26 June 2020

BlackRock provided the following statement in response to BHRRC's Renewable Energy and Human Rights Benchmark:

“BlackRock believes human rights due diligence is a crucial component of responsible investing, so it is disappointing that the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre failed to engage with us in compiling its report.

“The benchmark appears to consider asset operators and financial investors similarly, apparently ignoring their very different profiles. It also fails to acknowledge BlackRock’s many public commitments to upholding human rights standards across its business and investments. The renewable power strategies we run on behalf of our clients adhere to a number of publicly available, firm-wide policies which ensure the rights of our employees, partners, contractors and local communities are respected and upheld.”

BHRRC contacted BlackRock six times as part of its formal engagement around this benchmark. BHRRC received no response or bounce back from its outreach. 

For more information on BHRRC’s benchmark methodology and outreach to companies see page 19 of the report.