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MEPIELAN E-Bulletin is a digital academic and practitioner newsletter of the MEPIELAN Centre, launched in 2010.  It features insight articles, reflective opinions, specially selected documents and cases, book reviews as well as news on thematic topics of direct interest of MEPIELAN Centre and on the activities and role of MEPIELAN Centre. Its content bridges theory and practice perspectives of relational international law, international environmental law and participatory governance , and international negotiating process, thus serving the primary goal of Centre: to develop an integrated, inter-disciplinary, relational, context-related and sustainably effective governance approach creating, protecting and advancing international common interest for the present and future generations. Providing a knowledge- and information-sharing platform and a scholarly forum, the Bulletin promotes innovative ideas and enlightened critical views, contributing to a broader scholarly debate on important issues of international common interest. The audience of the Bulletin includes academics, practitioners, researchers, university students, international lawyers, officials and personnel of international organizations and institutional arrangements, heads and personnel of national authorities at all levels (national, regional and local), and members of the civil society at large.

Public Participation in Environmental Governance

The Fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (MOP 4) Adopts the Chisinau Declaration

July 19, 2011

The Fourth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP 4) to the Aarhus Convention (Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters) was held from 29 June to 1 July 2011 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. It brought together around 400 participants from governments, UN agencies, civil society and academia.

The Fourth Session consisted of a General segment and a High-level segment. During the General segment, decisions were adopted in a number of substantive issues related to Genetically Modified Organisms, Access to information, including electronic information tools, Public Participation in decision-making and Access to Justice.

The High-level segment began its consultations discussing about the role of the Aarhus Convention in promoting sustainable development. The result of the discussions was the adoption of the Chisinau Declaration (Rio plus Aarhus – 20 years on: Bearing fruit and looking forward). The Chisinau Declaration includes sections on Aarhus and the Green Economy, Aarhus and Environmental Governance, and Looking Ahead.

With respect to Aarhus and the Green Economy the participants of MOP 4 “consider that, in line with Principle 10, citizens should be invited to participate in defining and implementing green economy programmes and in choosing the most appropriate road maps to sustainability”. Similarly, in the Aarhus and environmental governance they urge the participants in the Rio+20 Conference “to take into account the Aarhus Convention principles in their consideration of the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD), including the options for broader institutional reform identified in UNEP’s Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome, as a contribution to strengthening the IFSD by improving international environmental governance”. Finally, the participants of MOP 4 offer to share their experience in implementing Principle 10 with all the countries that wish to join the Aarhus family and invite them to become Parties of the Convention.

Note

* Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment & Development (1992):

“Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.”

Source: UNECE, IISD Reporting Services
For further Information:
http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/sd/ymbvol190num1e.pdf
http://live.unece.org/env/pp/mop4.html

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
Author's Website

MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.

Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).

On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable

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