Calendar19 May 2021

Ipieca has launched updated Human rights due diligence guidance for the oil and gas, and alternative energy industry.

This second edition is an extensive revision reflecting the continued evolution and valuable lessons learnt by Ipieca members from their shared experiences of developing and implementing human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes.

The purpose of the guidance is to assist oil and gas companies in integrating HRDD processes into existing company processes. This can be an essential part of a company's overall risk management strategy, particularly when operating in areas where human rights issues may be more prevalent.

The guidance aims to:

  • clarify companies' responsibility to respect human rights as set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs);
  • illustrate how HRDD assists fulfilment of this responsibility;
  • support the development and/or continuous improvement of HRDD processes; and
  • promote consistent approaches to identify and address actual and potential human rights impacts.

To reflect Ipieca's new strategy to advance the oil and gas industry's contribution to the energy transition in the context of sustainable development, this edition features a new chapter on human rights and the energy transition. It discusses how the global transition to low-carbon energy sources may change the types of potential human rights impacts resulting from industry activities and suggests topics to be considered when companies are assessing the suitability of their processes for low-carbon and alternative energy projects and operations.

The guidance can be applied to upstream, midstream and downstream activities, including alternative energy, petrochemicals, refineries, retail and logistics. It can be used by company sustainability, social performance and human rights practitioners, as well as those in other parts of an oil and gas company with human rights risks touch points. It can also help those outside the industry understand a sector-specific approach to HRDD.

A summary of the guidance document is also available to download.

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