People-Centered Climate Action:
Guidance for Private Capital Investors

Achieving global climate goals will require an estimated $7.4 trillion in annual investment through 2030, underscoring the vital role of private capital in financing the transition across sectors and scaling climate solutions. When carried out responsibly, climate investment strategies can generate widespread benefits, including decent work, access to renewable energy, and a healthier environment. When done poorly, however, they can create significant harms for people and expose investors to regulatory, transition, and systemic risks.

This guidance is designed to support investors in advancing a people-centered transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy by aligning investment activities and climate strategies with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The report outlines steps for integrating a human rights and just transition lens into General Partner (GP) and Limited Partner (LP) portfolio decarbonization and climate adaptation efforts. It also highlights climate-related transition and physical risks and opportunities that intersect with human rights, and showcases emerging practices across private markets. To inspire action, the guidance includes case studies and due diligence questions for both GPs and LPs.

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