Climate and Human Rights Workshop for Business Practitioners

SweCham is pleased to invite you to join us during the UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum for a Climate and Human Rights Workshop for Business Practitioners hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, by the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, the UN Global Compact Network Thailand, and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, on Tuesday, 6 June 2023 from 11:00 to 13:00.

Due to multiple factors, the Asia Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis.  Sectors that are essential to economies in the region, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, forestry, energy and tourism, are key contributors to the climate crisis and will likely be the focus of adaptation and mitigation strategies.  Responses by governments globally to the climate crisis, including adaptation, mitigation, and transition policies, will have significant human rights impacts on people.

Businesses globally are also developing their responses to the climate crisis through adaptation, mitigation, and transition strategies and activities that address the physical risks to the climate crisis and the transition to net zero.  These activities will also have human rights impacts on people.  The need for just transitions and rights-respecting climate action is widely recognised. Increasingly businesses are expected by investors and regulators to address climate and human rights holistically.  Practically, business practitioners are seeking ways to better join up their approaches to climate and human rights to ensure climate-sensitive respect for human rights and rights-respecting climate action.

This case study-based workshop will focus on the human rights impacts of the climate crisis and how companies can better address climate and human rights holistically.  Specifically, the session will explore the human rights risks of company adaptation and transition strategies.  In addition, external experts on climate and human rights will also be included in the session.

Questions to be addressed in the workshop, include

• What are the pressing human rights impacts of the climate crisis and what are the implications for businesses?
• What are the roles and responsibilities of businesses in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation?
• What is the role of human rights due diligence in the context of the climate crisis?
• How can companies embed human rights due diligence in their responses to the climate crisis?
• Climate litigation: how to remediate those impacted by companies’ climate-related impacts?

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 6 June 2023

Time: 11:00 – 13:00

*The venue and agenda will be shared with confirmed participants.