LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Risk and Compliance, May 16th, 2022
This overview from LexisPSL introduces the key issues business organisations need to know about human rights. It summarises some of the key human rights standards and initiatives that apply to business and the key actions that business organisations need to take in order to avoid causing or contributing to ad-verse human rights impacts. Business has a key role to play in advancing SDG 16.3 to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Risk and Compliance, May 16th, 2022
This Practice Note from LexisPSL explains what the UN Global Compact is and how it interacts with issues relating to business and human rights. It also summarises the key pledges and principles of the UN Global Compact, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, how organisations can sign up and the annual reporting requirements. The UN Global Compact is a vital vehicle for advancing SDG 17.16 to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Risk and Compliance, May 16th, 2022
This Practice Note from LexisPSL explains how to format, write, approve, and publish a slavery and human trafficking statement. This statement is mandatory for UK companies with a total turnover of £36m or more, but companies who do not meet that requirement are strongly encouraged to voluntarily produce the document to protect employees and enhance corporate social responsibility. This article relates to SDG 8.7, calling for immediate and accelerated action to end forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Risk and Compliance, May 16th, 2022
In the UK, the Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out the requirement for some organisations to produce and publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement, putting efforts to tackle slavery and human trafficking on the corporate agenda. This overview from LexisPSL provides guidance on the Modern Slavery Act’s obligation to produce a statement. The role of corporates is key to SDG 8.7 and the taking of immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking.
ISO14001, an internationally accepted standard that defines the requirements for establishing, implementing and operating an environmental management system (EMS), was updated in 2015 to have a greater focus on leadership, the context in which a company operates, as well as how the company will demonstrate legal compliance. This article is related to SDG #13, Climate Action, and SDG #16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, as it demonstrates the important influence of a strong rule of law on managing the environmental impact of business.
The UK Climate Change Agreements (CCA) aim to save energy and carbon emissions by way of energy efficiency targets in industrial sectors, while simultaneously reducing energy costs for participating organisations with large discounts on Climate Change Levies (CCL). This article is related to SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 13, Climate Action; and SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; as it demonstrates the ways in which governments can not only improve energy efficiency but also benefit industrial sectors.
ISO 26000 provides social responsibility guidance to organisations around the world to assist them in contributing to global sustainable development. ISO 26000 contributes to every one of the 17 SDGs but is particularly influential to SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth.
In the effort to combat climate change and reduce energy consumption, largescale energy efficiency improvements to residential and commercial properties are a key aspect of the UK Government's Clean Growth Strategy. This article discusses the history of The Green Deal and the legal implications for landlords and tenants of the private rented sector. The need for energy-efficient homes and commercial properties relates to SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, which aims to ensure access to affordable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Affordable and clean energy for all will combat climate change by reducing energy consumption and emissions, thus relating this article to SDG 13, Climate Action.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Environment, 1 September 2021
Heightened emphasis on transparency and accountability through corporate governance and disclosure has renewed the focus on the ‘triple bottom line’—environmental, social and economic impacts. Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reporting generally measures the sustainability and ethical performance of a company. There is increasing interest in the ESG performance of companies by various stakeholders. A range of mechanisms exist to shape CSR and foment voluntary reporting by companies on their ESG performance. Adhering to one such framework heightens credibility, and a proactive approach to sustainability presents opportunities while ensuring a company’s preparedness to embrace evolving legal requirements.
LexisNexis Legal & Professional,
LexisNexis UK, LexisPSL, Environment, 1 September 2021
UK mechanisms touching on sustainable development are generally based on, and have as their over-arching objective, some variation of the so-called “Brundtland definition”. These mechanisms also widely reference the three interconnected ‘pillars’ of sustainable development, also known as the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainable development. The UK approach has a bearing on all SDGs and in particular, SDGs 9, 10 and 13.
