Human Rights, Business and Climate Change Program

Business impacts on the rights of marginalised and vulnerable communities that DTP works with, including Indigenous peoples, migrant workers, women and people with a disability. Business has critical responsibilities in relation to the climate crisis. DTP integrates content on Business and Human Rights and the human rights impacts of climate change into its thematic programs.

DTP began delivering dedicated capacity building programs on human rights and business in 2006. DTP’s business and human rights programs focus on building knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), the OECD Guidelines on Multi-National Enterprises and strategies and skills for engaging business and governments. DTP recognises the key role that civil society advocates can play in driving implementation of these standards, and holding business accountable.

DTP works closely with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

Over the past decade, DTP has seen an increase in its participants working on the impacts of climate change and interest in its programs from environmental human rights defenders. DTP began including content to protect and promote human rights in the context of climate change and government and business responses to climate change into its Business and Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples rights programs as well as the annual Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy program. These programs build knowledge of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).