6B2B

Document Type: Book

Creator:

Place: Oxford

Date: 2018

Language: en

This book is about the challenges and opportunities that countries face in using their extractive industries to achieve inclusive development. Its focus is on the developing world, both low-income countries (LICs) and middle income countries (MICs), drawing upon the experiences of high-income countries (HICs) when relevant. Extractive industries have shaped the economies, societies, and politics of nations—for good and bad. Today’s richest nations owe at least part of their high living standards to the extractive industries. Yet while a large national income can result from resource wealth, it can also be associated with acute social inequality and deep poverty—the very opposites of inclusive development. Many LICs and MICs struggle to diversify their economies, and create redistributive fiscal systems, in ways that reduce poverty, inequality, and social division. The very worst cases see violent conflict and civil war. The phrase ‘resource curse’ became common coin by the turn of the millennium. Crises and resource-wars were important catalysts in a new determination to improve the sector’s governance. Global civil society, notably Global Witness and Oxfam America, together with the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) and industry bodies such as the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) have led efforts to achieve improved outcomes for the extractives sector. One of the most notable manifestations of this was the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) launched in 2002. These all recognize, in different ways, that natural resources can provide a means, when properly used, for poorer nations to decisively break with poverty. National ambitions for the extractives sector were given a major boost in the years after the millennium by an upswing in the prices of metals and fuels, following low prices in the 1980s and 1990s. China’s economic boom resulted in a seemingly insatiable demand for commodities of all kinds and this, together with limited supplies after years of low investment, created a ‘commodities super-cycle’. Growth elsewhere in the global economy added to demand. Euphoria returned during the super-cycle years from 2002 with buoyant export earnings and public revenues, as well as higher economic growth (though often of a narrow and undiversified kind). Very large investments were made in mining as well as in oil and gas after many years of moderating capacity; much of this was in the LICs and MICs. Producers rode the super-cycle, including a sharp dip during the 2008–9 financial crisis, for more than a decade until it finally stalled in 2011–12. However, the price slump did remind companies and governments of the commercial and economic risks associated with the extractives sector. Companies cut production and scaled back many of the investment plans made during the super-cycle years. Host countries initiated macroeconomic adjustments in response to lower revenues, their options limited in many cases by a failure to build fiscal buffers and diversify their economies during the good times. Painful adjustments are still ongoing in countries that over accumulated debt. Prices are now (January 2018) above their lowest levels, though for oil and gas, as well as many metals, they are still far from their super-cycle peak. Nevertheless, prices in real terms remain above their long-term trend levels in the case of most metals as well as oil (see Stevens, Chapter 4, this volume). Some metals required in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles and in renewable energy technologies, notably cobalt and lithium, experienced spectacular price increases in 2017/18 because of significant supply–demand imbalances. The size and direction of future price changes are inherently uncertain. A myriad of forces will determine the future of each extractives sector, favouring some fuels, minerals, and metals at the expense of others. The forces driving the future include: the pace and pattern of global economic growth (with India perhaps nudging China’s position as the leading driver of Asian commodities demand); the speed of the shift from fossil fuels to renewables in the overall energy mix (in turn a product of technical change as well as national and international climate action); and changes in the industry itself, including the pace of technical change that makes it easier to develop new deposits in more difficult locations, as well as the adoption of ‘green mining’ in order to minimize the sector’s own environmental footprint. Developing countries need a strong understanding of these trends as they play out. LICs and MICs have become significantly more important as producers of extractives in recent years (see Roe and Dodd, and Ericsson and Löf—Chapters 2 and 3, respectively, in this volume). Since this tendency will almost certainly continue, their prospects for growth and poverty reduction significantly depend upon their extractives sectors and how these are managed. Although ‘keep it in the ground’ is a theoretical policy option, it is not an option that is likely to be widely adopted in practice (see Lahn and Stevens, Chapter 5). This book aims to provide a comprehensive contribution to a lively and ongoing debate, in which many stakeholders now participate: governments and their international partners (bilateral and multilateral development agencies); the industry itself (the companies together with industrial associations such as ICMM and IPIECA); community-based organizations (and their NGO and INGO partners); the national and international media; and the research community in universities and think tanks. This debate centres on achieving practical action to deliver inclusive development using resource wealth, protect often fragile environments from damage, enhance the rights of affected communities (and the benefits to them), and support climate change action. Central to these tasks is the creation of a set of effective and accountable institutions to manage the extractives sector and maximize its potential for development impact. In addition to capturing the flavour of current debate on extractives and development, this book offers ideas and some recommendations in most of the main policy areas. Since no single person has expertise on every facet of extractives and development, this book brings together a range of international experts from many disciplines and organizations; it therefore represents a large amount of collective insight and experience. The book is a major output of UNU-WIDER’s latest research project on extractives and development which began in 2015. The book is accompanied by a website which makes available additional materials. The book does not seek to define a single formula for ‘success’. Instead it offers a comprehensive but integrated account of the multiple ingredients that are needed to turn the undoubted potential of extractives wealth into the reality of sustained improvements in living stand ards and social well-being. Section 1.2 presents ten of the most important messages of this book. The chapter concludes with a restatement of what we believe this book offers to ongoing debate and action on this most vital of development issues.

Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders

Resource Key: CWNPICCL

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Nairobi, Kenya

Institution: UN Environment Programme

Date: 2024

Language: en

The international community is grappling with an unprecedented loss of biological diversity—a crisis that directly impacts both biodiversity and human rights. The degradation of biodiversity significantly impairs the ability of all people, particularly Indigenous Peoples and communities dependent on natural ecosystems, to enjoy their human rights. States are the primary duty-bearers under international human rights law; however, private conservation organizations and funders are crucial in driving conservation efforts and promoting a human rights-based approach. Despite their significance, acommon understanding of their human rights responsibilities has been largely lacking. To bridge this gap, UNEP is introducing the ten Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders. These principles guide private actors toward a human rights-based approach to conservation, fostering more inclusive and equitable practices that protect and promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples and others in conservation. The Principles also provide general guidance for all stakeholders on how to center human rights in conservation efforts and contribute to achieving the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) through a rights-based approach.

The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and Other Resources: A Booklet for Defenders

Resource Key: X9YFCKJL

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Bangkok; Geneva; Jakarta; Kathmandu

Institution: FORUM-ASIA

Date: 2020

Language: en

FORUM-ASIA recognises the need to address the ongoing trends of violations against human rights defenders (HRDs) in Asia, and their key role in ensuring that everyone’s human rights are protected and fulfilled. To this end, FORUM-ASIA has produced a booklet explanatory of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom, commonly referred to as the Declaration on human rights defenders. This booklet aims to emphasise the role and rights of human rights defenders as well as the responsibilities of others towards them, and to provide practical information to enhance their security.

मानवअधिकार रक्षकसकञ्बन्धी घोषणापत्र र अन्य सरोतसामजी मानवअधिकार रक्षकहरूका लाजि हातेपुस्तिका

Resource Key: WJXGQZ6S

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Bangkok; Geneva; Jakarta; Kathmandu

Institution: FORUM-ASIA

Date: 2020

Language: Nepali

एसियामा मानवअधिकार रक्षकविरूद्ध जारी अधिकार उल्लङ्घनका प्रवृत्तिलाई
सम्बोधन गर्नुप्न आवश्यकता र हरेक मानिसको मानवअधिकारको
संरक्षण र परिपूर्तिको सुनिश्चितता का लागि उनीहरूको महत्वपूर्ण भूमिकालाई
फोरम एसिया मनन गर्दछ ।

यसका लागि फोरम एसियाले, सामान्यत: मानवअधिकार रक्षकसम्बन्धी घोषणापत्र
भनिने गरेको विश्वव्यापी रूपमा मान्यताप्राप्त मानवअधिकार र मौलिक स्वतन्त्रताको
प्रवर्धन तथा संरक्षण गर्न व्यक्ति, समूह तथा समाजका अंगहरूको अधिकार तथा
उत्तरदायित्वसम्बन्धी घोषणापत्रको वर्णनकारी हातेपुस्तिका तयार गरेको छ ।

