Businesses’ new responsibility – respecting a child’s right to a clean and healthy environment

Businesses’ new responsibility – respecting a child’s right to a clean and healthy environment

To mark Clean Air Day 2021, Global Action Plan is organising a business-oriented webinar examining the new corporate responsibility to respect a child’s right to a clean and healthy environment.  

This webinar will situate the new corporate responsibility and explain why it’s vital that companies start taking proactive steps now to address their contribution to air pollution, in order to protect children’s health and the environment.  

Join us on 17 June to learn about this new responsibility from leading figures in the human rights field, and hear from corporate leaders explaining how their company is taking action to address air pollution.  

 Registration is open via Zoom.  While this is a business-oriented webinar, we welcome other stakeholders interested in learning about this new business responsibility.  

Speakers

Keynote speaker: David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment  

Dr. David R. Boyd is the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment (2018-2024) and an associate professor of law, policy, and sustainability at the University of British Columbia, jointly appointed at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Boyd is also the author of ten books and over 100 reports and articles on environmental law and policy, human rights, and constitutional law. His books include Thirst for Justice (2020), The Rights of Nature (ECW Press, 2017), The Optimistic Environmentalist (ECW Press, 2015), and The Environmental Rights Revolution (UBC Press, 2012). 

Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability, Mitsubishi Electric, UK & Ireland

Martin Fahey is Head of Sustainability for UK and Ireland for Mitsubishi Electric covering the various business units including Living Environmental Systems, Factory Automation, Automotive and Lifts and Escalators as well as their own operations. He has spent all of his working life in the air conditioning, refrigeration and heating industries in a variety of sales and engineering roles for companies prior to joining Mitsubishi Electric.

He is one of the original authors of the Green Gateway Initiative that emerged from strategic planning undertaken by the senior management team of the Mitsubishi Electric’s highly successful Living Environmental Systems Division, which is a market leader in air conditioning, ventilation, heating and control systems.

The team realised that there would be an increasing focus on the way we all use energy in the built environment because of environmental, political and social demands.

Now, as the company as well as the country embarks on the journey to becoming Net Zero, Martin leads the Sustainability team in our internal and external interactions and target setting, liaising with the global company as part of their Environmental Vision 2050 plans as we look to continue or sustainability journey for the good of society.

Jamie Quinn, Director, Responsible Business and SHEQ for ENGIE UK.

Jamie is the Director, Responsible Business and SHEQ for ENGIE UK.

Focus on embedding responsible business practices including an independent Scrutiny Board, materiality assessments, new business opportunities, sustainable procurement, environmental management systems, circular economy and resource efficiency and social value strategy, ambitious ENGIE commitment to 20% of its fleet being electric by 2020 and zero diesel by 2025. ENGIE has partnered with Global Action Plan to support Clean Air Day and the development of the Clean Van Commitment (CVC). The CVC encourages other companies with large fleets to sign up the same commitments that ENGIE has made.  

ENGIE has also partnered with Kings College London to investigate internal versus external air quality in the build environment. 

Jamie has direct experience as a Sustainability Practitioner working in the field of green mobility and air quality, facilities management, energy management, construction, infrastructure and professional services. His key leadership roles include the development and implementation of a companywide sustainability strategy helping to place ENGIE as Winner of Sustainable FM Index.

Chairman of the Community Interest Company “Our Park Life” on the Queen Elizabeth

John Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)

John has been Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) since its formation in 2009 under the leadership of Mary Robinson (the former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights). John leads IHRB’s global strategy, fundraising, and outreach.

Before IHRB, John directed the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights (2003-9), was Head of Public Affairs for The Body Shop International (2000-3), and before this worked in the field of refugee protection (in relation to the former Yugoslavia and on issues of human trafficking).

Maria Pia Bianchetti, Private Sector Policy and Influencing Manager, UNICEF UK

Maria Pia Bianchetti is the Private Sector Policy and Influencing Manager at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK). Maria Pia joined UNICEF UK in 2017 and now leads UNICEF UK’s advocacy work on child rights and business responsibilities with a particular strategic focus on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence.

Previously, Maria Pia has undertaken various roles to support the realisation of child rights, including in the private sector context, in particular for UNICEF, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Child Rights Connect.