OECD
On 14 December 1960, Germany and 19 other countries signed the Convention on the OECD, which established the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and in doing so endorsed the objectives and missions of the organisation. The OECD provides its member countries with country studies, statistics and economic data that members can use to analyse and develop their economic, social and environmental policies. Additionally, the member countries have access to all the research and analyses carried out by the OECD Secretariat covering the entire OECD economic and social spectrum.
The governments of the OECD member countries steer the focal areas and implementation of the OECD work and research programmes through the OECD Council and in a number of committees and working groups (see OECD organisation).
OECD environmental policy
The OECD's environmental activities are organised by the Environment Directorate. The Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) and its associated bodies steer these activities from a political and scientific perspective. The Federal Environment Ministry (BMUV) represents Germany in EPOC and its working groups. The Environment Directorate website provides an overview of the OECD environmental policy priorities and activities and access to a large number of documents.
OECD Environmental Performance Review
The OECD has been publishing regular Environmental Performance Reviews on its member and partner countries since 1992. The review of environmental performance is carried out in the framework of peer reviews, i.e. one country is reviewed by representatives of other member countries. The aim of these reports is to examine the environmental situation and the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental policies of OECD countries from an external perspective. The reports provide the basis for independent policy recommendations for the country under review and for raising international awareness of successful environmental policy approaches. Implementation of these recommendations is then discussed in a follow-up process.
The 2023 Environmental Performance Review on Germany is the fourth OECD EPR for Germany (last review: 2012). The peer review countries for Germany’s 2023 report were France and the United Kingdom. The report contains two chapter: a general one (key environmental trends, framework conditions, sustainable development) and a more detailed chapter on climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions.
OECD Handbook on Environmental Due Diligence in Mineral Supply Chains
Mining is a high-risk sector for human rights violations and major environmental pollution. Many companies, for example in the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors, but also manufacturers of wind turbines and photovoltaic installations, are reliant on metals from global supply chains. At the same time, they are facing greater public pressure to ensure sustainable corporate governance. This is also increasingly reflected in legal requirements such as Germany’s Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains and the new EU Batteries Regulation.
For a long time, there was very little practical guidance on environmental aspects and the challenges of mining. To close this gap, the OECD Handbook on Environmental Due Diligence in Mineral Supply Chains was developed at the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct and published in September 2023. The Federal Environment Ministry initiated and co-financed the handbook in the framework of the German government’s Raw Materials Strategy. The German Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) supported and provided expertise for the international multi-stakeholder process at the OECD. The handbook describes, for example, how the OECD’s recommended general six-step due diligence approach can be specifically applied to the environmental risks and impacts in global mineral and metal supply chains. By presenting approaches and best-practice examples, the handbook aims to help companies cooperate with interest groups and develop effective measures to prohibit, stop or mitigate environmental impacts in mineral and metal supply chains and, in some cases, remedy environmental damage.