The emphasis of this chapter is on particular BHR issues and challenges as they arise in different industries, how those industries deal with them, and what specific policy instruments have been put in place to address those issues. The brief overviews provided do not aim at being comprehensive, but rather at giving short introductions to the prevailing challenges, solutions, and best practices in some of the industries that are most exposed to human rights risks and impacts. Furthermore, it will outline some of the more prominent sector-specific guidelines and initiatives in these industries.The following industries are dealt with: the Extractive sector; the Finance and Banking sector; the Information and Communication Technology sector; the Garment and Footwear sector; and the Food, Beverage, and Agribusiness sector.

This chapter reviews socioenvironmental issues related to Chinese engagements in Africa. By investigating the behaviors of Chinese enterprises in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and extractive sectors, the author depicts diverse challenges in various sectors. Large state-owned enterprises and small private businesses demonstrate departing performances and understandings regarding socioenvironmental responsibility. The Chinese government constantly urges Chinese firms to improve socioenvironmental practices because of reputational concerns, but China lacks the legal framework and monitoring mechanism to effectively influence its enterprises’ operation overseas. Weak regulation in Africa often leaves problematic behaviors there unpunished. In this context, Chinese business associations and banks provide pragmatic assistance to promote corporate social responsibility among Chinese investors. In spite of a recent move toward convergence with international norms, China diverges from the West on evaluating the socioenvironmental impacts of industrial projects in the developing countries. As industrialization inevitably alters the original societal structure and natural environment, China does not insist on intact socioenvironmental preservation in developing countries. Large infrastructure projects such as dams are rather viewed as necessary for developing countries to mitigate the impact of global climate change. Emphasis is laid on balancing economic growth and socioeconomic transformation under concrete circumstances so that the development can sustain.

This article explores how the current corporate governance codes in Nigeria affect corporations in the extractives sector. It focuses on the idea of corporate sustainability as the root for improving firms’ behaviour, incorporating development and social justice perspectives. Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria, several laws have been enacted to control the impact of oil exploration on the environment. Despite these efforts, environmental degradation continues to persist in parts of the country where natural resources are exploited. Mandatory corporate governance codes backed by sustainability driven corporate laws could ensure that companies minimize adverse effects of their activities on affected stakeholders.