Location: Multiple Countries



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 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures

Most States have adopted environmental impact assessment (EIA) laws, in accordance with principle 17 of the Rio Declaration, which states that “environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national …   Continue readingPublic Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures

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