Responsible business and human rights

Responsible business and human rights—content

Content on responsible business and human rights in this subtopic includes the following Practice Notes and Checklists:

Corporate responsibility and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG)

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ESG—new starter guide—which sets out what ‘environmental, social and governance (ESG) encompasses and the key regulatory and legal considerations for businesses and legal professionals. It summarises the three pillars of ESG issues, their practical application, the possible ESG ratings, and tips for creating and implementing ESG strategies. The Practice Note also explains how ESG and corporate social responsibility (CSR) interact, as well as an introduction to the key legislation and guidelines which businesses must navigate in relation to due diligence, reporting and disclosure of ESG issues in their operations and supply chains. This includes the position in the UK in relation to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015), the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). It also sets out the relevance of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and its extraterritorial application to non-EU companies, as well as the United Nations’

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Latest Environment News

ECHA updates progress on PFAS restriction proposal evaluation

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has issued a progress update on the evaluation of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restriction proposal. ECHA and five European countries are reviewing over 5,600 comments received during consultation, identifying additional uses for assessment, and considering alternative restriction options beyond a full ban. The agency is evaluating the proportionality of these options for specific sectors, such as batteries and fuel cells, to inform the ongoing scientific committee evaluations.

Environment weekly highlights—21 November 2024

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis on the consultation on expanding tax conditionality to new sectors, the case of Smallbrook v BCC, considering the tension between proposals seeking to reuse and repurpose buildings and those seeking to demolish and rebuild them and will be of relevance to those involved in regeneration projects which consider the two alternatives, and what businesses need to know about ASA, AI and greenwashing. It also covers developments at the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) and Green Alliance (GA) being granted permission to intervene in the appeal of R (Rights Community Action Ltd) v the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2024] EWHC 1693 (Admin) and the launch of the Global Clean Power Alliance at G20 summit. In addition this week, the Department for Energy Security and Net zero (DESNZ) has announced of plans to introduce legislation aimed at restricting the future licensing of new coal mines in the UK the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into the legality of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Statutory Guidance on applying the Farming Rules for Water, , the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir, has announced an independent review of environmental governance in Northern Ireland, Defra has announced an update on the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers, reaffirming its commitment to launching the DRS across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in October 2027 and the Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation titled ‘River basin planning: working together 2024’, as the first consultation in the process of reviewing and updating river basin management plans (RBMPs) for 2027.

Prime Minister launches Global Clean Power Alliance at G20 summit

The Prime Minister has launched the Global Clean Power Alliance at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with 12 countries, including Brazil, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Morocco, Norway, Tanzania, and the African Union, signing up to its inaugural mission. The US and the EU will also partner with the UK on this initiative. The Alliance aims to expedite the global clean energy transition by uniting developed and developing nations to meet COP28 commitments to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency. It will have ‘Missions’ to address critical energy transition challenges, starting with a ‘Finance Mission’, co-chaired by Brazil, which seeks to unlock private finance for developing countries.

Commission publishes Q&A on importer requirements of EU Methane Regulation

The European Commission has issued guidance on importer requirements under Regulation 2024/1787/EU (the EU Methane Regulation). The Commission has clarified that there are no derogations for reporting goods from unspecified origins, and importers must provide all information set out in Annex IX. Failure to do so requires sound justification and an action plan. The guidance emphasises that importers are responsible for ensuring required information is passed down through the supply chain. Compliance can be demonstrated through OGMP 2.0 level 5 or third-party verification, with financial penalties applicable for breaches.