PUBLIC POLICY Despite the ongoing pandemic, public policy issues related to responsible business conduct, due diligence and ESG remained a top priority for governments and policymakers in 2021. While the RBA does not lobby or take positions for or against specific regulations, it plays an important role in educating policymakers worldwide on industry challenges and best practices, to encourage greater harmonization of regulatory efforts and facilitate more effective outcomes related to their stated policy goals.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021 INCLUDED: • Actively tracked and engaged on key policy and regulatory initiatives across the world in the areas of responsible business conduct, due diligence and ESG, providing guidance to members on navigating an increasingly complex policy and regulatory landscape.
• Collaborated with the European Commission toward the promotion of the EU Guidance to Business on Tackling Forced Labor.
• Collaborated with the UK government around convening key events and activities at COP26, the global climate summit in November 2021, including an exhibition and conference featuring key climate solutions.
• Continued to engage U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on responsible sourcing issues.
• Hosted an RBA European conference bringing together leading EU policymakers, industry experts and key international experts to discuss how to shape effective EU mandatory due diligence legislation.
• Increased strategic engagement with key UN agencies and UN experts in the area of business and human rights.
• Hosted an RBA Latin American Conference, bringing together key policymakers and experts from the region. • Continued to engage key leaders across European institutions as part of a wider outreach strategy in the context of the EU’s plans for EU-wide mandatory due diligence legislation that will apply to all companies active on the EU market. • Led the dissemination to senior leadership of the European Commission of a statement by a wide group of industry organizations and sustainability initiatives, calling for effective harmonization of EU due diligence policies and regulations.
• Continued active engagement with the Malaysian government, including input on the design of the Malaysian National Action Plan on Forced Labor. • Addressed the annual United Nations Business and Human Rights Forum as part of a plenary session dedicated to the design of emerging mandatory due diligence regulation. • Testified before the EU-US Trade and Technology Council on industry efforts regarding the protection of worker rights in global supply chains. • Continued to educate governments, stakeholders and members on issues related to the forced labor of ethnic minority workers.
21 RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS ALLIANCE 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
• Co-hosted a multi-stakeholder conference with the German government for more than 1,000 participants, to discuss how to ensure impactful and inclusive implementation in producing countries of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation.