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New Tool Reveals How Jamaica’s Development Projects Impact People and Planet

By Carole Excell and Stephanie Ratte (Posted: November 20, 2014)

Portland Bight (PBPA) is Jamaica’s largest protected area, extending more than 200 square miles of land and 524 miles of sea. The region is home to 30,000 acres of mangroves, four dry limestone forests, and several threatened species, including the critically endangered Jamaica Iguana. But last year, the Jamaican government revealed plans to lease Goat Islands, two cays located in the protected area, to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to develop a sprawling $1.5 billion trans-shipment port. The project is expected to flatten the Goat Islands and dredge sizable areas, impacting fishing, tourism, biodiversity, and coastal resilience. What’s also troubling is that the government has released scant information about the project, preventing citizens from learning about how the port may impact them or voicing their concerns at an early stage of development.

This is not an isolated incident: Like many governments, Jamaica does not proactively disclose applications at an early stage for development projects like shipping ports, highways, housing developments, and more. What information is released—such as environmental impact assessments—is presented in a format that’s difficult for citizens to access and understand. Enter Development Alert!: The new tool from WRI’s Access Initiative and the Jamaica Environment Trust aims to promote transparency and public involvement around development projects that affect the environment and public health—projects like those planned in Goat Islands. Development Alert! proactively collects and consolidates information from different government agencies on applications for new development projects, obtaining this information through requests made using the country’s Access to Information Act. The free, mobile-friendly website plots recently approved or proposed large-scale development projects on an interactive map and acts as a hub for data and information about these projects. The map includes overlays of the boundaries of protected areas, fisheries, forest reserves, and land cover so users can easily see which projects are located in environmentally sensitive areas. Types of development projects featured include mining and quarrying; water management, treatment, and sanitation; housing developments; transportation systems and highways; tourism projects like hotel construction; hazardous waste; and more. Through the site, users can:

  • View proposed and approved projects and learn about the potential impact of developments happening in their area
  • Report a development they’ve seen in their neighborhood to help increase awareness about new projects, and
  • Get involved by commenting on a development and voicing their concerns. The website allows users to email public authorities directly and provides details about scheduled public hearings.

A Clearer Picture of Development in Jamaica

In Jamaica, Development Alert! currently identifies 32 projects that are likely to have significant health, environmental, social, or cultural impacts, including four projects classified as high impact. Of these, 11 are located in or around protected areas. Development Alert! shows, for example, that the trans-shipment port in Goat Islands is not only within the Portland Bight Protected Area, but is also located within a fishery—the Galleon Harbour Nursery—and the Great Goat Island forest reserve. The fishery acts as a critical habitat for rebuilding fish populations and safeguarding marine resources, while the forest reserve protects the biodiversity found within these natural and nationally important ecosystems. Users can click on the project to see that CHEC submitted an application on January 1, 2014 to conduct a geotechnical survey, and that the government has already approved this survey through the grant of a beach license. The license allows the company to investigate the suitability of the area, including the bearing capacity of the soil and rock, by conducting a survey of the “foreshore and floor of the sea at Galleon Harbour.” As the map shows, this area is protected as a Special Fisheries Conservation Area. The survey is done through the drilling of 27 boreholes on and offshore. By signing up for alerts, posting comments, or emailing the government agency listed, anyone can voice their concerns about the Goat Islands project.

Shedding Light on Development and Empowering Communities

Development Alert! aims to bring an unprecedented level of transparency and participation to energy, transportation, mining, and other types of development projects in Jamaica. It will help shed light on potentially harmful projects, and provides resources to ensure the public can understand their rights to participate in decisions about their country’s development. Strengthening the involvement of those most affected by development decisions can lead to better, more inclusive decision-making. Over the coming months, the Access Initiative hopes to launch similar platforms in other countries. Visit developmentalert.org to explore the tool and learn more.

COMUNICADO: Latinoamérica y el Caribe iniciaran en el 2015 la negociación de un convenio regional sobre los derechos de acceso

By Daniel Barragan (Posted: November 19, 2014)

El inicio de esta negociación es una buena noticia para la región ya que significa que en el mediano plazo los países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) contarán con un instrumento para garantizar un ejercicio efectivo de los derechos de acceso y para una mejor canalización y resolución de los crecientes conflictos socio-ambientales, con el consiguiente mejoramiento de la gobernabilidad democrática.

