The Access Initiative

Indonesian Government introduces new rules to expand the release of environmental information

After three years of engagement with local community members as part of TAI’s STRIPE project, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry  passed a new regulation that requires over 111 documents, maps, and reports to be made “proactively available periodically” to the public. 

Tai Members

Indonesia Center for Environmental Law,Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia,Media Link

Country

Our Impact

Indonesia’s rich natural resources but poor environmental quality continues to “negatively and disproportionally affect the poor and their livelihood opportunities, causing diseases as well as losses to the national economy”.

This regulation for the first time clearly outlines what environmental information will be made proactively available without a request including environmental impact assessments, Greenhouse gas inventories and river monitoring reports. The regulation also publicly outlines the frequency of release and the person in charge of releasing the documents. The passage of the new regulation was heavily influenced by the work of WRI and its TAI partner, the Indonesia Center for Environmental Law our co-partner in the STRIPE project.

Passage of the regulation will have a direct benefit to Indonesians  affected by air and water pollution and facilitate understanding of the socio-economic, health and environmental impacts. It will also support reform of participation and consultation policies on pollution. This regulation provides support for communities to have access for the first time information that allows the public to take action and demand change. It showcases how  long term engagement with government ministries on the need for better public environmental information can be successful in creating governance changes. Proactive disclosure of environmental information is an essential part of the solution for addressing the struggle for clean air and water while offering multiple benefits to government officials, company representatives, and local communities.