यो हातेपुस्तिका मानवअधिकार रक्षकहरूको भूमिका र अधिकारका साथसाथै उनीहरूप्रति
अन्यको उत्तरदायित्व, र तिनको सुरक्षा बढाउनका लागि व्यावहारिक सूचना उपलब्ध
गराउने कुरालाई जोड दिनमा लक्षित छ ।

মানবাধিকারকর্মী-সংক্রান্ত ঘোষণাপত্র মানবাধিকারকর্মীদের জন্য পুস্তিকা

Resource Key: C2VEPV3A

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Bangkok; Geneva; Jakarta; Kathmandu

Institution: FORUM-ASIA

Date: 2020

Language: Bengali

আইন ও সালিশ কেন্দ্র (আসক) এবং ফোরাম-এশিয়া, এশিয়া মহাদেশে
মানবাধিকারকর্মীদের অধিকার লঙ্ঘনের চলমান প্রবণতা মোকাবিলার প্রয়োজনীয়তা এবং
মানুষের মানবাধিকারের সুরক্ষা ও পরিপূর্ণ বাস্তবায়ন নিশ্চিত করার ক্ষেত্রে
মানবাধিকারকর্মীদের গুরুতৃপূর্ণ ভূমিকাকে স্বীকার করে।

এই প্রেক্ষাপটে বিশ্বব্যাপী স্বীকৃত মানবাধিকার এবং মৌলিক স্বাধীনতার প্রসার ও সুরক্ষার
জন্য ব্যক্তি, গোষ্ঠী এবং সমাজের বিভিন্ন অংশের অধিকার ও দায়বদ্ধতা-সম্পর্কিত
ঘোষণাপত্র- যাকে সাধারণভাবে ‘মানবাধিকারকর্মী-সংক্রান্ত ঘোষণাপত্র’ বলা হয়- তার
ওপর ভিত্তি করে ফোরাম-এশিয়া ইংরেজি ভাষায় একটি পুস্তিকা তৈরি করেছে।
বাংলাদেশের মানবাধিকারকর্মী ও সংশ্লিষ্ট অন্যদের সুবিধার্থে এ পুস্তিকাটি বাংলা ভাষায়
প্রকাশ করা হলো |

এই পুস্তিকাটিতে মানবাধিকারকর্মীদের ভূমিকা ও অধিকার এবং সেই সঙ্গে তাদের প্রতি
অন্যদের দায়দায়িত্েের বিষয়ে গুরুত্‌ আরোপ করা হয়েছে এবং তাদের নিরাপত্তা জোরদার
করার জন্য ব্যবহারিক তথ্য প্রদান করা হয়েছে |

Xanharu – Upholding Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. Legislation and Jurisprudence: Global, Regional and National Developments

Resource Key: BKG745XI

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Baguio, Philippines

Institution: Indigenous Peoples Rights International

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The centuries of struggle by Indigenous Peoples around the world against colonization, forced assimilation and systemic discrimination have resulted in the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) by the UN General Assembly in September 2007. The UNDRIP sets the minimum international standards for the respect, recognition, and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples (art. 43). The United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly reaffirmed UNDRIP, most recently explaining that it “addresses the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples and has positively influenced the drafting of several constitutions and statutes at the national and local levels and contributed to the progressive development of international and national legal frameworks and policies.” Despite this milestone achievement of Indigenous Peoples, their rights continue to be violated in law and practice in many parts of the world. However, more and more legislation and jurisprudence affirming the rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially to their lands, territories, and resources, to self-determination and to their cultural heritage, are being issued by different authoritative bodies in line with the UNDRIP and with universal and regional human rights treaties. The latter are also increasingly interpreted in a way that is consistent with UNDRIP. IPRI is therefore issuing this Digest as a compilation of legislation and jurisprudence in relation to Indigenous Peoples’ rights at the international level (UN system and perhaps others), at the regional level (regional human rights bodies), and at the national level (national courts and laws). Among other things, the cases in the Digest illustrate EMRIP’s conclusion that “many of the rights contained in the Declaration are already guaranteed by major international human rights instruments and have been given significant normative strength, including through the work of the treaty bodies, regional and national courts.” IPRI believes that sharing this information with Indigenous Peoples, their allies and others will drive increased awareness and understanding about Indigenous Peoples’ rights as an integral part of human rights law, where states have the duty to recognize, respect, protect and fulfill those rights in domestic law and practice. We hope it will also inspire policy makers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and others to give increased attention to Indigenous Peoples’ rights to eliminate systemic discrimination and social injustice committed against Indigenous Peoples. Finally, we hope it will also encourage and strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ commitment and actions in advancing the realization of their rights in law and practice. This Digest is a regular publication of IPRI and will soon be integrated into the IPRI website with search functions.

