Join our Sustainability Spotlight Session:      License to Operate

Climate action and human rights are becoming increasingly central to an organisation’s license to operate. This shift has been reinforced by a recent United Nations vote in which a majority of nations recognised tackling climate change as a legal duty.

As climate litigation cases continue to rise, countries and businesses are facing growing pressure, not only from the courts, but also from regulators, investors, and communities, to accelerate climate action and address the human rights impacts of climate change.

What does this mean for businesses? How can organisations deliver credible net-zero strategies while responding to growing expectations around human rights and climate accountability? Let’s explore this together in our third Sustainability Spotlight Session "License to Operate: Net-Zero, Human Rights and the rise of Climate Litigation". 


About the session

In this interactive, in‑person session, we bring together legal experts and business leaders and explore lessons from the Santa Marta Conference: Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels.Together, we will examine how climate law, human rights, and the shift away from fossil fuels are reshaping corporate responsibility and the business license to operate.

This session is organized in partnership with the Social Impact Factory.


Programme 
▪ Walk-in: 13:30 - 14:00 
▪ Spotlight Session: 14:00 - 16:30 
▪ Networking drinks: 16:30 - 17:30 


Practical information
▪ Format: In-person event
▪ Language: English
▪ Participation fee: Free-of-charge, limited spots available 
▪ For whom? Corporate legal, CSO, supply chain, procurement, sustainability, compliance, human rights & DEI professionals, and CSR professionals, as well as business leaders preparing their organisation for net-zero.
​​​​​​​Professionals most likely to benefit from the session work at (large) companies or SMEs (minimum 50 employees). 


Location: Social Impact Factory Amsterdam 
▪ Address: Kauwgomballenfabriek, Willem Fenengastraat 2, 1096 BN Amsterdam 
▪ Accessibility & parking: find information here.

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Speakers

Sjoerd Lopik
Sjoerd Lopik
Sjoerd Lopik is a partner at law firm De Roos where he advises companies, NGOs, and governments on business ethics and sustainability. He specializes in criminal, administrative, and human rights law. He also teaches at Leiden University, where he earned a PhD in climate law last year.
Thij van Aalst
Thij van Aalst
Thij van Aalst is a former employee of UNEP, GRI, and WBCSD, and a political scientist. In 2026, he co-founded the think tank United Future with former colleagues. On behalf of United Future, he presented a Theory of Change for accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels at the intergovernmental conference on the energy transition in Santa Marta, Colombia.
Jeroen Spijker
Jeroen Spijker
This session will be moderated by Jeroen Spijker. Jeroen is Programme Manager at the UN Global Compact NL, supporting companies on climate and nature issues. He also supports the UN Global Compact NL Communication on Progress submissions.

About the Spotlight Series

The Spotlight Series bring companies and experts together in in-person sessions on key sustainability topics in human rights, labour and climate, focused on practical insights and peer exchange. The series constitutes three standalone sessions. 

About the Social Impact Factory

This session is organised in partnership with the Social Impact Factory, a community where impact makers come together to work and connect. Their initiative, the Impact Clubhuis, offers a curated programme of workshops, talks, themed events, and collaborative sessions. It’s a space to share knowledge, learn from professionals, exchange best practices, and turn ideas into social impact.

About the UN Global Compact NL

The UN Global Compact Network Netherlands unites Dutch companies and stakeholders to promote sustainable, responsible business. It supports the UN’s Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, providing guidance, peer learning, and events to help organisations embed responsible practices into daily operations.