In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool... more In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool for assessing diverse ‘green’ claims made by various actors. Research shows that significant deception and misleading claims exist both in the regulated commercial sphere, as well as in the unregulated non-commercial sphere (e.g., governments, NGO partnerships, international pledges, etc.). Recently, serious concerns have been raised over rampant greenwashing, in particular with regard to rapidly emerging net zero commitments. The proposed framework we developed is the first actionable tool for analysing the quality and truthfulness of such claims. The framework has widespread and unique potential for highlighting efforts that seek to delay or distract real solutions that are urgently needed today to tackle multiple climate and environmental crises. In addition, we note how the framework may also assist in the development of practices and communication strategies that ultimately avoid greenwashing.
Preface vii Authors and acknowledgements ix I. Introduction II. Does international law recognise ... more Preface vii Authors and acknowledgements ix I. Introduction II. Does international law recognise a human right to water? A Conventions and declarations B. Customary international law C. Judicial decisions D. Conclusion: The human right to water is not yet explicitly recognised III. Why link water and human rights? Drastically changing environmental and social factors make the issue of water as a human right become more significant Water has not been clearly stated as a human right though it sits at the very essence of the right to life and other fundamental human rights The establishment of a right to water in international human rights law would safeguard already accepted human rights and environmental principles Recognising water as a human right would provide more effective protection A human right to water would impose obligations on states, as human rights need to be translated into specific national legal obligations and responsibilities Acknowledging a human right to water would help focus attention to resolve conflicts over the use of shared watercourses A human right to water can help set priorities for water policy to ensure that no person may be deprived of enough, good-quality water to satisfy basic needs Global problems need global solutions: the water crisis requires a major shift in policies in order to eradicate poverty and to enhance sustainable development IV. Content of a right to water Terminology-rights-based approach supplemented by an ecosystem approach Content Scope-Duties for the public and private sector alike Concluding remarks Appendix I Legally binding instruments v Non-legally binding instruments Regional instruments National provisions Appendix II Expanding the right to life Appendix III The human right to a healthy environment Appendix IV Procedural rights as codified in several human rights and environmental instruments vi Water as a Human Right?
Management and Environment Department, FAO, for the tireless guidance, ideas, contributions and m... more Management and Environment Department, FAO, for the tireless guidance, ideas, contributions and moral support during the process of writing this paper. Her professional and personal help, openness, energizing character made my stay at FAO and the research for this paper an unforgetable and very enriching experience. Moreover, special thanks to those who reviewed and provided valuable comments on this paper including Jamie Morrison (FAO), Cora Dankers (FAO), Sabine Zikeli (University of Hohenheim) and from the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute Hiltrud Nieberg, Frank Offermann and Jürn Sanders. Last but not least I would like to thank to the German Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung for their financial support during my stay in Rome.
Proceedings of The 2nd World Sustainability Forum, 2012
The world is confronted with a multitude of crises, from food and fuel crises to climate and fina... more The world is confronted with a multitude of crises, from food and fuel crises to climate and financial crises. Tackling these challenges would be greatly facilitated by a common language for sustainability and accountability that integrates all dimensions of sustainability. Experience with the development of sustainability and its implementation is still limited. The perception on what sustainability entails differs widely among stakeholders. FAO has developed Guidelines for the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems (SAFA), which are the result of three years of participatory development, together with practitioners from civil society and private sector. They are a first step into international harmonisation of the requirements which underpin sustainable production, manufacturing and retailing of food and agriculture products. SAFA defines what sustainable food and agriculture systems are, including environmental integrity, economic resilience, social well-being and good governance; it outlines a procedure for an integrated analysis of all dimensions of sustainability, including the selection of appropriate indicators and rating of sustainability performance (i.e. best, good, moderate or insufficient); and it describes sustainability themes, sub-themes and indicators. SAFA does not replace existing systems, but set a frame to which such systems can be related. Running a SAFA results in a "sustainability polygone" that presents the performance of each of the 20 themes that are crucial to sustainability. There is still a lot of work ahead until the final version of the SAFA Guidelines is released, however as of mid next year it can already be used. SAFA can become a huge step forward to sustainability, depending on its reception most importantly by food companies and retailers.
In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool... more In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool for assessing diverse ‘green’ claims made by various actors. Research shows that significant deception and misleading claims exist both in the regulated commercial sphere, as well as in the unregulated non-commercial sphere (e.g., governments, NGO partnerships, international pledges, etc.). Recently, serious concerns have been raised over rampant greenwashing, in particular with regard to rapidly emerging net zero commitments. The proposed framework we developed is the first actionable tool for analysing the quality and truthfulness of such claims. The framework has widespread and unique potential for highlighting efforts that seek to delay or distract real solutions that are urgently needed today to tackle multiple climate and environmental crises. In addition, we note how the framework may also assist in the development of practices and communication strategies that ultimately avoid g...
