Guatemala’s Climate Change Framework Law

Guatemala adopted a comprehensive climate change framework law in September 2013 (Ley Marco para Regular la Reducción de la Vulnerabilidad, la Adaptación Obligatoria Ante los Efectos del Cambio Climático y la Mitigación de Gases de Efecto Invernadero). The law’s objective is to establish the necessary regulations to prevent, plan for and respond to the impacts of …   Continue readingGuatemala’s Climate Change Framework Law

Laws on Access to Environmental Information

Most countries have adopted specific laws relating to access to information, and some, such as South Africa, have adopted constitutional provisions relating to access to information. In addition, some countries have adopted specific laws or constitutional provisions relating to access to environmental information. For example, Chile’s environmental framework law (La …   Continue readingLaws on Access to Environmental Information

Public Participation in the Development of Environmental Laws, Policies, and Regulations

Allowing for public participation in the formulation of environmental laws, regulations and policies is a good practice that can lead to better-informed decisions that reflect the public’s interests and values. Many countries have adopted comprehensive public participation procedures that apply to this context. For example, in Chile, Article 70 of the Environmental …   Continue readingPublic Participation in the Development of Environmental Laws, Policies, and Regulations

Norway’s Finnmark Act

Article 110a of the Norwegian Constitution recognizes “the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the Sami people to preserve and develop its language, culture and way of life.” The county of Finnmark, located in the northeast of the country, is the ancestral land and home of Norway’s indigenous Sami people. After many years of …   Continue readingNorway’s Finnmark Act

Scottish Climate Justice Fund

Scotland’s Parliament has played a key role in addressing climate justice. In March 2012, the Scottish Parliament through a unanimous motion became the first legislative body in the world to explicitly recognize and support the concept of climate justice: “The Scottish Parliament strongly endorses the opportunity for Scotland to champion climate justice, which …   Continue readingScottish Climate Justice Fund