The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) will be in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from November 7th-18th, engaging national and local policy makers, companies across sectors, and civil society players from trade unions, NGOs, and grassroots activists to advance human rights and people-centred climate action. Below is a quick run down of some of our key engagements.

 

IHRB's flagship COP27 dialogue

High-Level Roundtable on Just Transitions: Business, Human Rights, and Climate Action
  • Host: Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), Laudes Foundation, Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI)
  • Time: 18:30-20:00 (local)
  • Where: Akhenaten (Room 150), COP27 Blue Zone
  • Recording: The dialogue was live streamed on the UNFCCC's YouTube channel and a recording now available here
  • Further background: Further background on the session and speakers is available here

There has been huge growth in the number of just transition commitments and claims in recent months and years by financial institutions, companies, and industry associations, all coloured by a wide array of interpretations and definitions of the "just" element in particular. Wide uptake of the just transition concept is not only welcome but essential to managing the social disruption that is inevitable in such wide-scale systems changes. But there is also a growing and serious risk that the term is increasingly misused and misapplied without sufficient clarity or accountability. IHRB's John Morrison will moderate a conversational and interactive dialogue around how to achieve clearer "rules of the road" over transition what constitutes "just" transition processes and outcomes in the short time remaining to meet our global climate targets. 

Featuring: 

  • Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders; IHRB Patron
  • Joan Carling, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI)
  • Megha Nath, Energy & Environment Programme Manager, Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)
  • Andreas Ahrens, Head of Climate Agenda, IKEA 
  • Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council (WGBC)
  • Leslie Johnston, CEO, Laudes Foundation 
  • Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director, Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) 
  • John Morrison, CEO, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)

 

Tuesday 8th November 2022

A Just Transition, Grounded in Human Rights: The Role of Businesses
  • Host: Raoul Wallenburg Institute (RWI)
  • Time: 13:20-14:40 (local)
  • Where: Business Sweden pavilion 
  • Livestream: You can also join the live stream on RWI Jakarta's YouTube channel

IHRB's Haley St. Dennis joins a panel of Swedish businesses to talk about the state of progress in implementing just transitions, including the applicability of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as a key climate action framework. 

Other speakers include: 

  • Maria Simonson, Head of Sustainability SSAB
  • Christina Friborg, Executive Vice President and Head of Sustainability, SEK
  • Eija Hietavuo, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Tetrapak
  • Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions programme, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
  • Yoko Lu, Country Contact Point & Regional Contact Point, YOUNGO (Youth NGO constituency of UNFCCC)
  • Victor Bernard, Raoul Wallenburg Institute (RWI) (moderator)

 

Thursday 10th November 2022

Just Wind: Business, Human Rights, and Climate Action across the Wind Energy Sector
  • Host: Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
  • Time: 14:00-15:00 (local)
  • Where: ILO Just Transition Pavilion 
  • Recording: The session was live streamed on the ILO's YouTube channel and a recording now available here
  • Further background: Further background on the session and speakers is available here

IHRB's Haley St. Dennis will moderate a panel of experts about the state of just transitions in the wind energy sector, spanning materials sourcing through to infrastructure rollout and the risks and opportunities for affected groups across the value chain, with a particular focus on indigenous peoples.

Featuring: 

  • Joan Carling, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International
  • Ben Backwell, CEO, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
  • Morten Dyrholm, Group SVP, Vestas Wind Systems A/S
  • Alan Wallis, Strategic Advisor, African Climate Foundation (ACF)
  • Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions programme, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) (moderator)

 

“Climate resilience in the built environment: adapting to a changing climate” on Civic Participation and Inclusion

IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will take part on the panel discussion on Civic Participation: how to make sure voices from communities most vulnerable to climate change impact are heard? She will discuss the challenges and opportunities for different groups in the built environment like tenants, youth, construction workers, and local communities.

  • Host: World Green Building Council (World GBC) and BuildingToCOP coalition •
  • Time: 13:30-16:30 (local)
  • Where: Buildings Pavilion (Zone C, Area 5, lot n. 113) •
  • More info: Here

 

Friday 11th November 2022

“Futures Lab: Just Transition and the Future of Work” on construction worker’s rights

This session will share best practice from trade unions, gender, employers and governments to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will participate as a respondent to the Future Lab session relating the key takeaways from the speakers to the big pictures of what “Just Transition” entails and key reflections on what’s needed from businesses and governments.

  • Host: UN High-level Champions, ITUC, Skill lab and Clean Cooking Alliance
  • Time: 11:50-12:50 (local)
  • Where: 4th Capacity-building Hub
  • More info: Here

 

Actioning a just low-carbon transition: Respecting human rights in business to achieve the Paris goals 
  • Host: World Benchmarking Association (WBA)
  • Time: 12:15-13:15 (local)
  • Where: The COP27 Danish Platform

IHRB's Haley St. Dennis joins a panel of experts to discuss how to advance action on just transitions.

