Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

Fall 9-28-2025

Abstract

As we approach COP30, it becomes more urgent to confront corporate impunity in climate governance more. The contribution of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in global greenhouse gases emissions is increasing everyday, yet both local institutional structures and legislations -including Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) systems tend to shield them from accountability for the violations of climate-related human rights and ecocide. The conference plays a great role in such crucial moments by offering negotiators the opportunity to address climate-related crimes committed by TNCs, to align global economic governance with human rights, climate justice, and environment protection by establishing enforceable legal frameworks through multilateral consensuses (‘COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies Announce the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro to Elevate Local Climate Action’, 2025). This policy paper examines the urgency of establishing a binding international mechanism to hold industrial actors accountable, grounded in the ethical and just vision emphasized by this year’s COP Presidency. Observing different cases from the oil extraction industry –Chevron and Shell in Ecuador and Nigeria- and arms and weapons manufacturing industry – Ukrainian and Palestinian wars-, the paper highlights the devastating and long-lasting consequences of weak rule of law and lack of corporate accountability. The paper explores the gaps in international law to deliver justice, and institutional failure in addressing environmental crimes. The paper also discusses the role of technology in evidence-building and compliance with climate monitoring, climate legislations literacy, etc. And finally, this paper concludes from the key findings recommendations on the local and international levels to move towards a better ecological future.

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