The 2025 Benchmark looked closely at four key areas essential for the sector to drive a rights-respecting energy transition:
- Responsible mineral sourcing;
- Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights;
- Commitment to shared prosperity; and
- Respecting and protecting human rights defenders.
The climate crisis is the greatest global challenge humanity has ever faced – and rolling out renewable energy capacity at pace is critical. Respect for rights and shared prosperity is imperative – but Indigenous Peoples’ rights are not and never were a barrier to responsible wind and solar projects’ deployment.
On the contrary, Indigenous Peoples are pioneers in the fight against climate change, and are the allies of progressive actors respecting our rights and dignity.
It starts with a commitment – not mere lip service to respect rights, especially when legal protections are weak. This takes leadership, as demonstrated by a few companies in this year’s Benchmark.”
Joan Carling, Indigenous Peoples Rights International Executive Director