UNDP Business and Human Rights 75d ago

CSERA 2026's Day 1 opening remarks set the tone for two days of dialogue on corporate sustainability and environmental rights. Reflecting on how the conversation has shifted over 14 years — from educating companies on basic sustainability principles to today's recognition that environmental degradation and human rights violations are material financial risks that must be managed as such. Drawing on the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the session outlines how de-risking goes beyond supply chain diversification to fundamentally rethinking how economies are structured around people and planet. With Asia-Pacific facing disproportionate environmental pressures — including some of the world's highest pollution levels and significant biodiversity loss — the remarks make the case that sustainability is not just a compliance obligation, but a genuine business opportunity. Companies embracing renewable energy and sustainable practices are already seeing measurable returns, and those embedded in global supply chains face growing expectations to follow suit.