As the international community gathers for the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development, we have a chance to renew our commitment to Environmental Democracy. Can national governments deliver?
Topics: Access to Information
Published: 2011
Freedom of Information Tracking
Complex monitoring templates including online systems have been used by civil society groups all over the world to monitor and track the results of Freedom of information requests. However communities often need a simple tool to record what has happened to their Freedom of information requests once sent to government agencies. Methods to track the date of their requests, any responses by government agencies , transfer of requests and options for appeal are all important. The Indonesian Center for Environmental Law in partnership with the World Resources Institute has developed a simple tool to help community members monitor their FOI requests. The booklet was created as part of the Strengthening the Right to Information to Improve public health and the environment project (SHRIMP – EQ) funded by the Open Society Foundation.
Published: 2011
Freedom of Information Tracking
Complex monitoring templates including online systems have been used by civil society groups all over the world to monitor and track the results of Freedom of information requests. However communities often need a simple tool to record what has happened to their Freedom of information requests once sent to government agencies. Methods to track the date of their requests, any responses by government agencies , transfer of requests and options for appeal are all important. The Indonesian Center for Environmental Law in partnership with the World Resources Institute has developed a simple tool to help community members monitor their FOI requests. The booklet was created as part of the Strengthening the Right to Information to Improve public health and the environment project (SHRIMP – EQ) funded by the Open Society Foundation.
Published: 2011
This report summarizes the current state of readiness and transparency in Bolivia in climate change adaptation policy.
The report summarizes findings from national-level policy and special efforts made in food security.
The report finds that many of the official government decisions have only covered the range of possibilities in a partial way. Public participation and transparency have been applied in a very limited way (by invitation only) and the legal framework in Bolivia allows very little enforcement or public oversight of climate-relevant decisions.
Co-authoring organizations include Reacción Climática and Fundación Ecosofía.
Published: 2011
This power point presentation describes the SHRIMP -EQ Project -Strengthening the right to information for public health and environmental quality. It features our partners Indonesia Center for Environmental Law and Thailand Environmental Institute. The project uses Freedom of information laws to obtain data on pollution control processes in relation to air and water in the two countries. It encourages governments to begin to release information proactively instead of reactively. Community groups in
Indonesia – Tubanan village, Central Java affected by the Tanjung Jati B coal Steam fired power plant ( AIR)
Pontang village, Serang, Banten. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) (WATER)
Thailand – Nong Fab and Clong Num Hoo in Map ta Phut
are being capacitated to use their right to information to access information to promote accountability of government and private sector companies. Secrecy is prevelant in many countries about air and water quality data. Weak monitoring and enforcement mandates prevail. SHRIMP -EQ aims to change this dynamic and bring change on the ground to these communities.
Published: 2011
Twelve Responding Governments
Attached you will find a full write-up of the responses from the responding governments.
Governments who responded:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Cameroon
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Gabon
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Madagascar
- Mexico
- Peru
- Thailand
- Venezuela
Governments contacted, no response:
- Benin
- Chile
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- India
- Jamaica
- Macedonia
- Malawi
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
Published: 2011
The inclusion of procedural rights of access to information, public participationand access to justice in environmental decision-making are recognized in international treaties and soft law agreements as central to the sustainable development agenda. Since the 1990s, a number of Caribbean countries have enacted environmental legislation requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to permitting significant developments . The extent to which procedural rights have been included within EIA provisions however is varied. There has been little analysis of the impact of the use by citizens of procedural rights in these EIA processes.
This paper examines the legislative framework for EIAs and citizen enforcement of procedural rights in the decision-making process for proposed developments in Jamaica and Belize. The legislative frameworks adopted by Belize and Jamaica are significantly different; with the former enacting comparatively comprehensive regulations to guide the EIA process and the latter dependent on internal guidelines. In both countries there has been documented failure in law and practice to deliver effective procedural rights. A review of recent court decisions in Belize and Jamaica illustrates the value of citizen enforcement as a means of safeguarding procedural rights in the conduct and review of EIAs as well as demonstrating the failure in compliance.
Published: 2011
Les industries minières sont considérées par le Gouvernement malagasy d’être des industries stratégiques pour le développement de Madagascar. Elles sont aussi sources d’impacts sociaux et environnementaux non négligeables. QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), détenue à hauteur de 80% par Rio Tinto et de 20% par l’Etat malgache représenté par l’Office des Mines National et des Industries Stratégiques (OMNIS), a mis en chantier une opération d’extraction de sables minéralisés, à Mandena, Taolagnaro dans la Région Anosy pour une durée de 20 à 25 ans. Le projet minier est localisé dans un environnement naturel très sensible avec un taux d’endémisme élevé et un écosystème littoral unique. L’étude de ce cas relatif à l’exploitation des sables minéraux (ilménite et zircon) à Fort-Dauphin se base alors sur les problématiques suivantes : y a-t-il une (des) initiative(s) du Gouvernement et de la compagnie minière pour l’accès du public à l’information sur le projet? Quelles sont les portées de celles-ci au niveau de la population ? L’objectif est d’identifier les lacunes juridiques, institutionnelles et les pratiques sur l’accès à l’information par rapport à l’environnement, la biodiversité et fournir des recommandations afin de combler ces lacunes.
Published: 2008
El objetivo de este folleto es facilitar la comprension del documento “Manual de acceso a la información y a la participación ambiental en Colombia”, destacando sus datos clave y proponiendo la realización de actividades que permitan la reflexión sobre los diferentes temas y aplicación práctica de la teoría. El manual pretende dar al lector un instrumento para el acceso a la información y participacón en asustos relacionados con el medio ambiente y los recursos naturales, los derechos y deberes relacionados con el tema y brindar y visión jurídica y social de lo relativo en materia ambientala nivel nacional e intenacional.
TAI has been in existence for 10 years and has documented numerous case studies on the establishment and strengthening of the right to information, public participation and justice. Our partner’s and other advocates experiences speak to the continued struggle for attainment of the promise of environmental democracy. These case studies reflect the most recent information we have collected on progress in the implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration but also current challenges and opportunities for change. The Rio 2012 Summit process is an opportunity to recognize the progress that has been made but also to address the continuing gaps in accountability, and the lack of foresight of a number of governments which have failed to establish access rights for their citizens. The case studies also highlight the critical need for building capacity and strengthening the gap between policy, law and practice. Years of struggle by environmental advocates and their work to save the environment from harm, to push for transparency and accountability and seek justice in the public interest need to be recognized at RIO 2012. For a discussion on “renewing the political commitment for sustainable development” and “assessing the progress to date and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits” to be credible it must address environmental governance, accountability and transparency.