A new ?environmental democracy? clearing house was announced in July by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The instrument aims to highlight and promote awareness of issues covered by the Aarhus Convention. The site showcases good practices in the area of citizens? environmental rights and is expected to make implementation of the Convention more effective.
Aarhus is the Danish city where the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was signed in 1998. The convention, commonly referred to simply as the Aarhus Convention, has been described by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as ?the most ambitious venture in environmental democracy undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations.?
A demonstration version of the new website was launched at the third meeting of the Aarhus Convention?s Task Force on Electronic Information Tools in Geneva on July 2. The clearing house provides information for a wide range of users, including governments, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs, students, researchers, and the general public.
The Aarhus clearing house provides a forum for the collection, dissemination and exchange of information on laws, policies and good practices relevant to the rights enshrined in the convention. In addition, the clearing house contains information relevant to the implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted at the Earth Summit in 1992. It therefore has the potential to become a leading global repository of information on this theme, a press release by the convention secretariat suggests.
According to Svetlana Zhekova, chairperson of the Aarhus Convention?s Task Force on Electronic Information Tools, ?The Aarhus clearing house is a cost-effective electronic information tool providing a window on environmental democracy worldwide. Easy access to information on how countries are applying the Aarhus Convention can provide an invaluable source of inspiration for other countries that work on developing their own procedures, mechanisms and legislation.?
The clearing house will help the convention?s compliance mechanism by providing ready access to information on national implementing legislation and practices. Information gathered through the reporting requirements under the Aarhus Convention will be available through the clearing house. NGOs may also submit information.
Kaj Barlund, director of the UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division, hopes that the parties to the convention will embrace the clearing house as ?a mechanism for promoting access to information and widespread participation in the development of environmental democracy throughout the region and beyond.?