Lawyers call on corporates to use COP28 to highlight human rights abuses

IHR-Advisors in Financial Times on 30 June 2023

The Financial Times ESG policy and regulation publication, Sustainable Views, covers a legal campaign led by IHR-Advisors concerning the potential legal, financial and reputational risks for any corporate partner or supporter of COP28, which is due to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates in November.

“UK human rights lawyers acting on behalf of an anonymous client have written to a host of companies, including those that were partners and supporters of COP26 in Glasgow and COP27 in Egypt, calling on them not to get involved with COP28, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in December, and to use their corporate power to condemn human rights abuses. The letters, seen by Sustainable Views, said: "Climate change is a global issue that requires global action, but the decision to allow a country with a poor human rights record and high carbon footprint to host the COP28 conference represents a retrograde step." The companies contacted include Google, Hitachi, Microsoft and Bloomberg.”

The article can be read in full behind a paywall, here.