Commentary Ch. VI Paragraph 66

Achieving environmental objectives requires a whole of society approach. The Guidelines set out expectations on how enterprises should avoid and address adverse environmental impacts and contribute to reaching the goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation; the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biological diversity; the sustainable, efficient and lawful use of land, resources and energy; sustainable consumption and production including through promotion of circular economy approaches; and pollution prevention, reduction and control. International commitments, multilateral
agreements and other regulatory frameworks represent an important benchmark for understanding environmental issues and expectations. Some international agreements contain collective government objectives and may not provide detailed prescriptions regarding the responsibilities of individual enterprises in relation to such objectives. In such cases, relevant regulatory frameworks, national policy and widely recognised standards of environmental management and safeguards, and scientific evidence are important references. The text of the Environment Chapter broadly reflects the principles and objectives contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, in Agenda 21 (within the Rio Declaration) and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is also consistent with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, relevant regional conventions on access to information, public participation, and justice in environmental matters, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, relevant regional environmental agreements, and reflects standards contained in such instruments as the ISO Standard on Environmental Management Systems, the International Finance
Corporation’s Environmental and Social Performance Standards, and Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).