Xanharu – Defendiendo los Derechos delos Pueblos Indígenas. Legislación y Jurisprudencia: Desarrollos a nivel global, regional y nacional

Resource Key: 42ZT3HSG

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Baguio, Philippines

Institution: Indigenous Peoples Rights International

Date: December 2024

Language: es

La adopción de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (“la Declaración”) por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en septiembre de 2007 fue el resultado de siglos de lucha de los Pueblos Indígenas de todo el mundo contra la colonización, la asimilación forzada y la discriminación sistémica. La Declaración establece un los estándares internacionales mínimos para el respeto, reconocimiento y protección de los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (art. 43). La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas ha reafirmado reiteradamente la Declaración y, explicando, más recientemente, que “trata de sus derechos individuales y colectivos, ha tenido una influencia positiva en la redacción de varias constituciones y leyes a los niveles nacional y local, y ha contribuido al desarrollo progresivo de marcos jurídicos y políticas internacionales y nacionales”. A pesar de este logro histórico de los Pueblos Indígenas, sus derechos siguen siendo violados tanto en la ley como en la práctica en muchas partes del mundo. Sin embargo, diferentes organismos autorizados emiten cada vez más legislación y jurisprudencia que afirman los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, especialmente con relación a sus tierras, territorios y recursos, así como a la autodeterminación y a su patrimonio cultural, de conformidad con la Declaración, las normas universales y los tratados regionales de derechos humanos, que se están interpretando cada vez más en consonancia con la Declaración. Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas Internacional (IPRI, por sus siglas en inglés) publica este Compendio como una recopilación de legislación y jurisprudencia en relación con los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas a nivel internacional (el sistema de las Naciones Unidas y otros), a nivel regional (organismos regionales de derechos humanos) y a nivel nacional (tribunales nacionales y legislación). Los casos recogidos en el Compendio demuestran, entre otras cosas, la conclusión del Mecanismo de Expertos sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (MEDPI) de que “muchos de los derechos consagrados en la Declaración ya están garantizados por importantes instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos y han cobrado una importante fuerza normativa, particularmente merced a la labor de los órganos de tratados y los tribunales regionales y nacionales. IPRI cree que compartir esta información con los Pueblos Indígenas, sus aliados y otros, impulsará una mayor conciencia y comprensión sobre los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas como parte integral del derecho sobre los derechos humanos, que los estados tienen el deber de reconocer, respetar, proteger y cumplir, tanto en la legislación como en la práctica internas. Esperamos que también inspire a los formuladores de políticas, jueces, fiscales, abogados y otros a prestar mayor atención a los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas para eliminar la discriminación sistémica y las injusticias sociales cometidas contra ellos. Por último, esperamos también que fomente y fortalezca el compromiso y las acciones de los propios Pueblos Indígenas, para avanzar en la realización de sus derechos en la ley y en la práctica. Este Compendio es una publicación periódica de IPRI y se integrará en su sitio web con funciones de búsqueda.

