A/HRC/19/34 particular attention. These findings led the Special Rapporteur to prepare a thematic report focusing on the impact of large-scale or major development projects on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and communities (E/CN.4/2003/90). 47. In 2005, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2005/69 requesting the Secretary-General “to appoint a special representative on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises”. Under this mandate, the Special Representative studied the environmental implications of corporate activities, as well as the role of States in regulating the activities of transnational corporations. The Special Representative noted the importance of environmental and social impact assessments already practiced in certain industries, yet also noted some of the deficiencies of these impact assessments. 48. The Human Rights Council, since its creation in March 2006, has enacted several resolutions relevant to the relationship between human rights and the environment, specifically referring to climate change, the dumping of toxic waste and the right to food. 5 49. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly stated that massive violations of the right to adequate food, in particular in developing countries, are related in part to “environmental degradation, desertification and global climate change, [and] natural disasters”.6 Moreover, the Council has expressed its concern regarding the impact of natural disasters, disease and pests on agricultural production and food security. In addition, the Council has referred to the need to prevent further desertification and land degradation and to expand environmentally sustainable agriculture to fight worldwide hunger. 50. Originally established by the Commission on Human Rights in April 2000, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food is mandated by the Human Rights Council to promote the protection of the universal right to adequate food and freedom from hunger. The Special Rapporteur has devoted considerable time to investigating the relationship between agribusiness, environmental degradation and human rights. The Special Rapporteur has also studied the potential impacts of climate change on the right to food and shown that agroecology, with its emphasis on the recycling of nutrients and energy and on diversifying species, enhances the sustainability of food systems and their resilience to climate change. 51. The Human Rights Council has renewed several times the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. The work of the Rapporteur has focused on identifying new trends and challenges that affect the human rights of indigenous people and called attention to the need to reinforce, review and update standards and mechanisms for the effective protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. The work of the Special Rapporteur has identified gaps in implementing the rights of indigenous people that relate to the environment. The annual reports of the Special Rapporteur have referred to deficiencies of mechanisms for consultation, evaluation and monitoring of national and international human rights standards when implementing any development project that “directly or indirectly affects indigenous peoples, their lands, territories, resources and environment, their sacred places and their cultural environment” (E/CN.4/2006/78, para. 49). 52. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons has also looked at environmental issues, such as displacement that can be attributed to climate change. The Special Rapporteur has identified five situations causing displacement that can be traced to environmental issues: (a) increased hydro-meteorological disasters (i.e., 5 6 See, for example resolutions 7/23, 10/4, 16/11, 13/4 and 16/27 See resolutions 7/14, 10/12, 13/4 and 16/27. 11