Con el compromiso asumido el pasado 6 de noviembre en Santiago de Chile por parte de los Gobiernos de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, y que da vida a un comité de negociación de un instrumento jurídico internacional, la ciudadanía de la región está cada vez más cerca de contar con una herramienta de carácter internacional que garantice la aplicación efectiva de los derechos de acceso a la información, participación y justicia en asuntos ambientales. Los llamados derechos de acceso, esenciales para la protección de nuestros recursos naturales, la garantía de los derechos de las comunidades y el desarrollo sostenible de nuestros países.

Representantes de 19 países de América Latina y el Caribe firmantes de la Declaración del Principio 10 -que promueve los derechos de acceso a la información, participación y justicia en asuntos ambientales-, junto con representantes de los países observadores y actores de la sociedad civil, se congregaron en la Cuarta Reunión de los Puntos Focales designados por los gobiernos de los países signatarios de la Declaración sobre la aplicación del Principio 10 de la Declaración de Río sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo en América Latina y el Caribe realizada del 4 al 6 de noviembre en la sede de la CEPAL en Santiago, Chile. Como resultado de esta reunión se aprobó la Decisión de Santiago, en la cual se incluyeron puntos fundamentales para la continuación de la negociación regional, entre ellos la adopción de los contenidos de San José (provenientes de la anterior reunión de grupos de Trabajo en Costa Rica), como índice de temas para la negociación del instrumento, la creación de un comité de negociación en el que se reafirma la importancia de la participación del público, y la inclusión de nuevos países en la Mesa Directiva encargada de dirigir el proceso.

Photo Essay: A Global Gathering for Environmental Rights

Article by Alisa Zomer, Yale F&ES ’14 (Posted: November 10, 2014)

The murals and graffiti that define public space in Bogota give an impression of the country’s creativity, diversity, and struggle. Emerging from a period of political and social unrest, Colombia is enjoying a period of economic growth and positive international attention. As an example of what is possible, Colombia is the perfect place for civil society to gather from around the world to learn from one another, share strategies, and get energized to move on important environmental rights. This year’s gathering, hosted by Colombian Asociacion ambiente y sociedad, had 95 representatives from over 40 countries. It focused on the intersection between technology and forest management. A defining moment of diversity and group-think was during the exercise “Agree, Disagree, Unsure.” Participants came up with controversial statements (i.e. ‘using technology is necessary for environmental protection,’ ‘democracy does not work for the environment,’ ‘business must be part of the solution,’ ‘there is no sustainable mining,’) and were asked to take a position and discuss. It was valuable to see the wide range of positions on seemingly simple issues and especially interesting experiencing participants persuade others to join their side – all with appreciation and respect.

View the full story here: http://epi.yale.edu/the-metric/photo-essay-global-gathering-environmental-rights

A Spotlight on Participants of the Fifth Global Gathering

By Carole Excell (Posted: October 27, 2014)

