Karin Buhmann

What do you research?

My research and teaching focus on sustainability and responsible business conduct (RBC) with a particular emphasis on social issues, especially climate change mitigation; business responsibilities for human rights; and sustainable finance. Within these topics my research and expertise focus on, i.e., risk-based (corporate sustainability) due diligence, human rights due diligence and its elements, in particular meaningful stakeholder engagement with and for affected stakeholders, and access to substantive remedy; multi-stakeholder regulation and 'smart' regulation for sustainability; just and fair transitions/socially responsible climate change mitigation.

Why is it so important?

I approach these issues from the perspective of public governance and public-private regulation, exploring how public and private organizations do or can work together to address global concerns related to sustainable human development. My research and teaching are frequently inspired by a quest to deliver insights on theoretical and practical implementation perspectives for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises for Responsible Business Conduct; the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework, the Global Compact and the SDGs, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal.

A project you are proud of?

Frontiers of natural resource and sustainability governance for a just energy transition (FRONTIERS). Carlsberg Semper Ardens Accomplish grant (collaborative research project) 2024-2029). FRONTIERS explores frontiers of sustainability governance; and frontiers for natural resource use and extraction for the green transition, with an emphasis on minerals, risk-based due diligence, and sustainable finance. Other research includes assessment of global crisis governance, comparing policy uptake of scientific information on Covid-19 and climate change, the communicative and strategic evolution of the Business & Human Rights (BHR) regime, and sustainable forestry between law and the market.

Updated December 2024

Through her participation in Policy Fellowship 2024-2025 Karin is working with Linda Høibye, Climate Change Director, The Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) and Fiona Luscombe Kielsgaard Holm, investment advisory lead, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).