While renewable energy has a large land footprint, the projects receive government incentives and less scrutiny than fossil-fuel projects such as coal, and few companies have policies to avoid or minimize human rights abuses.
Japan and South Korea have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and China by 2060, with other nations in the Asia-Pacific region also committing to ambitious goals. In states where solar and wind parks are planned or have been built, human rights groups say rural communities have been uprooted, with few being relocated or given enough compensation.
"The culture, identity, lives, and livelihood of indigenous farmers of Mikir Bamuni Grant are under threat."On BHRRC's first human rights benchmark of the world's 16 largest publicly traded wind and solar energy companies – including 3 Chinese firms – none had policies to respect land rights, or for just and fair relocation of residents.
In Nepal, the 140 MW Tanahu hydropower project funded by the Asian Development Bank, is expected to affect nearly 800 households of the Magar indigenous community along the river Seti, with more than 60% of residents losing farmland.A survey by human rights group Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network showed three-quarters of residents were not consulted, and 80% did not get compensation.
Torn between fruity and flower scents.