Resources Matter: Ending Poverty While Protecting Nature

Resource Key: ELXQI9T7

Document Type: Book

Creator:

Place: Oxford

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The extraction and use of natural resources underpins a global economy that provides high living standards for many as well as the prospect of ending poverty in the developing world. Mining, as well as the oil and gas industries, are vitally important sectors in many developing countries. They provide substantial public revenues as well as much-needed foreign exchange, and livelihoods for many. Yet, the extractive industries are highly controversial. The continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels in energy generation and transport, together with the emissions associated with mining and metals refining, are taking the planet to dangerous levels of emissions. In addition, the extractive industries have a record of damaging nature through both pollution and the destruction of biodiversity. This book explores a central issue of our time: our materials world is simultaneously both part of the problem (especially fossil fuels) and part of its solution (the materials necessary for the technologies required for ‘net zero’). The book discusses how the extractive industries can be leveraged to generate more beneficial impacts in poorer economies and improve livelihoods at local and national levels. A central argument is that the so-called ‘resource curse’ is not inevitable. Much can be done through policy, coordinated government action in partnership with the private sector, and judicious investments to improve the prospects for resource wealth to make a positive contribution to escaping underdevelopment and poverty. Extractive industries have a key role in working with governments to achieve these goals.

Critical Transitions: Circularity, equity, and responsibility in the quest for energy transition minerals

Resource Key: 3H9G2596

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Nairobi, Kenya

Institution: United Nations Environment Programme

Date: November 2024

Language: en

The world needs vast quantities of minerals to leave the fossil fuel age behind, but these must be produced in a manner that is neither socially nor environmentally damaging. And, it needs to be done quickly. Unless the minerals used to equip the energy transition are extracted and managed responsibly and efficiently, and the benefits shared equitably across producer and consumer countries, the transition could have negative consequences on communities, development and the environment. Under a business-as-usual scenario, more ambitious climate goals, imply more intensive mineral needs (Ekins et al. Forthcoming). This paper outlines a vision for a future where more efficient, circular and responsible use of energy transition minerals equips the green transition, while concurrently meeting climate, biodiversity and pollution goals.

Benefit-Sharing Guideline: Guidance for large-scale renewable energy projects

Resource Key: HZQS3IEH

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: New South Wales

Institution: New South Wales Government

Date: November 2024

Language: en

The purpose of this guideline is to: • provide information to applicants, councils and the public about the importance of benefit sharing for large-scale renewable energy generation and storage in NSW • outline how benefit-sharing should be incorporated into State significant development (SSD) and critical State significant infrastructure (CSSI) applications for solar, wind and battery energy storage systems (BESS) • encourage coordination of benefit-sharing programs • support the rapid roll-out of solar and wind energy generation and storage in NSW, including in REZs, while ensuring that host communities experience tangible, long-term benefits from the transition to renewable energy.

Environmental and Social Policy

Resource Key: MS5ZT3IS

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: London

Institution: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is committed to promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development in the full range of its activities pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the EBRD. The Bank recognises that environmental and social sustainability is a fundamental aspect of achieving outcomes consistent with its transition mandate. Therefore, projects that foster environmental and social sustainability are among its highest priorities.
The Environmental and Social Policy (ESP):
outlines how the EBRD will manage the sustainability of its own operations and sets out the Bank’s commitments and implementation arrangements summarises how the Bank will assess and monitor the environmental and social impacts and risks of its projects sets minimum requirements for managing environmental and social impacts and risks associated with EBRD-financed projects throughout the lifetime of those projects commits the Bank to identifying opportunities to promote projects and solutions with high environmental and social benefits defines the respective roles and responsibilities of both the EBRD and its clients in designing, implementing and operating projects in accordance with this Policy.
This document supersedes the EBRD Environmental and Social Policy (2019) and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (previously called Performance Requirements).

Implementing the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework: A Developmental Evaluation

Resource Key: 3Y37HWEJ

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: Independent Evaluation Group (IEG); World Bank