In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool... more In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool for assessing diverse ‘green’ claims made by various actors. Research shows that significant deception and misleading claims exist both in the regulated commercial sphere, as well as in the unregulated non-commercial sphere (e.g., governments, NGO partnerships, international pledges, etc.). Recently, serious concerns have been raised over rampant greenwashing, in particular with regard to rapidly emerging net zero commitments. The proposed framework we developed is the first actionable tool for analysing the quality and truthfulness of such claims. The framework has widespread and unique potential for highlighting efforts that seek to delay or distract real solutions that are urgently needed today to tackle multiple climate and environmental crises. In addition, we note how the framework may also assist in the development of practices and communication strategies that ultimately avoid greenwashing.
Preface vii Authors and acknowledgements ix I. Introduction II. Does international law recognise ... more Preface vii Authors and acknowledgements ix I. Introduction II. Does international law recognise a human right to water? A Conventions and declarations B. Customary international law C. Judicial decisions D. Conclusion: The human right to water is not yet explicitly recognised III. Why link water and human rights? Drastically changing environmental and social factors make the issue of water as a human right become more significant Water has not been clearly stated as a human right though it sits at the very essence of the right to life and other fundamental human rights The establishment of a right to water in international human rights law would safeguard already accepted human rights and environmental principles Recognising water as a human right would provide more effective protection A human right to water would impose obligations on states, as human rights need to be translated into specific national legal obligations and responsibilities Acknowledging a human right to water would help focus attention to resolve conflicts over the use of shared watercourses A human right to water can help set priorities for water policy to ensure that no person may be deprived of enough, good-quality water to satisfy basic needs Global problems need global solutions: the water crisis requires a major shift in policies in order to eradicate poverty and to enhance sustainable development IV. Content of a right to water Terminology-rights-based approach supplemented by an ecosystem approach Content Scope-Duties for the public and private sector alike Concluding remarks Appendix I Legally binding instruments v Non-legally binding instruments Regional instruments National provisions Appendix II Expanding the right to life Appendix III The human right to a healthy environment Appendix IV Procedural rights as codified in several human rights and environmental instruments vi Water as a Human Right?
Management and Environment Department, FAO, for the tireless guidance, ideas, contributions and m... more Management and Environment Department, FAO, for the tireless guidance, ideas, contributions and moral support during the process of writing this paper. Her professional and personal help, openness, energizing character made my stay at FAO and the research for this paper an unforgetable and very enriching experience. Moreover, special thanks to those who reviewed and provided valuable comments on this paper including Jamie Morrison (FAO), Cora Dankers (FAO), Sabine Zikeli (University of Hohenheim) and from the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute Hiltrud Nieberg, Frank Offermann and Jürn Sanders. Last but not least I would like to thank to the German Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung for their financial support during my stay in Rome.
Proceedings of The 2nd World Sustainability Forum, 2012
The world is confronted with a multitude of crises, from food and fuel crises to climate and fina... more The world is confronted with a multitude of crises, from food and fuel crises to climate and financial crises. Tackling these challenges would be greatly facilitated by a common language for sustainability and accountability that integrates all dimensions of sustainability. Experience with the development of sustainability and its implementation is still limited. The perception on what sustainability entails differs widely among stakeholders. FAO has developed Guidelines for the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems (SAFA), which are the result of three years of participatory development, together with practitioners from civil society and private sector. They are a first step into international harmonisation of the requirements which underpin sustainable production, manufacturing and retailing of food and agriculture products. SAFA defines what sustainable food and agriculture systems are, including environmental integrity, economic resilience, social well-being and good governance; it outlines a procedure for an integrated analysis of all dimensions of sustainability, including the selection of appropriate indicators and rating of sustainability performance (i.e. best, good, moderate or insufficient); and it describes sustainability themes, sub-themes and indicators. SAFA does not replace existing systems, but set a frame to which such systems can be related. Running a SAFA results in a "sustainability polygone" that presents the performance of each of the 20 themes that are crucial to sustainability. There is still a lot of work ahead until the final version of the SAFA Guidelines is released, however as of mid next year it can already be used. SAFA can become a huge step forward to sustainability, depending on its reception most importantly by food companies and retailers.
In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool... more In this paper we examine definitions of ‘greenwashing’ and its different forms, developing a tool for assessing diverse ‘green’ claims made by various actors. Research shows that significant deception and misleading claims exist both in the regulated commercial sphere, as well as in the unregulated non-commercial sphere (e.g., governments, NGO partnerships, international pledges, etc.). Recently, serious concerns have been raised over rampant greenwashing, in particular with regard to rapidly emerging net zero commitments. The proposed framework we developed is the first actionable tool for analysing the quality and truthfulness of such claims. The framework has widespread and unique potential for highlighting efforts that seek to delay or distract real solutions that are urgently needed today to tackle multiple climate and environmental crises. In addition, we note how the framework may also assist in the development of practices and communication strategies that ultimately avoid g...
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