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Textile factory in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka

Corporate Accountability

While globalisation ususally benefits businesses, its negative impacts are often disastrous for both people and the environment. Germanwatch campaigns for politicians and companies to respect their human rights and environmental responsibilities.

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Cornelia Heydenreich

Head of Division – Corporate Accountability

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Report | 24.11.2023

8 years of climate lawsuit against RWE

Today, eight years ago, the Peruvian mountain guide and small farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya filed his civil lawsuit against RWE at the regional court in Essen in Germany. What began back then has now become one of the world's most recognised precedents for the question of whether individual major emitters must pay for protection against climate risks.

Report | 26.10.2023

VENRO-Statement on Germany's National Circular Economy Strategy

Global consumption of raw materials at this point is not sustainable for the Earth. Germany consumes an above-average of resources compared to other countries. If they were to consume as much as Germany, it would take three Earths to satisfy global demand. We therefore welcome the German government’s initiative of a National Circular Economy Strategy to reduce raw materials demand, but press for adverse effects for the Global South to be addressed.

Report | 28.09.2023

Sector Dialogue Automotive Industry: Germanwatch participates in the publication of the Cross-country recommendations for responsible lithium mining and recommended actions, but criticises their limitations

Lithium mining poses numerous environmental and human rights risks. As part of the Sector Dialogue Automotive Industry, Germanwatch therefore collaborated with stakeholders from industry and politics in the development of “cross-country recommendations for responsible lithium mining and recommended actions” in the “Lithium Project Group”. The paper identifies four risk areas and makes recommendations on how they can be addressed by the companies in the supply chain that mine and purchase lithium. Germanwatch supports the recommendations. However, we do see some key gaps in achieving a globally sustainable and equitable economy within planetary boundaries.

Report | 11.05.2022

An effective EU supply chain law? Germanwatch and more than 200 other organisations clarify what this means in practice

On 23 February 2022, the EU Commission published its long-awaited proposal for an EU supply chain law. The European Parliament and the EU Council – including a number of German government representatives – are now discussing the draft law. Together with more than 220 civil society organisations from Europe and the rest of the world, Germanwatch clarified which changes the Commission's proposal needs from the perspective of civil society.

Corporate Accountability Statement | 19. June 2025

What the Omnibus Package I would mean for the minerals and metals sector

This statement by Germanwatch and thirteen other organizations on the EU Commission's planned Omnibus Package I highlights its potential consequences for the metals sector.

Corporate Accountability Background Paper | 19. September 2024

Five Years of Sector Dialogues

The sector dialogues within the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP) are used as a support for the German Government to implement human rights due diligence. After five years in operation, this particular format has certainly proved effective. In our paper, the participating civil society organisations try to provide an overall view, and present a generally mixed picture.

Corporate Accountability Legal Report | 3. September 2024

Legal opinion: What obligations does the financial sector have under the German Supply Chain Act?

Since January 2023, the rules of the Supply Chain Act in Germany have applied to all companies above a certain size. This also includes financial institutions. However, the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), which is responsible for enforcing the law, argued in its guidance published in August 2023 that the law's due diligence obligations are not binding for financial institutions with regard to their core business. Contrary to the guidance, our legal opinion concludes that a correct interpretation of the LkSG clearly shows that financial institutions have a supplier relationship within the meaning of the LkSG with their customers for a number of financial products.

Corporate Accountability Legal Report | 10. July 2024

Legal Opinion on the Supply Chain Act

On 25 July 2024, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) entered into force. The member states will now need to transpose the directive into national law. Germany already has sustainability due diligence legislation, the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG). This raises the question as to how the CSDDD influences the scope of application of the LkSG.

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Corporate Accountability | 07.05.2024

Launch of grievance mechanism of the German automotive industry in Mexico

Civil society from Mexico and Germany welcomes the start of the cross-company grievance mechanism / To ensure its effectiveness, the participating CSOs call for the long-term and increased involvement of relevant companies and political institutions and the securing of resources for civil society engagement around it

Global trade | 17.11.2021

Supply chains in which no forests are destroyed: EU Commission's initiative falls short

Europe's demand for soy and meat contributes significantly to deforestation and the destruction of important ecosystems in Latin America - proposed EU legislation does not have sufficient impact

02.03.2020

Civil society calls for transparency on the companies subjected to the European Union’s Regulation on the supply of 3TG minerals

Press Release of 28 civil society organizations, including Germanwatch

Corporate Accountability | 23.11.2016

EU: Conflict Minerals agreement reached as exemptions added

Press Release Amnesty International, Germanwatch, Global Witness and other Civil Society Organisations

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