Volume 13 Issue 05

Investigation of Corporate Social Responsibility in Multi-National Companies to Promote Environmental Sustainability
Pavithra Priyadarshini Selvakumar
Independent Researcher

Volume 13, Issue 05, Pg. 11-20 (2020)

Abstract: In the present age of globalization, the contribution of MNCs and a socially responsible corporate governance is inevitable for achieving the United Nations – Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) by 2030. Hence, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is proliferatingas a crucial element on national and transnational policy agendas. With reference to this context, companies are adopting critical strategies in their core operations and policies, to be more accountable for their impacts on the planet and society. Further, owing to the increase in environmental awareness around the globe, the strategies adopted as part of the CSR are mainly concentrating on greater environmental protection. However, there is minimal research related to corporate environmental responsibility, mainly focusingonachieving the UN-SDGs. This paper aims to investigates the role of CSR in Multi-National Companies (MNCs) to achieve UN agendastargeted to improve environmental sustainability. Thus, this interdisciplinary research bridges the knowledge gaps between CSR and environmental sustainability, providing a potential solution for the pressing environmental problems faced by policymakers and scientific communities.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; Energy Efficiency; Environmental Initiatives; Environmental Sustainability; Sustainable businesses.

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The challenges of agriculture: Feeding the world of tomorrow, on a transitioning and endangered Earth Michèle Salinas 1, Chloë Baudet 2
1,2,  Agence pour le Développement Economique et Culturel Nord Sud,
Statut Consultatif Spécial auprès du Conseil Economique et Social (ECOSOC) de l’ONU,
Membre à l’initiative Global Compact, France.

Volume 13, Issue 05, Pg. 21-58 (2020).

Abstract: The challenge is now and for the future: which agriculture is needed to adequately and sustainably feed a population that is still growing exponentially while respecting the planet? Ensuring food security for nearly 10 billion people, a considerable challenge, especially since many factors combine and tend to hinder tomorrow and today’s requirements. It’s hard to name them all. However, demographic, climatological and cultural variables appear to be the main threats to food security. Indeed, it is difficult to talk about food and agriculture without mentioning the demographic context, even if all countries are currently on the road to demographic transition[1]. On this subject, there is still a debate between Malthus’ supporters, for whom food production will be unable to meet future demand given the available agricultural resources, and those who support abundance, for whom development is significantly possible thanks to scientific advances. This questioning can only be studied on a global scale. In fact, sustainable development can only be the result of joint political actions, both multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary, which will be successful thanks to a consensus. This approach consists, on the basis of the current situation and case studies, in determining the effects to address requests and possibilities.

Keywords: environmental requirements, food security, nutrition food, sustainable agriculture, sustainable development

[1] On 1 January 2019, the earth’s population was 7,637 billion. Growth is expected to slow down around 2050 (World Population Prospects Table, UN website)

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Regulated Use of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Development: The Experience from India
Pushpa Kumar Lakshmanan
Law Centre – I, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, Delhi, Delhi- 110007 India.

Volume 13, Issue 05, Pg. 59-70 (2020).

Abstract: Biodiversity is the base and source of most of the developmental activities. With the advent of modern biotechnology, the utilization of biological and genetic resources for various developmental ventures in medicine, health products, cosmetics, and industrial products increased manifold. Ever since the Convention on Biological Diversity rolled out a blueprint for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilization of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, the Parties to the Convention recognized them as cardinal principles for sustainable development that depends on biological diversity. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing for Utilization of Genetic resources and Traditional Knowledge concretized the legal mandate for facilitated access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge for research and developmental purposes. The Protocol ensured equitable sharing of benefits to the indigenous and local communities that have shared traditional knowledge and contributed for the conservation of biological diversity. Being a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the Nagoya Protocol, India has been implementing the Convention and the Protocol through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provides facilitated access to biological resources and associated knowledge based on prior approval and mutually agreed terms. Even though both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol use the terms “genetic resources,” the Indian Biological Diversity Act regulates “biological resources.” This gives a broader scope to the regulation and benefit sharing. A three tier-mechanism has been created under the Act to regulate access to biological resources and associated knowledge and to ensure benefit sharing. The National Biodiversity Authority at the federal level provides prior approval to the non-Indian entities for research and commercial utilization of biological resources. This Authority also regulates transfer of research results and transfer of accessed biological resource to a third party. Any application for intellectual property protection for any product or process involving biological resources requires prior approval of the National Biodiversity Authority. The State Biodiversity Boards established in the States regulate access to biological resources by the Indian citizens at the state level. Both the National Biodiversity Authority and the State Biodiversity Boards determine benefit sharing at the time of granting approval. However, the State Biodiversity Boards do not have any clear mandate under the Act to accord approval and fix benefit sharing. This issue has been raised in the case of Divya Pharmacy v. Union of India (2018). The Biodiversity Management Committees established at the grassroots level in the local bodies have major duties of conservation and documentation of biodiversity and the associated knowledge available within its jurisdiction. These Committees also have the power to levy access fees from the persons accessing biological resources within its jurisdiction. The Biological Diversity Rules 2004, and the Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations 2014 aid the implementation of Biological Diversity Act.

Nevertheless, the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act has been entangled with multiple challenges due to convoluted procedures, different enforcement approaches of State Biodiversity Boards and lack of clarity in the law itself. Hesitation of industry stakeholders to comply with the law and lack of participation and awareness about the access and benefit sharing process on the part of the local communities add the complexity to the implementation of the law.  All these issues not only pose threat to the implementation of biodiversity law, but also threat to conservation and sustainable development. This paper will critically analyze the importance of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of biological resources globally and in a developing country like India to further sustainable development. It will shed light on the difficulties in implementing the biodiversity law in India. This paper will also examine how access and benefit sharing regime in India impacts research and innovation for sustainable development and how it benefits biodiversity conservation and local communities with the help of case studies.

Keywords: Access and Benefit Sharing; Convention on Biological Diversity; Innovation; Nagoya Protocol; Sustainable development.

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