57
3.12. The respondent companies’ responses to BHRRC regarding
climate change vary in terms of types and strength of commitments to
reduce GHG emissions and support for climate policy and governance. Ten
(10) companies address climate change in responses submitted to the
BHRRC: Anglo America plc group, ConocoPhillips, Repsol, BHP Billiton,
Eni, Glencore, Peabody, Rio Tinto London Ltd, BP plc, and PJSC LUKOIL.
The petitioners invite the Honorable Commission to draw its attention to the
climate change-related statements submitted to BHRRC.
3.13. Despite statements made by some respondents affirming
commitment(s) to acting on climate change, conducting environmentally
sustainable business practices, and/or respecting human rights, the
petitioners are not convinced that their business operations and models
are aligned with States’ commitments in the Paris Agreement and
international human rights law. Such an alignment would include a
demonstration of business models aligning with the politically agreed goal
of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5-2.0°C.
E.
Corporate human rights policies compel
the respondents to actively participate in
the investigation.
3.14. Many of the companies communicated positions on human
rights to the BHRRC that should obligate these companies to actively
participate in the national inquiry process -- rather than ignoring it -- or,
worse, attempting to get it dismissed.
3.15. As noted above, seven (7) of the companies that responded to
the BHRRC did not submit responses to the Honorable Commission,
demonstrating a lack of respect for the Honorable Commission and its
human rights mandate. Further, in disregarding the legitimate human rights
concerns of the petitioners placed at risk by their contributions to climate
pollution, it raises the question of whether these companies are fulfilling
their responsibility to act with due diligence with regard to human rights as
articulated in the UN Guiding Principles.
3.16. Six (6) companies addressed human rights in response to
BHRRC’s request: BHP Billiton,232 Freeport-McMoRan Inc.,233 Glencore,234
232
BHP Billiton, Statement to BHRRC, op cit.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Statement to BHRRC dated 10 October 2016, available at https://businesshumanrights.org/en/fossil-fuel-cos-respond-to-petition-with-philippines-human-rights-commission-onhuman-rights-climate-change-impacts/?dateorder=datedesc&page=0&componenttype=all, last accessed on
06 February 2017.
234
Glencore, Response to BHRRC dated 10 October 2016, available at https://businesshumanrights.org/en/fossil-fuel-cos-respond-to-petition-with-philippines-human-rights-commission-onhuman-rights-climate-change-impacts/?dateorder=datedesc&page=0&componenttype=all, last accessed on
06 February 2017.
233
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