Aligner de meilleures approches ESG sur les principes directeurs des Nations unies (PDNU)

The OECD (2022) and the UNEP (2023) have listed the taxonomies that now provide a framework for ESG approaches. All the taxonomies that propose aligning ESG practices with the UNGPs refer to the mechanisms of the European Green Deal. In this approach, each "eligible economic activity" in a taxonomy is considered to be "sustainable," and therefore financed as such, if three criteria are met. The third of these criteria (the "minimum safeguards") concerns the application of the UNGPs. In concrete terms, the independent third party responsible for auditing companies' management reports will now have to verify, firstly, that the company can demonstrate that the six steps of the UNGPs are integrated into their processes in accordance with OECD recommendations (OECD 2018, 24–40), and secondly, that the company is not currently responsible for serious violations identified by OECD National Contact Points (NCPs). The absence of reliable information on a company's activities demonstrates non-compliance with first due diligence. The existence of recommendations from an OECD NCP concluding that the company is responsible for serious human rights violations demonstrates non-compliance with second due diligence. These clear criteria, which are already in force, could be reiterated, and the authorities responsible for supervision could benefit from support from the OECD in this area.