The Fifth Global Gathering of the Access Initiative in Bogotá, Colombia is fast approaching and we are excited to be convening a diverse group of civil society and community leaders from around the world. We look forward to sharing successes, challenges, and ideas around how information and technology can be used to better protect forests and improve community rights. The Access Initiative Secretariat is pleased to spotlight five participants of this year’s Global Gathering who are engaged in a variety of issues around forests, governance, community rights, and data. Rika Fajrini, Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (Indonesia) Rika Fajrini earned her bachelor degree at law from Universitas Indonesia majoring in law and social welfare. During her career at the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), she has been involved in several programs related to capacity building for environmental law enforcers such as the Environmental Judges Certification Program (in cooperation with the Indonesian Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment), Public Information Service Training for District Courts, and Biodiversity Case Management Training for Judges and Prosecutors. Her published work with ICEL includes a study regarding corporate criminal liability on environmental cases. Currently, Rika is the Project Manager of the Strengthening the Right to Information for People and the Environment (STRIPE) Phase II project with The Access Initiative Secretariat. She will be involved in ICEL’s upcoming research on communities’ rights over biodiversity and genetic resources. She is excited to meet fellow TAI partners in this gathering to expand her horizons on forestry issues and to get insight about best practices and strategies to use information, data, and technology for community advocacy. Alice Thuault, Instituto Centro de Vida (Brazil) Alice is currently coordinating the Forest Transparency Initiative at Instituto Centro de Vida in Mato Grosso, Brazil. She has been involved in the Governance of Forests Initiative since its beginning and through her work as a researcher and public policy analyst, she advocates for better access to forest information in order to promote social control and improve forest management practices. She is also coordinating ICV’s monitoring of illegal logging in the state of Mato Grosso with the support of Global Forest Watch. She graduated with a degree in political science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Rennes, France in 2005. She also holds a Master’s degree in Development Anthropology from the Aix en Provence (Aix-Marseille I) University (2007). Terry Parnell, Open Development Cambodia (Cambodia) Terry Parnell has almost 30 years of experience in the development and humanitarian relief sectors. Much of her career has focused on land and natural resource rights issues in support of rural and urban poor, primarily in Cambodia. In 2012, she initiated Open Development Cambodia, an open data website illuminating development trends. She is now managing its federated expansion across the Mekong region. While she has Master’s degrees in both Agriculture Education & Extension and Education Psychology, Parnell has tended toward holistic and interdisciplinary approaches which have required her to continually expand her skills and have exposed her to a wide range of development options and tools. She has worked in ten countries on three continents and has contributed to international land rights and open knowledge gatherings. In addition to English, Parnell speaks Khmer and basic Vietnamese. Ejas Ricardo Patrón, Gobierno Territorial Indígena (Nicaragua) Ejas Ricardo Patrón is an indigenous Mayangna. He currently works with the Territorial Government of Mayangna Sauni As in the municipality of Bonanza in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region of Nicaragua. He is engaged in the development of projects related to the protection of the land and biodiversity of the 1,638,100 square km territory of the Sauni As Mayangna Territorial Government. The Mayangna forest reserve is known as the lung of Central America. Mr. Patrón graduated from the School of General Psychology in the American University in Managua, Nicaragua. Today he works to defend his ancestral Mayangna heritage. Gill Conquest, Extreme Citizen Science, University College London (United Kingdom) Gill is a PhD student in the UCL Department of Anthropology and a member of the Extreme Citizen Science research group. Her research involves a detailed ethnographic investigation into the use of digital technologies to enable grassroots participation in natural resource management regimes across a range of global settings. By taking a comparative, multi-sited approach she will look at how the Extreme Citizen Science methodology differs from participatory methodologies that are already in practice, what factors influence the relative success of these methodologies in terms of the strength and meaning of local participation in each case, and what are the key challenges to ensuring a high level of engagement across different social groups and settings in complex, multi-stakeholder scenarios. Gill has previously worked on a range of projects promoting technological solutions to improve the engagement of marginalized groups for education and disability NGOs in the UK and overseas. She holds an MSc in Anthropology, Environment and Development from UCL. Follow us at the Global Gathering on Twitter: #TAIGG

América Latina y el Caribe da paso importante para asegurar transparencia y participación en los asuntos ambientales

By Daniel Barragan (Posted: September 19, 2014)

18 Gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe acordaron los contenidos mínimos de un instrumento internacional para hacer efectiva la democracia ambiental en la región, durante la VII Reunión de los Grupos de Trabajo de la Declaración del Principio 10 en América Latina y el Caribe, que tuvo lugar en San José, Costa Rica los días 10 y 11 de septiembre. El contenido acordado para el instrumento regional busca asegurar la cabal implementación de los así llamados “derechos de acceso”, que incluyen el acceso a la información, instancias efectivas de participación y un acceso real a la justicia en materia ambiental. Los resultados de esta reunión tendrán un gran impacto sobre la vida de millones de personas, ya que sientan las bases y contenido mínimo del instrumento que se negociará en el marco del proceso regional para la aplicación del Principio 10 de la Declaración de Río de 1992 sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo. Aprovechamos la oportunidad de felicitar a los gobiernos de Costa Rica, Chile, Panamá, Perú y San Vicente y las Granadinas por apoyar la negociación de un convenio regional de carácter vinculante. Un instrumento vinculante establece obligaciones legales para los Gobiernos, ofrece garantías jurídicas a los ciudadanos, a la vez que incorpora mecanismos de apoyo para su implementación. También apreciamos la apertura al diálogo de todos los Gobiernos presentes. Esperamos que los otros Países Signatarios de la Declaración realicen las actividades nacionales previstas en el Plan de Acción acordado en el marco del proceso regional, lleguen preparados a rendir cuentas en la próxima reunión de Santiago, y que en definitiva apoyen la negociación de un convenio vinculante. Esperamos especialmente que aquellos países que han ejercido roles de coordinación en este proceso regional, como México y la República Dominicana, expresen su compromiso con los derechos de acceso y la democracia manifestando su apoyo a la negociación de un convenio vinculante. Destacamos también la participación de la Iniciativa de Acceso América Latina y el Caribe (TAI por sus siglas en inglés), con representantes presenciales y virtuales de 14 organizaciones de los países de la región que trabajan por la implementación de los derechos de acceso, quienes han establecido un contacto constante con sus respectivos Gobiernos para coordinar acciones estratégicas que den a conocer al público el proceso regional. El acuerdo sobre los contenidos mínimos del instrumento refleja un importante compromiso político para avanzar hacia una cabal implementación de los derechos de acceso en nuestra región, y esta Reunión en particular, será un hito más en el proceso de desarrollo de un instrumento regional”, explicó Rolando Castro de CEDARENA de Costa Rica, en el marco de la VII Reunión de los Grupos de Trabajo.

