Transitions in areas such as energy, food systems, and nature-based solutions all rely heavily on the financial system. At the same time, integrating human rights into sustainable finance represents both a critical challenge and a strategic opportunity for Latin America in the context of global transitions. While responsible investment has made progress in the region, current approaches have often prioritized environmental over social criteria, leaving a significant gap in the protection of human rights within the financial sector.
In a region marked by structural inequalities and a strong dependence on natural resources, it is essential for financial actors to embed human rights principles into their investment decisions. Doing so not only helps to mitigate risks but also strengthens the region’s social and economic resilience. The adoption of international standards and growing demands for transparency are pushing financial institutions and capital markets to take a more active role in building a fairer and more sustainable economy.
At CREER, we promote the integration of human rights into sustainable finance through capacity building, research, and the creation of dialogue spaces among key stakeholders. Our goal is to bridge the gap in the integration of social criteria into investments, raise awareness of the importance of human rights due diligence, and support the transition toward an economy grounded in inclusion, equity, and respect for fundamental rights.
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Only 8% of institutional investors globally consider human rights a key factor in their investment decisions, compared to
Fuente: PRI, 2023.
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Report from the meeting with workers and trade unions
Testimony from workers and trade unions
The rapid expansion of critical minerals for the energy transition and other strategic industries (agriculture, defense, technology) presents us with a paradox: the decarbonization of the planet depends on an intensification of mining activity. For CREER, this rapid expansion carries critical risks regarding human rights, local economic dynamics, and ecosystem balance. Our work focuses on analyzing these dilemmas through the lens of a just transition, promoting governance frameworks that mitigate negative impacts and ensure that the mining of “minerals for the future” is carried out under rigorous standards of sustainability, equity, and respect for fundamental rights, through dialogue among different stakeholders.
We analyze the governance and sustainability challenges that arise in the implementation of decentralized generation models. Our work focuses on researching how local associative structures interact with regulatory frameworks and human rights standards. Through applied research, we assess the risks of rent capture, internal decision-making conflicts, and the conditions necessary for these self-management schemes to guarantee equitable and transparent participation in the territory.
With a focus on responsible land management and respect for local livelihoods, at CREER we apply our technical expertise in the photovoltaic sector to promote a solar transition with social integrity. Through the analysis of rural environments, the strengthening of local governance, and the design of participation mechanisms, we seek to ensure that large-scale deployment in Latin America not only contributes to the energy mix, but also strengthens the social fabric. Our purpose is to lead due diligence models that ensure solar infrastructure coexists with food security, strategic ecosystems, and the productive vocations of each community.
