Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions

Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.

1 minute read

May 12, 2025, 9:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


"Radiation Zone, Keep Out" sign on wood post with red Arizona desert mesa in background

Deep Desert Photo / Adobe Stock

In their article published in the Business and Human Rights Journal, Damilola S. Olawuyi, Claire Bright, Samentha Goethals, and Qaraman Hasan critically assess current just transition narratives in the energy and extractive sectors. They argue that while these transitions aim to address climate and economic goals, they often fall short in protecting the human rights of workers, Indigenous communities, and other vulnerable groups affected by decarbonization and resource shifts.

To bridge this gap, the authors propose a rights-based framework that places human rights due diligence, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and transparency at the center of transition strategies. They call on companies to proactively identify and mitigate risks across their operations and supply chains, ensuring that energy transition efforts do not reinforce historical patterns of marginalization or environmental harm. By doing so, businesses can align with international norms and build trust with impacted communities.

Olawuyi, Bright, Goethals, and Hasan conclude by emphasizing the need for collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society to ensure that just transitions are truly inclusive and equitable. They advocate for integrating human rights standards into both corporate and regulatory practices to support sustainable development that respects the dignity and rights of all stakeholders involved in the shift to a low-carbon future.

Friday, May 9, 2025 in Cambridge University Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Woman and young girl looking at subway map, woman pointing.

Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?

Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

June 9, 2025 - John Pobojewski

Close-up of cracked and damaged two-lane roadway with double yellow stripes on a bright sunny day.

Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?

With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.

June 19 - Transportation for America

Group of e-scooters messily parked on street in London with black cab in background.

The European Cities That Love E-Scooters — And Those That Don’t

Where they're working, where they're banned, and where they're just as annoying the tourists that use them.

June 19 - Bloomberg CityLab

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19 - Outdoor Life