Comunicado de Prensa: Gobiernos se reúnen en Costa Rica para importante decisión sobre derechos de acceso

By Daniel Barragan (Posted: September 10, 2014)

Gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe se reúnen en San José de Costa Rica para tomar importante decisión que se espera fortalezca el respeto a los derechos humanos y la protección del medio ambiente. Gobiernos de 18 países de América Latina y El Caribe se reúnen en San José de Costa Rica los días 10 y 11 de septiembre para avanzar hacia un instrumento que asegure a la ciudadanía acceder a información de interés público, participar en las decisiones de desarrollo, y tener acceso ala justicia en materia ambiental. Estos tres pilares (información, participación y justicia) son los llamados derechos de acceso y se encuentran contemplados en el Principio 10 de la Declaración de Río de la Cumbre de la Tierra de 1992. Esta cita de gobiernos puede parecer distante de cualquier persona, sin embargo, tendrá un gran impacto sobre la vida de millones en el mediano plazo. La decisión que los Gobiernos acuerden en San José establecerá la naturaleza del instrumento y los estándares mínimos sobre los derechos de acceso a la información, la participación y la justicia en asuntos ambientales que los Gobiernos deberán cumplir. Muchas personas en América Latina y el Caribe sufren hoy las consecuencias e impactos de grandes proyectos industriales, extractivos y de infraestructura que ocasionan trastornos en sus formas de vida y de subsistencia, contaminación del aire y las aguas, cambios en el uso de la tierra, sin haber tenido la posibilidad de informarse oportunamente de estos proyectos. La falta de respeto a los derechos ambientales ha desencadenado un aumento significativo en los conflictos socio-ambientales en los países de la región, lo cual amenaza la gobernabilidad democrática y la paz social, además de la pérdida y deterioro de los recursos naturales de la región. Frente al aumento del nivel de conflictividad y ala necesidad de avanzar hacia un desarrollo sostenible debido a la crisis ambiental de la región, resulta necesario contar con un tratado internacional con obligaciones claras y robustas, fundado sobre los siguientes elementos claves:

  1. Sin la garantía del derecho ala vida, a vivir en un medio ambiente sano, al agua y la salud no habrá desarrollo sostenible posible.
  2. Los derechos de acceso (los tres pilares del Principio 10) son esenciales para la democracia. El desarrollo sostenible no es un proceso vertical de toma de decisiones, sino que exige la participación informada de la sociedad para lograr una ciudadanía activa y comprometida con el desarrollo.
  3. El instrumento sobre el Principio 10 debe establecer estándares mínimos que los Estados deban cumplir para fortalecer progresivamente cada uno de los derechos de acceso, así como mecanismos efectivos que aseguren su cumplimiento.

Confiamos que los Gobiernos signatarios de la Declaración sobre el Principio 10 que atenderán esta Reunión, organizada por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe CEPAL y el Gobierno de Costa Rica, acordarán un contenido mínimo que esté acorde con los desafíos que hoy enfrenta la región para fortalecer los derechos de acceso y la democracia ambiental, y así avanzar hacia un desarrollo sostenible. Esperamos que este resultado anime a otros Gobiernos a sumarse a esta iniciativa regional. Las siguientes organizaciones de la Iniciativa de Acceso apoyan este comunicado:

  • Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. Argentina
  • Artículo 19. Brasil
  • Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad. Colombia
  • Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales (Cedarena). Costa Rica
  • Fiscalía del Medio Ambiente. Chile
  • Centro Ecuatoriano de Derecho Ambiental. Ecuador
  • Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña. El Salvador
  • Instituto de Honduras de Derecho Ambiental. Honduras
  • Cultura Ecológica. México
  • Comunicación y Educación. México
  • Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental. México
  • Centro de Incidencia Ambiental. Panamá
  • Andrea Sanhueza. Miembro individual. Chile

Socios TAI de contacto: Daniel Barragán.Centro Ecuatoriano de Derecho Ambiental. Ecuador. dbarragan@ceda.org.ec Andrea Sanhueza.andreasanhuezae@gmail.com

Civil Society in Brazil Engages on the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Principle 10 Process

By Devika Jaipuriar (Posted: August 12, 2014)

PROGRESS IN P10 IMPLEMENTATION As a significant outcome from Rio+20, 18 Governments have now adopted the Principle 10 Declaration for Latin America and the Caribbean on Environment and Development. ECLAC has created a [register of interest for civil society organizations across the region] (http://teamrooms.cepal.org/apps/Principio10.nsf/Inscripcion?OpenForm&Leng=I) to indicate their interest in getting updates about the regional process. Decisions have still to be taken whether this regional instrument will be legally binding or not this September 2014. Brazil currently co-chairs with Costa Rica the Working Group on designing the regional instrument. NEW CIVIL SOCIETY EFFORTS In early July, TAI partners from The Institute of Agricultural and Forest Management and Certification (Imaflora) and Article 19 drafted two documents intended for ECLAC and the Brazilian government regarding their issues and concerns about the proposed regional instrument. The documents submitted to ECLAC and the Brazilian Government ask for the creation of a legally binding regional instrument. The letter to the Brazilian government proposes the implementation of more actions to engage groups in Brazil to participate in the process including creating the instrument. These documents have been supported by 26 signatories including environmental organizations, foundations, network, and access to information lawyers. HOW TO GET INVOLVED Organizations and individuals interested in learning about Principle 10 can email comunicacao@artigo19.org or renato@imaflora.org for more information. If you would like to participate in discussions or draft proposals about the proposed regional instruments, or gather news and official documents about the process, please visit the following site: Spanish: http://www.eclac.cl/rio20/principio10/default.asp English: http://www.eclac.cl/rio20/principio10/default.asp?idioma=IN

Global Gathering to Explore How Technology is Improving Forest Governance

This blog was originally posted on the Global Forest Watch Blog on August 4, 2014. By Jonathan Mason and Jared Messinger Recent advances in technology have revolutionized the way people live, work, and communicate with each other. So, if these transformations can change how we access media and purchase goods, can they also improve how we manage our natural resources? In October, the World Resources Institute and The Access Initiative (TAI) will convene its wide network of innovators who are already answering that question. Every two years, the Global Gathering brings together partners, civil society organizations, and community and indigenous leaders from around the world to tackle urgent issues involving community access to information and participation in environmental decision-making. This year, marks the 5th Global Gathering, which will focus on using information, data, and technology to protect forests and strengthen the rights of forest-dependent communities. The conference, hosted by TAI, Governance of Forests Initiative (GFI), and Global Forest Watch (GFW), will take place in Bogotá, Colombia from October 29th through the 31st. Globally, around 1 billion rural poor depend on forests for at least part of their livelihoods, and another 350 million depend heavily on forests. This means that nearly one out of every five people in the world relies on forests for basic needs. Yet forest governance in developing countries suffers many problems, including a lack of clear land tenure, antiquated forest regulations, and limited dialogue between the state and its citizens. Further, official efforts to recognize community land and resource rights have slowed. Failing to address these issues deprives communities and countries of accessing, enjoying, and deriving full value from their natural resources. For example, illegal logging on public lands in developing countries results in more than $10 billion (USD) in lost assets and revenue every year, resulting in weakened governance and degraded landscapes. Overcoming these urgent challenges requires innovative solutions. Communities and civil society desperately need the data and tools to help them protect forests and defend their rights. Fortunately, technology has the potential to revolutionize forest governance. Across the world, information and communication technologies have grown more affordable, ubiquitous, and user-friendly. These advances provide previously marginalized people with tools to assert their rights by accessing, using, collecting, and providing high-quality information on forests. Here are 8 examples of how technology is already improving forest governance: 1. Recycled cell phones capture chainsaw noises to prevent illegal logging in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). International conservation organizations use this system to create an e-mail alert system for fires in or around protected areas in Madagascar, Indonesia, Bolivia, and Peru. 8. Cloud-based application maps urban forests in the United States Open Tree Map relies on crowdsourcing and cloud computing to map urban forests and display the ecosystem benefits of street trees in American cities. Building on this momentum, the Global Gathering will convene representatives from civil society, communities, and indigenous groups to share experiences, build expertise, and expand networks for more impactful use of digital tools to protect forests, strengthen land rights, and promote forest information transparency. In addition, the Global Gathering will feature hands-on training to strengthen participants’ skills in geospatial analysis, crowd-sourcing, and the use of data and technology for environmental advocacy. Technology use is no longer restricted to only more developed countries or experts. Instead, resource-limited communities, indigenous peoples, and civil society organizations can build networks, acquire new skills, and develop innovative ways to deploy technologies to protect their local forests and secure their rights.

