United Nations Research Institute for Social Development | UNRISD

Through its work, UNRISD aims to ensure that social equity, inclusion and justice are central to development thinking, policy and practice. UNRISD focuses on the often neglected social content and impacts of development processes and the role of social institutions, relations and actors in shaping development policies and pathways; engages researchers, policy makers and civil society actors from around the world in generating and sharing knowledge, in order to shape policy within and beyond the UN system; mobilizes and strengthen the research capacity of individuals and institutions in developing countries through collaborative inquiry; and provides a space for the exchange of ideas, giving prominence to marginalized viewpoints, often challenging mainstream development thinking and offering alternative policy options.

The UNRISD programme on Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development focuses on understanding, analysing and engaging with processes of policy change that can tackle unsustainable practices, climate change and inequalities. The work entails attention to the intersectionality of social, environmental and economic issues at different levels of governance, in support of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Publications

Report

Businesses, planetary boundaries, and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

2024

Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council

Human Rights and Environment

Report

The toxic impacts of some proposed climate change solutions – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes

2023

Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council

Human Rights and Environment | Chemicals and Pollution | Climate

SDG13

Report

Paying polluters: the catastrophic consequences of investor-State dispute settlement for climate and environment action and human rights

2023

Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council

Human Rights and Environment