Testimonial evidence
- People saw a carrier (ship/plane) dumping waste/polluting an area;
- the dumping/pollution was done by a company’s vehicle;
- as a result of the pollution, people developed medical conditions;
- as a result of the pollution, people or animals died; or
- a corporation knew about conditions endangering people’s lives (to whom it owed a duty of care).
Documentary evidence
- Reports of increased death rates, illnesses and so on;
- medical examinations or reports of members of affected communities;
- reports on the local environment, including levels of toxicity and impact on the local flora and fauna;
- list of the board of directors (from parent and subsidiary companies) and the share capital, shareholders of the parent and subsidiary companies;
- newspapers, public statements, or announcements reporting the impact of pollution in the relevant area;
- statements/press releases of the company;
- internal incriminating documents of the corporation such as board minutes, emails, signed letters, official logbooks, or diaries;
- reports of experts drafted after an inspection of premises, an assessment of the risks present, reports explaining the project/operations of the corporation and so on;
- corporate policies, or codes of conduct;
- written contracts (such as concession agreements, contracts for the provision of security services);
- regulations, laws, decrees, official statements issued by governments (such as authorizing the operations);
- government licensing or regulatory documents showing conditions, production, transport or emissions; or
- files or decisions from government agencies regarding inspections or complaints.
Physical evidence
- Medical records (such as new or increased incidence of diseases, respiratory problems);
- evidence of increased levels of toxicity in air or water; or
- records of increased rates of animal fatality (particularly farm animals) due to diseases dangerous to humans.
Digital evidence
- Video or photographic evidence depicting the dumping of waste/environmental harm (such as those published on social media, or in local news reports);
- (open and closed source) photos, videos or 3D simulations depicting the projects under construction or the business operations of the corporation; or
- geospatial (satellite) imagery showing location of business activities or impacts (mining, deforestation), including spectral analysis of pollutants or contamination.
Scientific or statistical evidence
- Scientific studies showing extent of pollution (contemporaneous or historical);
- modelling of the flow or dispersion of pollutants (air or water); or
- statistical or other public health studies showing the impacts on health or development of a community (and comparison with baseline studies of unaffected communities).
