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Human resources as a green business partner? The who, what, when and where HR (or business partners) enact the green UN SDGs

Douglas W.S. Renwick

German Journal of Human Resource Management2026https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022261430566article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

In this Perspective article, I look to go beyond the arguably legitimate pessimism of Brewster and Brookes critique of human resources (HR) not enacting the UN SDGs in HRM. Using publicly available secondary data, I cautiously offer a different and arguably more optimistic perspective. Drawing on Legge’s Deviant Innovator (power relations) and Ulrich’s HR Champions (HR roles) classic texts, I argue that HR might perhaps occupy a new role, in becoming a green business partner. In doing so, I theoretically advocate adopting systems thinking and research co-creation between HRM academics (rigour) and HR practitioners (relevance). I reflect on the context which sets the regulatory framework for workplace HR (in)action regarding the UN SDGs, and discuss what such context means for everyday HRM greening. Lastly, I offer future research ideas and implications for HRM theory and practice before concluding.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022261430566

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@article{douglas2026,
  title        = {{Human resources as a green business partner? The who, what, when and where HR (or business partners) enact the green UN SDGs}},
  author       = {Douglas W.S. Renwick},
  journal      = {German Journal of Human Resource Management},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022261430566},
}

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Human resources as a green business partner? The who, what, when and where HR (or business partners) enact the green UN SDGs

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.