Renewable Energies Value Chain
A just transition to a net-zero carbon economy
BHRRC Renewable Energy & Human Rights Benchmark Briefing
Renewable energy is key for our transition to a low-carbon economy. Renewable energy companies and investors are at the forefront of the Just Energy Transition. Their human rights policies and practices must ensure that this transition is both fast and fair.
The resources below provide a series of briefings and online platforms analysing the renewable energies value chain, from mineral exploration and extraction to manufacturing and project deployment and their human rights implications. They include companies' human rights policies and practices, as well as human rights risks in their supply chains. The briefings highlight human rights concerns, examples of good practice, as well as cases showing that failure to respect human rights can result in project delays, legal procedures and costs for renewable energy companies, underlying the urgency to strengthen human rights due diligence.
Sector-specific briefings
Practical Guide for Investors
This briefing sets out how investors can help tackle the climate crisis while respecting human rights in a just transition.
Wind and Hydro Sectors
This briefing analyses 50 wind, hydropower and utility companies’ human rights policies and practices as well as allegations about wind and hydropower projects.
Solar, Bioenergy and Geothermal Sectors
This briefing analyses 59 solar, bioenergy and geothermal companies' human rights policies and practices on five key areas: human rights commitment, community consultations, grievance mechanisms, labour rights and supply chain monitoring.
Further resources
Interactive Company Platforms
The Resource Centre’s interactive platforms on renewable energy provide a mapping of company responses from the wind & hydropower sectors as well as the solar, bioenergy and geothermal sectors. Click to explore and compare company approaches to human rights.
Case Studies
The Resource Centre is collecting case studies of best practices and allegations of abuse against renewable energy companies. Cases are featured on our online portal and can be explored by region, sector, and type of issue. Companies, investors and civil society are welcome to share cases by emailing [email protected]
Mapping the Renewable Energy Sector to the SDGs
This report highlights how renewable energy project developers and operators can best support the achievement of the SDGs by incorporating responsible and human rights-respecting practices into their core business operations.
Spotlight
Transition Minerals Tracker
The Transition Minerals Tracker is a project that tracks mining operations related to solar energy, wind energy and electric vehicles worldwide. It tracks company human rights policies, as well as allegations against mining companies extracting minerals key to the energy transition.
Renewable Energy & Human Rights Benchmark
A rights-respecting renewable energy will be vital if we are to deliver a fast and fair energy transition. This second global human rights benchmark examines the human rights policies of 15 of the largest wind and solar companies.
Podcast: How can renewable energy overcome its human rights problems?
The renewable energy sector’s poor human rights performance places its legitimacy at risk. Jessie Cato from Business & Human Rights Resource Centre sheds light on how the industry can avoid labour abuse, land grabs and other violations.
