Cookstove Zimbabwe

UNJUST AND SHORTSIGHTED CARBON PROJECT

A new Swedwatch investigation finds that a multimillion-dollar carbon credit project in Zimbabwe failed to consult local communities or share revenues with them.

 

The case adds to growing criticism of the voluntary carbon market over poor transparency and risks to community rights.

 

New briefing

 Learn more

 

About us

Swedwatch is an independent, non-profit research organisation striving to empower rights holders and to promote responsible business practices.

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Podcast 

Worker-centric approaches

In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast on responsible business, Benjamin Claeson from Swedwatch, author of Overdue Diligence, discusses why current corporate due diligence efforts fail to adequately protect workers and communities, and how stronger worker-centred approaches can help bridge this gap.

Lundin event small

Seminar recording

Corporate responsibility & war crimes

How do human rights responsibilities follow companies and assets through mergers and acquisitions? Panel discussion at the 2025 Geneva Business and Human Rights Forum, drawing on the Lundin war crimes trial and the Norwegian NCP’s statement.

Watch the recording

EU Bryssel skylt

Final negotiations Omnibus

Democratic breakdown & setback for sustainability

Fewer companies covered, climate requirements removed, and reduced legal protection for people affected by corporate impacts, that is the result of the Omnibus 1 agreement reached by the Council and the European Parliament in Brussels.

More details on the agreement

frontcut

Blog post

Funders’ role in a new era of corporate accountability

Despite their promise, mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws risk becoming little more than a box-ticking exercise. A lack of quality funding for workers, communities, and the ecosystem of actors supporting them in due diligence processes is undermining their potential. The good news? Our research highlights promising models that show how funders can make a real difference.

Read our blog

Selected recent publications

Renewables and Reprisals_250410_lågupplöst
Defenders at risk

Report

Drawing on case studies of renewable projects, this report provides key recommendations for governments and companies to better safeguard the rights of human rights defenders in the energy transition.

106_Poison for profit_Kenya_omslag
The price of Europe's toxic trade

Briefing

Pesticides banned in the EU continue to be exported to countries outside the Union, exposing a global pattern of toxic double standards.

Media Pakistan
Shortcomings in EU procurement rules

Report

Labour exploitation in Pakistani textile factories and how it is linked to European taxpayers’ money.

View all Swedwatch publications

Short videos

Exporting harm

Farmers continue to suffer from widespread pesticide use.

Defenders at risk

Defenders protecting land and communities must not pay the price for renewable energy.

Investing responsibly

The role of investors in ensuring a just transition to green energy.

Watch more from Swedwatch

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