Two PhD positions in the governance of natural resources and sustainability for a just and fair energy transition, at the Department of Management, Society and Communication at Copenhagen Business School
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) invites applications for two PhD positions in governance of natural resources and sustainability for a just and fair energy transition at the Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC).
Both PhD positions (project A and project B) form part of work packages under the research project ‘Frontiers of natural resource and sustainability governance for a just energy transition’ (FRONTIERS).
At an overall level, FRONTIERS aims to advance knowledge for a just and fair transition, which involves and respects those (such as communities or individuals) who are at risk or in practice adversely affected by mining of minerals for the green transition. Comprising four complementary work packages and a focus on land-based and potential deep-sea mining as a field of natural resource exploration, we will explore effects of risk-based due diligence demands for the industry; industry and investors practices; and potentially complementary normative ideas related to the rights of nature. Ultimately, the project seeks to develop insights that may support a comprehensive assessment of eco-system impacts as an aspect of risk-based due diligence for mining of minerals for the transition and investments in the industry and the value chain, including the solar and wind power and energy storage industries. Some fieldwork in mining countries and/or with relevant industries is envisaged. Please see https://frontiers.cbs.dk/ for details.
The central objective of PhD project A is to explore and advance our understanding of the effects of legal requirements on risk-based due diligence in value chains and non-financial reporting (disclosure) with regard to transition minerals mining. As part of this, the project should explore what factors, including in legal demands and organisational practices, are conducive to adequately identifying and preventing social, environmental and wider eco-system harm or risks, including in multi-tier supply chains in complex settings for environmental and social impacts. Research can, for example, address:
- An exploration of policy objectives in home or host countries for mining industry and in the European Union (EU) in regard to processes for companies to identify risks or actual societal harm and manage such risks or harm;
- An exploration or mapping of legislative texts from selected countries and administrative guidance on risk-based due diligence related to social, environmental and wider eco-system risks and harm related to the mining industry and its green energy value chains;
- An exploration of company needs and preferences for risk-based due diligence demands from governments and the private sector (including investors) for impact assessments of societal risks;
- An exploration of risk-based due diligence uptake in one or more companies in the mining industry and/or green energy companies, and cascading of due diligence along the value chain;
- Lessons that may be learnt or passed on from due diligence and responsible business conduct in land-based mining towards deep-sea mining.
The central objective of PhD project B is to explore and advance our understanding of how institutional investors apply risk-based due diligence for human rights and the environment in decisions on investment in companies involved in extracting minerals relevant for the energy transition and the supply chains for such minerals. As part of this, the project should explore how institutional investors seek to shape practices in the investment chain for land-based transition minerals and potential expansion into the deep seas to identify and prevent social, environmental and wider eco-system risks and harm.
Research can, for example, address:
- how institutional investors apply risk-based due diligence demands to understand about risks of or actual societal harm related to their investments in the transition mining industry
- how institutional investors seek to shape the investment chain’s conduct in order to prevent and manage harmful societal impacts, including through impact assessments and deployment of their influence/leverage;
- how institutional investors seek to advance cascading of risk-based due diligence awareness and practices along mining value chains;
- how institutional investors apply due diligence demands to ensure that affected stakeholders who host or live near transition minerals mines are meaningfully engaged in decision-making on the mining:
- In regard to assessment of societal impacts and deployment of risk-based due diligence, what lessons may be learnt or passed on from institutional investors’ practices in regard to land-based mining towards deep-sea mining, including for comprehensive impact assessment.
PhD project B is expected to be undertaken in close collaboration with at least one Danish institutional investor with a leading role in risk-based due diligence and sustainable investing.