GLOBAL NEWS •
EU / SOUTH AFRICA :
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO EU ' S CSDDD TO IMPACT MORE SA BUSINESSES
By Nomsa Mbere , partner , Paula-Ann Novotny , senior associate and Keah Challenor , associate at Webber Wentzel
South African businesses that fall within the supply chain of large companies in the European Union
Nomsa Mbere , partner at Webber Wentzel .
should gear up for Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligences in 2024 , when the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is expected to be adopted .
In a previous alert , 1 we reported that the European Commission ( Commission ) adopted a proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in February 2022 ( CSDDD ). The CSDDD is a legislative framework designed to enhance corporate accountability by imposing legal requirements on business enterprises operating in the European Union ( EU ) to conduct human rights and environmental due diligences and report on their ESG impacts . The CSDDD will require entities within its scope to undertake due diligence on their own activities and that of companies across their value chains , and to identify and prevent ,
Paula-Ann Novotny , senior associate at Webber Wentzel .
Keah Challenor , associate at Webber Wentzel .
end or mitigate any adverse impacts of their activities on human rights and on the environment .
The CSDDD requires member states to mandate the following activities by companies :
• making a policy commitment to human rights and the transition to a climate-neutral and green economy in order to restrict global warming to 1.5 ° C in accordance with the Paris Agreement , by having a due diligence policy that includes a code of conduct for the company ’ s employees and subsidiaries
• conducting risk-based human rights and environmental due diligences
All images supplied by Webber Wentzel www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2024 • 9