Environment

Business activities can significantly harm the environment and the people who depend on it. We’re pushing for higher standards and greater accountability.

Our work on the environment

OECD Watch works to strengthen corporate accountability for environmental and human rights impacts through our work on environmental due diligence, climate change, biodiversity, just transition and remedy.

What the OECD Guidelines say

The OECD Guidelines recognise a wide range of environmental impacts, including climate change, biodiversity loss, degradation of land and marine and freshwater ecosystems, deforestation, air, water and soil pollution, and poor management of waste and hazardous substances. Companies should:

  • Have an environmental management and due diligence plan to identify, prevent and address environmental impacts from their operations, products and services.
  • Identify and assess actual and potential environmental impacts and, where significant impacts may occur, carry out appropriate environmental impact assessments.
  • Set science-based targets and strategies to prevent, reduce and address environmental impacts, and regularly assess whether these measures are effective.
  • Meaningfully engage with people affected by environmental impacts, including by providing communities and workers with timely and accurate information.
  • Prevent and reduce environmental harm and use the best available technologies and practices to continually improve environmental performance.
  • Remediate environmental and related human rights harms, or use their influence to encourage remedy, according to their responsibility for the harm.
  • Work towards more sustainable and circular products, processes and business models.

Environmental protection under the Guidelines is closely connected to human rights. Environmental harm can affect people’s rights to health, food, water, land, housing, livelihoods and life, making effective prevention, participation and remedy essential.

Get involved

Want to learn more about OECD Watch’s work on this issue? Get in touch with us to find out more about our advocacy and resources, or to discuss how the OECD Guidelines can support your work. Reach out to us directly.

Recursos relacionados

Environment factsheet

Get a practical overview of what the OECD Guidelines say about the environment. Available in:

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Portuguese

Thai

Related NCP complaints 

See complaints in which environmental issues have been raised by civil society.

Review related complaints

How to use the Guidelines

The OECD Guidelines provide civil society with a framework for engaging companies, governments and other decision-makers on responsible business conduct. You can use the Guidelines to:

ler mais

Connected issues

Climate

How companies should reduce emissions, strengthen climate action and address the impacts of the transition on people and communities.

Direitos humanos

How companies should respect human rights, prevent harm and provide or contribute to remedy when harms occur.

Apenas transição

How businesses should support a transition to sustainable economies that protect people, workers and communities.