Frequently Asked Questions

The International Responsible Business Conduct Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector is a multi-stakeholder partnership. It aims to generate more transparency in the renewable energy technologies supply chains. The implementation of the Agreement consist of individual and collective actions that address potential and actual adverse impacts on people, the natural environment and biodiversity. Any private or public sector organisation or civil society organisation active in the wind and/or solar energy industry and is willing to contribute to this goal can apply to join the Agreement.

Companies, irrespective of their size, organisational type or level of knowledge in the field of international responsible business conduct, are welcome to participate in the process.

A company can participate if:

• it is active in the production, processing, trading, installation or distribution of wind or solar energy;
• it submits a short motivation explaining why it wants to participate and what it can contribute;
• there is no objection on the part of the other parties to the participation of the new company;
• it makes an annual financial contribution;
• it signs the following official documents:
  - Agreement
  - Confidentiality Protocol
  - Assignment Agreement

Companies without a link to the Dutch market are also welcome to join. A minimum contribution of €3,000 applies to them. Furthermore, the same financial contributions apply to them as to Dutch medium-sized and large companies.

• Implementing due diligence in line with the OECD Guidelines and the UNGPs;
• Collaboration with other participants in the agreement to improve human rights and environmental conditions in renewable energy value chains

That depends on the size, operations and individual choices of companies. Improving individual company due diligence practices is a continuous process and requires periodical review and evaluation by the companies. However, by gaining access to the tailor-made due diligence templates, tools and instruments offered by the agreement, companies save time and lower costs. Also, participating in the actual work of the agreement for individual companies is not time-consuming. Taking part in working groups and collective projects are entirely voluntary.

• supporting and monitoring individual companies' efforts to identify, understand and address risks of violation of human rights and environmental standards in their value chains;
• initiating projects to jointly address prevalent risks in the sector;
• increasing the collective influence (leverage) of the agreement participants by broadening membership, and by encouraging relevant actors in the renewable energy supply chains to adopt and implement the OECD Guidelines and UNGPs;
• encouraging embedment of international responsible business conduct criteria in tender and procurement processes regarding renewable energy technologies.

The International RBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector is based on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These are the most authoritative international standards in the area of human rights and environmental due diligence. They are also the basis for the European Union’s due diligence legislation which is currently in development. Participation in the Renewable Energy Agreement helps companies to comply with international standards and prepare them to comply with existing and future sustainability legislation.