Featuring: 

  • Martha Selwyn - Maritime Just Transition Task Force, UN Global Compact
  • Concepcion Boo Arias - Chief Advisor, Climate & Green Transition for A.P. Moller Maersk, A.P. Moller Mærsk
  • Camilla Roman – Policy specialist and Green Jobs and Just Transition, ILO
  • Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions programme, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
  • Elisa Estrada Holteng – Campaign Lead and strategist, BTEAM
  • Vicky Sins, World Benchmarking Alliance

 

Monday 14th November 2022

IPCC dialogue on Just Transitions
  • Host: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III (Mitigation)
  • Time: 18:15-19:45 (local) 
  • Where: IPCC Pavilion 

IHRB's John Morrison will join a panel of experts convened by the Mitigation Working Group of the UN's scientific research arm to discuss the state of just transitions understanding and progress within UNFCCC Mitigation action.

Featuring: 

  • Ben Sovacool (WG III Lead Author, Chapter 4) (keynote)
  • Mercedes Bustamante (WG III Lead Author, Chapter 7)
  • Fatima Denton (WG III Coordinating Lead Author, Chapter 17)
  • John Morrison, CEO, IHRB
  • Saliem Fakir, Executive Director, African Climate Foundation (ACF) (tbc)
  • Jim Skea (IPCC WG III Co-Chair) (moderator)

 

Wednesday 16th November 2022

“2030 is Today - how we can act NOW to halve built environment emissions by 2030” on how to enable change

This thematic session will provide an overview of leading initiatives and actors in decarbonisation of the built environment, and explore how this can be done in practice. IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will be a panelist in the session “How to enable change?” a discussion centered on the role of stakeholders to achieve a just transition in the built environment, and highlight the rights and responsibilities that each one has from a human-rights perspective.

  • Host: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
  • Time: 13:30-16:30 (local)
  • Where: Buildings Pavilion (Zone C, Area 5, lot n. 113)
  • More info: Here and livestream here

 

Thursday 17th November 2022

“Spotting embodied carbon”

The notion of ‘embodied carbon’ is an increasingly important dimension in the growing debate on reducing emissions in the built environment. The event will illustrate the concepts around embodied carbon, its framework and policy needs, and will showcase how lead markets can become a reality by collaboration between relevant actors. IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will participate as a panelist bringing the perspective of human rights in the built environment, and focusing on the social risks and opportunities in the processes of reducing embodied carbon.

  • Host: Bellona Foundation
  • Time: 10:00-11:15 (local)
  • Where: Bellona Foundation Pavilion (Area C, Delegation Pavilions 4, P82)
  • More info here (will not be livestreamed)

Speakers:

  • Irene Domínguez Pérez, Policy Analyst, Bellona Foundation
  • Pamela Conrad, Senior Fellow, Architecture 2030
  • Ola Elvestuen, Member of Energy & Environment Committee, Norwegian Parliament
  • Hugh Garnett, Senior Programme Manager – Real Estate, IIGCC
  • Alejandra Rivera, Global Programme Manager, Built Environment, IHRB
  • Mohammed Chahim, Member of the European Parliament

 

“Implementation Lab on the Built Environment 2030 Breakthrough” on the role of civil society

The implementation Lab on the Built Environment 2030 Breakthrough “All new projects completed from 2030, are net zero carbon in operation, with >40% reduction in embodied carbon” will bring together actors across the value chain to showcase existing, action- based projects, case studies, and solutions. IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will participate as a panelist representing the voice of civil society in this discussion.

  • Host: Marrakech Partnership with support from the High-Level Climate Champions
  • Time: 12:30-14:00 (local)
  • Where: Climate Action Zone, Action Room Lotus
  • Livestream: LINK available 24 hrs before 

 

“Preventing Loss and Damage: How Can Housing Resilience Strengthen Climate Adaptation” on the right to housing as driver of housing resilience, and COP27 takeaways

In this solutions circle focused on locally-led adaptation to housing resilience. IHRB’s Alejandra Rivera will participate as a Firestarter speaker to reflect on the role of housing in COP27 and ignite discussion based on IHRB’s Built Environment Programme’ experiences and participation in the COP. Participants will discuss what has been achieved to date, what actions show promise from COP27, and what can accelerate action for the next several years.

  • Host: BuildChange
  • Time: 16:30-17:30 (local)
  • Where: Area C, Local-Led Adaptation Pavilion (P74)
  • More info: Here