Date: November 2024

Language: en

The World Bank adopted a new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) in 2016 that aims to protect people and the environment from potential adverse project impacts while promoting sustainable development. The Board of Executive Directors approved the ESF on August 4, 2016. It consists of a Vision for Sustainable Development; 10 Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which set out the requirements that apply to borrowers; an Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing (IPF), which sets out the requirements that apply to the World Bank; an Environmental and Social Directive/Procedure for IPF; and a Directive on Addressing Risks and Impacts on Disadvantaged or Vulnerable Individuals or Groups (World Bank 2017, 2021, 2023). It applies to all IPF projects initiated on or after October 1, 2018. The World Bank has also developed a Good Practice Note to assist task teams in identifying risks of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH) and to advise borrowers on how to best manage such risks. Although the ESF itself does not explicitly mention SEA/SH, various ESSs align with the recommendations of this Good Practice Note for addressing SEA/SH. The ESF is supplemented by many other guidance notes, templates, and tools.1 At the time of ESF adoption, the Board and management explicitly recognized that the ESF has the potential to create better long-term development outcomes in IPF and that evidence of improved development outcomes will be collected over time by the World Bank (World Bank 2016).

A just energy transition for communities: Large-scale wind and solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa

Resource Key: 9KWA6YFA

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Abu Dhabi

Institution: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Date: January 2025

Language: en

“Accessible, reliable and affordable energy plays an essential role in human and economic development for the people of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in improving livelihoods and access to opportunities. Renewables are crucial in this context, promising substantial socio-economic gains whilst also addressing the lack of access to electricity that hampers communities’ climate resilience, limiting their adaptive capacities and increasing their reliance on environmentally harmful fossil-based fuels.

While greater investment in renewables is essential, the creation of enabling environments for private investors could trigger a range of risks for host communities. Many of them are geographically and socio-economically marginalised. The most promising locations for large-scale solar and wind projects in Sub-Saharan Africa are often in rural areas. Yet, an accelerated roll-out of climate and energy solutions with land-intensive requirements would increase competition for land. Many rural residents’ livelihoods rely on the use of land and other natural resources that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

By examining practices at a number of specific large-scale wind and solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa, this report explores the potential benefits to communities adjacent to such projects. The report discusses benefits in a number of categories, including advantages relating to project siting, ownership structures, investments in community development, skill development and employment opportunities, local procurement, and community energy and gender.”

Community energy benefits: Powering universal wellbeing

Resource Key: K6H28I3K

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Abu Dhabi

Institution: IRENA Coalition for Action

Date: November 2024

Language: en

This report, from the Coalition for Action Working Group on Community Energy, highlights the advantages of pursuing community energy in achieving the tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 in a just and inclusive manner. Community ownership and involvement – from project inception to operation – can deliver multiple benefits across social, economic and environmental dimensions, while ensuring that the associated benefits are shared more equitably.

Decentralised solar PV: A gender perspective

Resource Key: KBCWKTYP

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Abu Dhabi

Institution: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Date: October 2024

Language: en

Decentralised renewable energy, particularly solar PV, can provide much-needed access to clean, reliable and affordable energy for remote and hard-to-electrify communities, and can also significantly boost employment opportunities in these areas. In 2023, more than 300 000 people were estimated to be directly employed in the decentralised solar PV sector across Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

However, these opportunities do not appear to be equally accessible to all. Women made up only a small portion of this workforce and face numerous barriers to engagement, including societal constraints, issues of self-perception, lack of opportunities for education and training, employer and customer biases, pay gaps, safety and mobility concerns, and a lack of workplace flexibility.

This report identifies these challenges and proposes solutions to harness the vast, transformative potential of women in the decentralised renewable energy sector. It offers a pathway to improving female inclusion in the sector by mainstreaming targeted policies and programs that provide women with access to training, education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities; and creating a positive enabling environment for women, including through outreach programs and greater job flexibility.

Bravery Amidst Adversity: A Glimpse at the Critical State of the Environmental Human Rights Defenders in South Asia

Resource Key: JK5D5A54

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED)

