Theoretical, ethical, and philosophical objectives (O)
O1. Develop philosophical and ethical foundations for corporate human rights accountability for climate change based on adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
O2. To draft theoretical, ethical, and philosophical foundations for corporate human rights accountability for climate change in Slovenian, European, and international legal orders.
Empirical goals
O3. Develop a set of indicators on business, climate change, and human rights and measure their compliance in the global supply chain of the ten largest Slovenian and hundred largest EU corporations by revenue to identify shortcomings to address.
O4. Critically assess whether the rights holders have effective access to internal grievance mechanisms in the ten largest Slovenian and hundred largest EU corporations by revenue and state and non-state enforcement bodies considering the negative effects of climate change.
Normative goals
O5. Develop normative proposals and improvements to strengthen the corporate accountability for human rights violations due to their negative impacts on climate change within the framework of normative changes in the Slovenian, European and international legal order.
O6. Formulate proposals for corporations based in Slovenia with the aim of preventing the negative effects of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights.
Description
This research project, therefore highly originally for the first time, theoretically analyses corporate human rights accountability for climate change and will develop theoretical and normative foundations for coherent and just Slovenian and international legal orders. It aims to identify the philosophical, legal, and normative underpinnings of corporate accountability for the negative impacts of climate change on human rights in Slovenian, European, and international legal systems. It aims to provide normative solutions to adapt and mitigate negative human rights effects of businesses due to climate change and translate them into practice. The current deficiencies in Slovenian and international legal order need to be revised to deal with climate change’s negative effect on human rights, particularly in relation to business actors. The rights-holders have struggled to enforce corporate human rights accountability for climate change. It drafts and formulates philosophical, legal, and normative responses to the negative effect climate change has engineered for the enjoyment of human rights. Firstly, it establishes robust theoretical foundations for analyzing corporate human rights accountability for climate change’s negative impacts on human rights. Second, it will examine whether the existing frameworks in the Slovenian, European, and international legal systems are adequate and appropriate for establishing corporate obligations concerning the prevention, promotion, respect, and protection of human rights in times of climate emergency. It will critically analyse the current normative structures in Slovenia, the European Union, and international law regarding the scope and nature of business obligations.
Thirdly, it will critically assess the ongoing climate change litigations against corporations for business-related human rights abuses. As such, it will critically evaluate whether the current structures are fit to deal with the surge of cases in Slovenian and international legal orders due to the negative consequences of climate change on human rights. Fourthly, it drafts reform proposals based on measuring compliance with environment and human rights in global supply chains for Slovenian-based and other corporations to develop the reform of Slovenian and international normative frameworks to strengthen the accountability of corporations or human rights abuses due to climate change. All in all, it explores the normative basis and standards for corporate human rights obligations, responsibilities, and accountability for climate change impact. It argues that recognizing corporate human rights accountability for climate change impacts is indispensable for ensuring everyone develops self-realization and human development capabilities. As a result, it will develop original normative models to bring about reforms in the Slovenian, European, and international legal systems. It will develop practical indicators that businesses and policymakers can use to prevent the negative effects of climate change. It will also formulate internal and external mechanisms that rights holders can turn to in cases of business-related human rights abuses. The conclusions will scientifically and professionally help decision-makers and businessmen in the reform of the Slovenian and international legal order and business operations of companies, as well as in formulating appropriate internal policies.