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Ulkar Aghayeva
Sustainability I Human Rights I DEI I Public Speaking I
Ulkar Aghayeva, Sustainability Consultant at DNV
Ulkar Aghayeva is a sustainability consultant at DNV, a global quality assurance and risk management company.1 She is a specialist in social responsibility, governance, human rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).1
Some key facts about Ulkar Aghayeva:
- She is based in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area2
- She has expertise in public speaking2
- She previously held a fixed-term position as a summer assistant at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland4
- She has a Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences from Baku State University3
Ulkar Aghayeva is active on LinkedIn, where she shares updates about her career journey and work in sustainability, DEI, and corporate social responsibility and disclosure (CSRD).45
Highlights
As global consumption of electronic products continues to rise, we face an escalating crisis with electronic waste (e-waste). This burgeoning e-waste contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals that pose significant disposal and recycling challenges. Each year, hundreds of thousands of outdated electronics like computers and mobile phones end up in landfills or are incinerated in smelters.
Compounding this issue, a considerable amount of e-waste is exported—often through illegal channels—from nations such as Europe, the US, and Japan to countries like China, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Kenya. In these destinations, under-regulated scrap yards employ workers, including children, who are exposed to harmful substances without adequate protection.
This critical situation calls for immediate attention and action from global stakeholders to implement safer, more sustainable e-waste management practices. A detailed Life Cycle Assessment, an end-to-end transparent supply chain, is vital in this endeavor, as it helps mitigate human rights risks and prevent environmental degradation. By prioritizing transparency, we can ensure responsible handling and disposal of e-waste, safeguarding both human and environmental health.
In today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, there's significant capital flowing into renewable energy and hydrogen projects. However, this investment surge brings with it the crucial need to balance financial goals with human rights considerations.
The influx of funds presents vast opportunities but also poses considerable risks. It is imperative for developers and investors to carefully navigate these complexities to foster responsible and sustainable growth.
This article sheds light on the challenges of managing undisciplined capital and underscores the importance of integrating human rights due diligence. Drawing on global examples, it highlights the need for rigorous risk identification and mitigation throughout the project lifecycle and within the supply chain.