Date: 2024

Language: en

South Asia is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change. Rising sea levels and flooding threaten the coastal countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Landlocked Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nepal face rising temperatures, drought, and glacial melting. The region is also host to the world’s lowest-lying country, the densely populated island nation of Maldives, which faces the imminent threat of submersion. Many individuals and communities largely belonging to the poor and marginalized sectors directly rely on nature for survival. However, the government and private companies have laws, programs and policies motivated by profit that disrupt ecological balance and violate human rights. Projects such as large hydropower dams, large-scale mining, and oil refineries which wreak havoc to the environment are often framed by the State and big businesses as “development projects.” However, can they really be viewed as developments if their focus is on profit rather than well-being, sustainability, and social equity? In recent decades, environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) have been voicing their concerns with these contentious projects in their communities but are faced with tremendous efforts by the authorities to silence them. The United Nations (UN) refers to EHRDs as “individuals and groups who, in their personal or professional capacity and in a peaceful manner, strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the environment, including water, air, land, flora and fauna” (2016). This may include indigenous people, peasants, fisherfolks, activists, journalists, social movements, or anyone seeking to protect the environment. In South Asia, EHRDs have not been spared from being victims of civil and political rights violations. Reports from media and both local and international groups speak about the critical state of EHRDs in the region state-backed killings, illegal and arbitrary arrests and detention, threats, harassment, intimidation and vilification are prevalent, effectively shrinking civic space for EHRDs’ vital work towards protecting lives and landscapes. Hence, it is crucial to report the experiences of EHRDs concerning their work on environmental rights and protection. Nepalese armed police and military engaged in repressing the Indigenous Tamang community resisting a power transmission line and station encroaching on their land in Jan 2023 (Struggle Against Marginalization of Nationalities). This publication aims to provide an overview of the situation and struggles of EHRDs in South Asia by identifying various types of attacks they encounter, analyzing the drivers behind those attacks, and presenting the importance of EHRDs in upholding environmental rights and environmental protection. In addition, this publication will also present recommendations for the protection of EHRDs in the region. T his publication aims to provide an overview of the situation and struggles of EHRDs in South Asia by identifying various types of attacks they encounter, analyzing the drivers behind those attacks, and presenting the importance of EHRDs in upholding environmental rights and environmental protection. In addition, this publication will also present recommendations for the protection of EHRDs in the region. This publication will only focus on three countries, namely India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. As South Asia is such a vast, complex, and diverse region, it does not provide a comprehensive situation of EHRDs in the region. Sources of information include publications and articles. The case studies and recommendations are based on interviews with EHRDs T his publication will only focus on three countries, namely India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. As South Asia is such a vast, complex, and diverse region, it does not provide a comprehensive situation of EHRDs in the region. Sources of information include publications and articles. The case studies and recommendations are based on interviews with EHRDs.

Impact assessment of the governance principles in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities: the case of the Bui Dam in Ghana

Resource Key: Z3KMM7NZ

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: 2024

Language: en

Any form of resettlement of people requires applying some governance processes to guide its implementation processes. Resettlement and governance – are entangled because acceptability and ownership of a resettlement programme by community members are associated with the manner of application of good governance principles. Several studies have focused on the impact of resettlements on affected people and communities, however, little is known about the impact of the governance principles being applied in the implementation of resettlements on the hosts. This study seeks to investigate the impact of governance principles applied in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities. A good governance principles framework was used, using the case of the Bui Dam resettlement in Ghana. Findings of the paper, obtained via a mixed-methods approach, indicate that in the Bui Dam resettlement, the governance processes failed to protect the hosts’ interests as they perceived public participation and transparency to be low and no fair compensation received. The study demonstrates that governance processes of resettlements in the Global South appear feeble to protect host communities’ interests.

Understanding the role qualitative methods can play in next generation impact assessment

Resource Key: GJJBWUYX

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: March 2025

Language: en

Since its inception, impact assessment (IA) has been perceived by many to be a largely technical, quantitative exercise. However, as jurisdictions shift towards a more sustainability-oriented IA that accounts for a wider range of social, cultural, economic, health and well-being, and equity implications of proposed projects and strategic initiatives, values and subjectivity come more to the fore. Making predictions now needs innovative, and rigorous applications of qualitative methods that enable meaningful inclusion of diverse knowledges, values, and information sources, whilst at the same time giving confidence to decision makers and other stakeholders about the evidence base. Adopting such qualitative methods in practice is hindered by a lack of clarity of the role of qualitative methods in the delivery of sustainability-oriented IA. Guided by findings from a thematic analysis of primary data gathered through an international survey supplemented by semi-structured interviews and a workshop, the novel contribution of this paper is to clarify how and why qualitative methods can best contribute to the effective delivery of next generation IA.

