Environmental
Rights Convention
Embraces Electronic Information Age
"Information is a vital element in the protection of our environment. Not only
does it raise awareness among decision makers and the public at large about the problems
and issues that should be tackled, but it also makes it possible to take appropriate
action when something goes wrong. The recent example of the cyanide spill in Baia Mare
shows how poor communication and a lack of information can aggravate an ecological
catastrophe and cause widespread confusion among the population. The communication
technology exists, it is now up to the people working in the field of environment to use
it," says Kaj B?rlund, Director of the Environment Division of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making
and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters* (the Aarhus
Convention) aims at securing the active participation of civil society as a prerequisite
for meaningful progress towards sustainability. To promote and facilitate the involvement
of the public, the Convention's Signatories are now exploring the possibilities offered by
the latest information and communication technologies and have set up a task force to this
end.
The first meeting of the Task Force took place in Arendal, Norway, on 8-9 March, and
was attended by more than 60 environmental information professionals, policy makers, NGOs
and IT experts from more than 30 UNECE member countries. At the meeting, it became obvious
that not all countries have the same possibilities and infrastructures and that
traditional means of communication (e.g. television and radio) should also be on the
agenda. The event was chaired by Austria (Federal Environment Agency), hosted by the
Norwegian Environment Ministry and streamed via the Internet by the organizers, UNEP/GRID-Arendal.
The Task Force decided that the efforts in environmental information should concentrate
on:
- Building the capacities of public authorities in the use of electronic tools;
- Developing common approaches and tools for disseminating environmental information via
the Internet;
- Establishing environmental gateways as user-friendly access mechanisms;
- Using the electronic media to raise awareness about the Convention and the opportunities
it offers to citizens;
- Working together with NGOs, the mass media and other users to improve the quality of
environmental information and access to it; and
- Promoting public access centres in countries with inadequate electronic infrastructures.
The Task Force is itself setting an example, as it will continue its work in a virtual
environment via an electronic discussion forum hosted by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) at http://www.rec.org/e-aarhus, where
a gallery of case studies also can be found.
The Task Force was established in July 2000 based on a proposal by the REC, the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ECO Forum. The United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe hosts the secretariat for the Convention and the Task Force.
For more information, please contact:
Sofie H. FLENSBORG UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division Palais des
Nations, office 315 CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: (+41 22) 917 26 50 Fax: (+41 22) 907 01 07 E-mail: sofie.flensborg@unece.org
Jerome Simpson Information Programme Regional Environmental Center for Central
and Eastern Europe Ady Endre ut. 9-11, Szentendre 2000, Hungary
Phone: (+36 26) 504 039 Fax: (+36 26) 311 294 E-mail: JSimpson@rec.org |