What Does Environmental Democracy Look Like?

By Jesse Worker and Stephanie Ratte (Posted: July 30, 2014)

This blog post was originally posted on WRI Insights on July 29, 2014.

Written by Jesse Worker and Stephanie Ratte

This blog post is the first installment of WRI’s Exploring Environmental Democracy blog series, which examines the state of environmental rights in regions around the world. Later this year, WRI’s Access Initiative will launch a new mapping tool that evaluates how environmental democracy principles are being applied in 70 countries.

Eight years ago, developers proposed a five-dam project on the Baker and Pascua Rivers in Patagonia, Chile. While they projected that the hydropower would produce 2,750 megawatts of power, the project would also flood 23 square miles of wilderness, jeopardizing the environment, local culture, and tourism of the region.

Citizens opposed the project, arguing that Chile’s energy needs could be met through less damaging projects, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. Just last month—after eight years of campaigning by the Patagonia Defense Council, a coalition of more than 70 domestic and international organizations and individuals—Chile’s Environment Minister, Pablo Badenier, revoked the permit. The advocacy of this coalition, which includes Access Initiative member FIMA, was credited by International Rivers as “perhaps the most important reason” for the reversal.

The success of this campaign is a powerful example of the importance of public participation in land-use decisions. Civil society raised concern over the impacts of the proposed dams on livelihoods and the environment, which ultimately created political opposition. However, far too often the public is not meaningfully engaged in these decisions. This is often due to weak laws that limit the public’s access to information, do not provide adequate public voice in decision-making, or provide no access to justice when environmental harms are committed. These issues are at the heart of environmental democracy—a key component in preserving the health of communities and the regions they call home.

Why Is Environmental Democracy Important?

Environmental democracy is rooted in the idea that meaningful participation by the public is critical to ensuring that land and natural resource decisions adequately and equitably address citizens’ interests. Rather than setting a standard for what determines a good outcome, environmental democracy sets a standard for how decisions should be made.

At its core, environmental democracy involves three mutually reinforcing rights that, while independently important, operate best in combination: the ability for people to freely access information on environmental quality and problems, to participate meaningfully in decision-making, and to seek enforcement of environmental laws or compensation for damages.

Understanding 3 Fundamental Rights: Information, Participation, and Justice

Access to Information

When well-designed and implemented, access-to-information laws require that governments and companies make information such as environmental impact assessments, development project plans, and pollution discharges freely available to the public. By being informed, the public can participate more effectively in decision-making and hold companies and governments accountable for actions that are not in accordance with the law. Information should not only be available, but accessible to the public through formats they can readily use—taking into account literacy, language, readability, use of technology, and more.

Making environmental information open and freely accessible can often be the foundation for change. The United States, for example, developed the first-ever Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)—called the Toxics Release Inventory—in 1986 following several environmental disasters, including a chemical release from the Union Carbine plant in West Virginia in 1985. The TRI requires that certain industrial facilities annually submit data on the quantity of toxic chemicals they release. Since 1986, at least 50 other countries have developed PRTRs or implemented pilot programs. While the US TRI certainly still has room for improvement, compelling companies to make this data public has helped reduce the incidence of toxic releases in the country.

