Putting Rights First in the Green Transition

Due Diligence, Environmental Justice and the Right to Say No

The current scramble for raw materials for industrial use, including for the digital and Green transitions, will create disproportionate burdens on many communities in Europe and the Global South

As the climate and environmental crises worsen, proposed solutions to tackle rising temperatures risk reestablishing the societal relations that got us here in the first place. To achieve climate and environmental justice, we must first understand which communities and people will be most affected by energy transitions and what is the role of human rights in corporate activities. How we avoid these injustices will be determined by whose voices are heard, whether citizens and communities are aware of their rights, and whether legislation is in place to ensure corporations and States prioritise the rights of people and the planet.

We hope that this event will broaden the understanding of environmental justice in Europe and the Global South, building on the concept of the Right to Say No — a legal framework that can support communities’ participation in decisions about mining projects related to the land or territory they live on and depend on — and spark a discussion about the type of future policies needed to secure environmental justice in Europe and beyond. A strong EU due diligence law that takes into account companies’ human rights, climate and environmental impacts recognising the rights of local communities could be part of the solution. A robust law is needed now more than ever to achieve a sustainable economy that works for people and the planet.

Together, we can put an to end environmental injustices and contribute to the construction of a just and sustainable world for future generations.

When: February 28, 2023

Hour: 17:00 – 19:30 Central European Time (CET)

Where: European Parliament - SPINELLI 5E1

Remote connection will be possible.