As Southeast Asia races to scale up renewable energy, there are significant human rights and environmental risks that must be urgently addressed. However, new analysis has revealed most renewable energy companies are operating in the region without robust human rights policies in place – a foundational step to ensuring renewable energy projects are developed and deployed in a rights-respecting manner.

The analysis, published today (23 September 2024) by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, assessed the human rights policies of renewable energy companies operating and developing wind and solar projects in four key Southeast Asian countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. It provides a snapshot of key challenges and gaps in the human rights policies of these companies and issues recommendations on how to improve.

As one of the regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, there has been a concerted effort in Southeast Asia to curb emissions by transitioning to renewable energy. However, this transition has not been free from human rights abuses, with concerns raised about attacks against human rights and environmental defenders, as well as detrimental impacts on local communities.

Meanwhile, there is a concerning lack of transparency from renewable energy companies operating in the region – the first step towards effective human rights due diligence. Key findings from the analysis of these companies’ human rights policies included:

• Only four companies have published substantial commitments to respect internationally recognised human rights in their operations. 
• Only two companies expressly state a commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and clearly describe how that commitment is implemented. 
• Only three companies show processes that allow for regular engagement with legitimate representatives of communities affected by human rights impacts associated with their activities. 
• Only four companies mention they have a programme for access to renewable energy in the communities in which they operate. 
• None of the companies have a policy on the protection of human rights and environmental defenders. 
• Only two companies proactively identify their human rights risks and, thereafter, assess and prioritise such risks.

Lack of company action risks leading to conflict, suspensions, delays and rising costs. Existing business models must be transformed to deliver a just transition which is to the benefit of companies, investors and local communities. Three core Just Energy Transition Principles – shared prosperity, respect for human rights and social protection, and fair negotiation – are essential to generate public support and deliver benefit to communities, workers and companies.

Pochoy Labog, Southeast Asia Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, said: “Southeast Asia has shown a clear commitment to the green energy transition, with plans to transition to renewable energy in the region well underway. However, these efforts risk being undermined by the serious human rights risks associated with these operations – which, so far, have not been prioritised by renewable energy companies in the region. So far, these companies have not taken the risks seriously enough, with few even having published substantial commitments to respect human rights in their operations.

“Renewable energy companies play a crucial role in this transition to clean energy and must urgently build robust human rights policies to ensure renewable energy deployment in the region does not come at the cost of communities and livelihoods. A just transition is still within reach if companies act now to respect rights and build policies that promote trust with communities and workers.”

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Notes to editors:  

• The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is an international NGO that tracks the human rights impacts (positive and negative) of more than 10,000 companies across nearly 200 countries. We seek responses from companies when concerns are raised by civil society.
• This analysis will be published online on Monday 23 September 2024. Embargoed copies are available ahead of this upon request. 

Media contact: Priyanka Mogul, Senior Media Officer, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre ([email protected])