Public Participation

Public participation laws improve information flow between communities and government or private sector decision-makers. This exchange can help avoid unintended consequences, increase support for a decision, and lead to a more equitable distribution of costs and benefits. The public should be informed early in the decision-making process about opportunities to participate, such as through town hall meetings or community workshops. They also need to be provided with any information necessary to meaningfully engage—such as environmental impact assessments—and should be able to participate without incurring burdensome costs, such as traveling to a capital city. Participation is less meaningful when the public is merely informed of an upcoming decision and left with no opportunity to influence it.

One of the better-known public participation processes for the environment is through Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), which in many countries require public consultations before the development of projects that will have environmental impacts. However, these consultations can vary widely in quality. When the public is given ample notice along with the necessary information to understand and participate meaningfully, these assessments can be effective ways to safeguard against environmental harms or to ensure that adequate compensation. On the other hand, public consultations that serve only to inform of a decision that has already been made undermine public trust, reduce legitimacy and stifle the flow of important information.

Access to Justice

When members of the public do lack access to information and participation, they should be able to exercise a right to seek justice—such as compensation or appealing a project. These accountability mechanisms should be independent and impartial, and ideally able to issue binding, enforceable decisions.

Environmental tribunals such as India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) are good examples of mechanisms that provide access to justice. The NGT was established in 2010 in recognition of the large number of court cases involving environmental disputes. The tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving “substantial question[s] relating to [the] environment,” and is mandated to attempt to conclude a case within six months of the filing date. Between May 2011 and March 2014, the Tribunal has adjudicated 393 cases.

Spotlight on Environmental Democracy

Over the coming months, The Access Initiative at WRI will continue to look at environmental democracy around the world. This work will both showcase success stories and help shed light on areas for improvement. By fostering a better understanding of how environmental democracy principles are applied in countries throughout the world, we can work toward improving quality of life for people and the planet.

UNEP’s Access to Information policy “a spark without goal, without direction”

By Carole Excell (Posted: July 3, 2014)

Thank you Mr. Chair for giving me an opportunity speak, My name is Carole Excell and I represent the World Resources Institute and the Access Initiative Network, a global network of civil society organisations and individuals working to improve environmental democracy worldwide. I make this statement with the support of the European Eco-Forum.

It’s my pleasure to speak very briefly on new developments in the form of UNEP’s Access to Information policy released last week at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi. By Decision 27/2 UNEP’s Governing Council made a clear and purposeful decision to enhance transparency and openness in UNEP’s work by creating such a policy. The new policy has been described as a pilot policy that has been put in place for one year. This is perhaps the best thing about the policy.

I tried last night to come up with a very short way to describe my views on UNEP’s Access to Information policy and instead of using my own somewhat dry boring words I decided to adopt words from a famous Dutch Poet Albert Verwey (“fervie”) from a poem called “Cycle” where he says:

“I am a spark without goal, without direction”

UNEP’s policy is really a spark but fails to have any direction and will likely not achieve the goal of increased transparency and access to information or data. UNEP had an opportunity to pass an access to Information policy that could spark the imagination and interest of people around the world in how they tackle some of the world’s biggest environmental challenges, in today’s lingo they had an opportunity to “ invite the crowd” to engage in addressing global and regional problems that UNEP addresses. Instead UNEP’s Access to Information Policy falls short of its own UNEP Bali Guidelines passed by the Governing Council in 2010 and falls far also from the Model provided by the Aarhus Convention. We are extremely grateful for the intervention of the European Union at the UNEA that highlighted a number of the weaknesses of the policy in keeping with Aarhus obligations and would encourage other countries party to Aarhus to do the same during this pilot stage.

The policy does not include adequate provisions that would require the proactively release of relevant, timely and accurate environmental information and data to the public including use of UNEP live to disseminate information including open data over time.

There has not been Established an Independent Appeals Mechanism to ensure independence and impartial application of the policy rather the “appeals Panel” consisting of 7 UNEP staff. The policy states that no reasons shall be given for denying someone information.
The policy also contains a vastly overbroad regime of exceptions undermined by vastly overbroad statements. UNEP is at a pivotal time in its history. It has currently expanded Governmental membership from 58 member countries to “universal membership” involving participation of all 193 UN member states. This move seriously broadens the organization’s scope and reach—so there’s no better time for it to improve its transparency. UNEP took a preliminary step toward transparency last week, a spark so to speak but it’s important that the organization uses its pilot year to strengthen its access to information policy, consult broadly with civil society, and make space for innovation. We encourage all Aarhus parties to urge UNEP to create a policy that reflects the scale of information needed to overcome our current environmental challenges.