Post by account_disabled on Feb 14, 2024 5:46:16 GMT -5
Although it sometimes seems like a distant issue, climate change poses a direct threat to human rights, and surprisingly, it is closely linked to modern slavery. This connection is based on the fact that climate change manifests itself as a human rights issue, putting both the lives and livelihoods of the population as a whole at risk, but impacting more severely those who are most vulnerable, increasing their exposure to situations of human trafficking and modern slavery. This connection has become more evident in recent years, and failure to pay attention to modern slavery threats related to climate change can lead to substantial financial risks for investors, as noted in the report “ Bridging ESG Silos: The Intersection of Climate Change and Modern Slavery » which delves into the exploration of the risks arising from the relationship. climate change and modern slavery Climate change as a threat to human rights Climate change is undoubtedly one of the most pressing challenges of our time, but until recently it was seen primarily as an environmental problem. However, this perspective has been evolving, since climate change not only affects our natural environment, but also has a direct impact on society. To better understand this connection, it is essential to consider an alarming fact: around 50 million people are subjected to modern slavery on any given day. According to the World Bank, it is expected that by 2050, some 216 million people will be forced to migrate within their own countries due to climate change alone. This forced migration makes them still vulnerable to human trafficking and modern slavery.
Climate change and modern slavery Human rights risks Climate change poses two main types of risks to human rights: Physical risks : These risks can be “sudden,” such as storms and wildfires, or “gradual,” such as droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and ocean acidification. Sudden and gradual events can destroy homes, infrastructure, food and water sources, and livelihoods. People affected by extreme weather events are often forced to work in precarious conditions or migrate in search of new jobs. This increases their vulnerability to human traffickers and can lead to labor exploitation. women Bosnia and Herzegovina Phone Number List and girls are more exposed to situations of abuse Transition risks : The transition from high-carbon fossil fuels to low-carbon renewable energy sources creates two types of transition risk. On the one hand, the phase-out of fossil fuels may affect workers who lack green economy skills or are located in disadvantaged regions, increasing their vulnerability to poor working conditions and human trafficking. On the other hand, the introduction of renewable energy can create human rights risks at stages such as land acquisition, resource extraction, materials processing and equipment manufacturing, including child exploitation in cobalt mines. and forced slavery in the production of polysilicon, the latter an important material in the electronics and solar energy industries. Real world examples To understand the threat of climate change to human rights, it is useful to analyze two real-world cases: Case study: Super Typhoon Haiyan In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, claiming the lives of 6,300 people and displacing 4.4 million people. The most affected region, Eastern Visayas, was one of the poorest in the country and its residents were particularly susceptible to human trafficking. The super typhoon forced tens of thousands of residents to flee devastated areas, many heading to the capital Manila.
In the aftermath of the storm, cases of human trafficking were reported, with 54% of villages surveyed reporting children working in hazardous conditions and 39% of villages reporting an increase in cases of child labor. identify a victim of human trafficking Case Study: Cobalt Extraction for Renewable Energy Cobalt is a crucial mineral in lithium-ion batteries, which power the renewable energy industry. However, serious human rights violations have been reported in cobalt mining. It is estimated that at least 35 thousand children work in cobalt mines around the world. These mines often operate illegally, and miners are exposed to toxic dust, which can cause serious lung illnesses. Companies that use modern slavery, either directly or indirectly, in their renewable energy supply chains may face legal consequences, including fines and lawsuits. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed in the United States against five large technology companies, alleging that they knowingly profited from the use of child labor in their cobalt supply chains. In addition to legal risks, increased regulatory scrutiny can lead to stricter reporting requirements in supply chains and more rigorous audits, with severe penalties for non-compliant companies. eradicate child labor Action plan to identify risks Given the complexity of the relationship between climate change and human rights risks, it is crucial that investors take a systematic approach to identifying risks related to modern slavery in the context of climate change. This implies: Identify whether a company's most labor-intensive operations are located in regions vulnerable to sudden or gradual climate events. Assess how companies located in high-risk regions take into account labor considerations, such as the risk of large-scale migration following sudden weather events or the risk of forced labor in renewable energy supply chains.
Climate change and modern slavery Human rights risks Climate change poses two main types of risks to human rights: Physical risks : These risks can be “sudden,” such as storms and wildfires, or “gradual,” such as droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and ocean acidification. Sudden and gradual events can destroy homes, infrastructure, food and water sources, and livelihoods. People affected by extreme weather events are often forced to work in precarious conditions or migrate in search of new jobs. This increases their vulnerability to human traffickers and can lead to labor exploitation. women Bosnia and Herzegovina Phone Number List and girls are more exposed to situations of abuse Transition risks : The transition from high-carbon fossil fuels to low-carbon renewable energy sources creates two types of transition risk. On the one hand, the phase-out of fossil fuels may affect workers who lack green economy skills or are located in disadvantaged regions, increasing their vulnerability to poor working conditions and human trafficking. On the other hand, the introduction of renewable energy can create human rights risks at stages such as land acquisition, resource extraction, materials processing and equipment manufacturing, including child exploitation in cobalt mines. and forced slavery in the production of polysilicon, the latter an important material in the electronics and solar energy industries. Real world examples To understand the threat of climate change to human rights, it is useful to analyze two real-world cases: Case study: Super Typhoon Haiyan In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, claiming the lives of 6,300 people and displacing 4.4 million people. The most affected region, Eastern Visayas, was one of the poorest in the country and its residents were particularly susceptible to human trafficking. The super typhoon forced tens of thousands of residents to flee devastated areas, many heading to the capital Manila.
In the aftermath of the storm, cases of human trafficking were reported, with 54% of villages surveyed reporting children working in hazardous conditions and 39% of villages reporting an increase in cases of child labor. identify a victim of human trafficking Case Study: Cobalt Extraction for Renewable Energy Cobalt is a crucial mineral in lithium-ion batteries, which power the renewable energy industry. However, serious human rights violations have been reported in cobalt mining. It is estimated that at least 35 thousand children work in cobalt mines around the world. These mines often operate illegally, and miners are exposed to toxic dust, which can cause serious lung illnesses. Companies that use modern slavery, either directly or indirectly, in their renewable energy supply chains may face legal consequences, including fines and lawsuits. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed in the United States against five large technology companies, alleging that they knowingly profited from the use of child labor in their cobalt supply chains. In addition to legal risks, increased regulatory scrutiny can lead to stricter reporting requirements in supply chains and more rigorous audits, with severe penalties for non-compliant companies. eradicate child labor Action plan to identify risks Given the complexity of the relationship between climate change and human rights risks, it is crucial that investors take a systematic approach to identifying risks related to modern slavery in the context of climate change. This implies: Identify whether a company's most labor-intensive operations are located in regions vulnerable to sudden or gradual climate events. Assess how companies located in high-risk regions take into account labor considerations, such as the risk of large-scale migration following sudden weather events or the risk of forced labor in renewable energy supply chains.
