This chapter explains the need for an international approach to address the question of acceptable corporate environmental conduct both on the basis of egregious cases of environmental damage and day-to-day negative impacts of corporations that appear to defy States' regulations and controls. It also points to the desirability of private companies' proactive contribution to the attainment of internationally agreed goals. The chapter provides a historical and conceptual introduction to evolving

more »

... pproaches in addressing corporate environmental conduct in the framework of public international law, with a view to introducing two key concepts—corporate responsibility and corporate accountability. The chapter explains how these two concepts have emerged, and how they have reached different stages of development and acceptance in international environmental law. The chapter further relates these concepts to business responsibility to respect human rights under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights.