Energy Research & Social Science ( IF 8.514 ) Pub Date : 2021-03-27 , DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102034 Miriam R. Aczel
In 2017, France legislated a prohibition on domestic hydrocarbon exploration and production by 2040, in line with national carbon emissions reduction goals. As the law applies only to France or French territories, there is argued incentive for French-based companies to move their extractive activities abroad. France also passed in 2017 a remarkable ‘due diligence’ law—the Duty of Care Act—that holds large French companies responsible for impacts of their activities worldwide, including subsidiaries and the totality of their supply chains. The law’s potential reach is unclear as there is currently no case law to guide decision-making and application of its provisions. This Act merits close examination as it is the most comprehensive law globally aimed at enforcing corporate responsibility and requires companies of a defined size to create plans to anticipate and mitigate risk to human and environmental rights. Companies that violate the law by failing to address risk through a comprehensive plan may face stiff penalties and can be brought to court by ‘interested parties’ in French courts. The Act allows for those facing risk of harm or those acting on their behalf, including NGOs, to bring claims within France’s judicial system, which is arguably significant in countries with weak enforcement or legal capacity. The first lawsuit under the Act was brought against French-based Total by a consortium of French and Ugandan NGOs over the company’s alleged failure to adequately address risk to human and environmental rights in Uganda. However, while the case remains pending in the French court system, there are several opportunities to learn from analysis of this case and its significance in a global context. This perspective article discusses the current case and analyses the potential gaps and opportunities of application of the law. Further, this research considers the role of the French law as a model for other countries that are aiming to develop similar legislation or extend the reach of their own ‘due diligence’ frameworks.
中文翻译:
无国界司法:法国《乌干达责任义务法》带来的机遇
2017年,法国立法制定了到2040年禁止国内碳氢化合物开采和生产的禁令,以符合国家减少碳排放的目标。由于该法律仅适用于法国或法国领土,因此有人认为,法国公司有动机将其采掘活动转移到国外。法国还于2017年通过了一项引人注目的“尽职调查”法,即《责任义务法》,该法令大型法国公司应对其全球活动的影响负责,包括子公司及其整个供应链。由于目前尚无判例法可指导决策和适用其规定,因此该法的潜在影响力尚不清楚。该法案值得仔细研究,因为它是旨在执行公司责任的全球最全面的法律,并且要求规模固定的公司制定计划以预测和减轻对人权和环境权利的风险。因未能通过全面计划解决风险而违反法律的公司可能会受到严厉的处罚,并可能被法国法院中的“利害关系方”起诉。该法令允许那些面临伤害风险的人或代表他们行事的人,包括非政府组织,在法国的司法系统内提出诉讼,这在执法或法律能力薄弱的国家中无疑是重要的。法国和乌干达的一个非政府组织财团针对该公司提起的第一起诉讼是针对法国的道达尔,该公司称该公司未能充分解决乌干达的人权和环境权风险。但是,尽管此案仍在法国法院系统中审理,但仍有很多机会可以从对该案及其在全球范围内的意义的分析中吸取教训。该观点文章讨论了当前案件,并分析了适用法律的潜在差距和机会。此外,本研究还考虑了法国法律作为其他国家的榜样,这些国家旨在制定类似的立法或扩大其“尽职调查”框架的适用范围。在这种情况及其在全球范围内的意义分析中,有很多机会可以学习。该观点文章讨论了当前案件,并分析了适用法律的潜在差距和机会。此外,本研究还考虑了法国法律作为其他国家的榜样,这些国家旨在制定类似的立法或扩大其“尽职调查”框架的适用范围。在这种情况及其在全球范围内的意义分析中,有很多机会可以学习。该观点文章讨论了当前案件,并分析了适用法律的潜在差距和机会。此外,本研究考虑了法国法律作为其他国家的榜样的作用,这些国家旨在制定类似的立法或扩大其“尽职调查”框架的适用范围。