White Paper: Leveraging the Spectrum of Finance for Just Transitions

Resource Key: WJU95BGF

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: London

Institution: Institute for Human Rights and Business

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The financial system must play a central role in delivering just transitions to a net-zero and climate resilient economy. In essence, the just transitions concept reflects the strategies needed to ensure that climate action maximises social benefits (for example for workers and communities) while also actively managing the social risks of transitions. Making this happen is set to involve significant changes to financial practice, and early-stage experimentation is emerging in public and private finance. Now is the time to take stock and identify how to scale just transitions finance. This report seeks to address one dimension of this challenge by illustrating specific financial instruments that are already or could be better designed to contribute to the just transition. This report maps a range of 30 examples of financial instruments being deployed across the fields of public, private, and blended finance. Some of the examples mapped can be included under multiple categories. All of the mechanisms mapped are worthy of further exploration. Some might be better suited for certain types of transitions or certain types of financial actors. Many might be described as forms of “blended finance” between public, private, and/or philanthropic sources. All work under the assumption that private sector finance will need to become the primary source for financing transitions to more sustainable economic activities if we are to find the trillions of dollars urgently needed annually by 2030, and 2050 longer-term. Some of the examples self-declare their commitment or alignment to just transitions principles. Others are not explicitly “declared” as just transitions mechanisms or instruments but nonetheless demonstrate elements of implicit alignment or the potential for greater alignment in future. The selection of examples cited is far from exhaustive and intended only to illustrate a small slice of what is in reality a more complex spectrum. However, it is hoped that the selection gives a sense of the variety and range of instruments that can and must be creatively leveraged moving forward.In terms of scope, the examples highlighted focus almost exclusively on instruments designed to support the achievement of net-zero. As the physical impacts of climate change intensify, achieving ‘just resilience’ is becoming a growing focus for government policy as well as for the financial sector. Furthermore, beyond this first sample of 30 examples, there are likely to be many other financial instruments which could be tailored to support the just transition. But a major constraint holding back finance is the lack of agreed principles, taxonomies and metrics for the just transition. Concrete steps can be taken by financial actors to increase alignment between the actions needed to address the climate crisis and protect the human rights and development prospects of vulnerable communities. This is most urgent within the realms of private finance, from where most financial resources will need to come in the years ahead, but where the least progress has been made so far. Looking ahead, increasing attention should be placed on the quality and accountability of climate finance in terms of socio-economic process and performance. Just transitions frameworks should acknowledge the importance of the timing and cohesion of activities towards stated goals. Because of how far-reaching the socio-economic impacts of climate action projects can be, and how equally far-reaching efforts to mitigate harms must be, careful planning and communication is essential. A substantial amount of work in projects should be carried out in the design stage, focused on identifying potential impacts of specific actions (both positive and negative) through extensive analysis and meaningful stakeholder engagement. These steps are critical to defining appropriate actions in subsequent phases. Monitoring and evaluation will also be crucial to ensure that defined activities are truly supportive of the rights and interests of workers, communities and other affected stakeholders and that rapid, continuous improvement is the norm: robust metrics are needed to track performance and outcomes. In support of this ambition, the following conclusions to governments and public financial institutions as well as business and private financial institutions are offered as a starting point in the development of more dynamic approaches. Whilst the primary responsibilities lie with these actors, civil society must also be actively involved in the evolution of just transitions finance, playing a crucial role in driving integrity, inclusivity, and accountability. As such, their capacities for engaging with various actors, instruments, and forms of finance should be supported and strengthened by both public and private financial actors. This report is a mere snapshot of the spectrum of finance and the potential for each actor across public, private, and blended finance domains to play their part in transforming the financial system and intentionally serving just transitions pathways. The just transitions finance ecosystem is still relatively small, and mainstreaming is the ultimate aim. The authors and many other organisations are actively collaborating on innovations, research, and sharing concrete examples of practice to further these aims. We invite you to join us in these collaborations.