Top 10 business and human rights issues for 2025:
- Ensuring accountability in the rush for renewables. The transition to more sustainable energy systems is urgently needed. Will companies in renewables industries be accountable for their impacts on land, water and communities?
- Preventing finance from fueling conflict. Finance is crucial in tackling the climate crisis and fostering sustainable development. But is the financial sector doing enough to address adverse impacts of investments and implement responsible business standards?
- Confronting AI Risks. New international commitments to digital cooperation and regulation of AI are important steps in response to fast moving technological change. Are they enough to ensure responsible business actions?
- Responding to shipping dangers. Deceptive shipping practices such as dark fleets, as well as ongoing conflicts, are undermining responsible maritime activity and putting seafarers’ lives at risk. What actions are needed to protect rights at sea?
- Rebuilding war-torn states. In the wake of destructive conflict, countries need rebuilding, but too often responsible business is missing in action. What are the opportunities to strengthen human rights as part of reconstruction efforts?
- Abiding by humanitarian law. Many businesses operate in high risk and conflict zones. What more can be done to apply international law to those linked to harms and incentivise responsible actions amidst violence and other forms of unrest?
- Implementing mandatory measures. EU directives give human rights due diligence legal teeth, with global consequences. What will companies need to navigate these requirements?
- Making migration work for all. Our collective future depends on the labour of migrant workers. How can companies stand with and protect migrants from growing anti-immigration sentiments?
- Advancing workplace diversity. Growing criticism of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives threatens to reverse decades of progress in the business world. Will responsible companies fight back?
- Rebuilding confidence in climate action. 2025 marks the final moment for states to course-correct climate action before the half-way point to achieving net-zero by 2050. What role can businesses play to ensure new national plans get us back on track?
Our 2025 Top 10 list explores some of the most important issues bound by uncertainty – whether due to breakdown in multilateralism, the spread of violent conflict, industry-changing legislation, or climate action inertia. We hope this year’s issues will help guide businesses at a time when the picture of our future is far from clear.
… highlighted IHRB in their publication
