Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making

1. Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making Local responses to global task

2. Introduction to the case problem of the Ural Region in environmental security: History: military nuclear facility since 1949, three nuclear accidents

3. Introduction to the case problem of the Ural Region in environmental security: Results: 50 thousands sq.meters of area were radioactive contaminated, about 100 thousands became a victims (were ill or died)

4. Introduction to the case problem of the Ural Region in environmental security: Trends: developing nuclear production • Disposition of an international storage of nuclear wastes • Constructing a new atomic power station • Using MOX fuel in reactors Rising threats to environment security and risks for population

5. Proposal Since 1993 we have: Constitution, Federal laws, where the right for clean and safe environment was declared But in sphere of nuclear safety we see bad trends to worsening environment, strengthening risks now Why? The answers could be obtained from political, economical situation. my approach was to observe opportunities of public participating to efficient environmental decision-making process in Ural region

6. Role and benefits of public participating Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens All international environmental treaties emphasizes that: • Principle 10 of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil, 1992) • Agenda 21 adopted by UNCED recognized the important role of public participation in environmental impact assessment (EIA) in achieving sustainable development (item 23.2 of Agenda 21) • The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (South Africa, 2002) developed further these provisions.

7. Role and benefits of public participating Benefits of PP: • Social consensus mitigates conflicts • Process of decision-making and final decisions becomes more transparent and legitimate • helps prevent or and adverse environmental consequences of the decisions • PP generate more solutions and opinion to solving problem, • For government and business costs of possible wrong decision could reducing significantly PP trying to decide main aim of sustainable development – mitigate conflict between economical growth and environment security. With achieving compliance between environmental risks and economical benefits

8. Definition of public participationWho are the public? “One or more natural or legal persons and, in accordance with national legislation or practice, their associations, organizations or groups.” In Ural region they are expert groups, epistemic communities, NGOs, victims groups

9. What is public participation? AKA “self-help”, “involvement”, “control” • process, in which opinion of different people and groups including into final decision • continuous process of interaction between citizens and government, which have responsibility for decision (Guseva, Daiman and oth, 1998) • power of citizens (Arnstain, 1969)

10. 8 Citizen Control Citizen Power 7 Delegated Power 6 Partnership 5 Placation Tokenism 4 Consultation 3 Informing 2 Therapy Non-Participation 1 Manipulation Levels of public participation:Arnstein Ladder

11. levels The legislation of Russian federation 8 Citizen Control referenda 7 Delegated Power Strategic Environment Assessment 6 Partnership Impact Environment Assessment 5 Placation State Environmental Expertise, Public Environmental Expertise, legislative process 4 Consultation Public control, consultation, public opinion research 3 Informing Informing - media, meetings 2 Therapy 1 Manipulation Levels of public participationLegislative opportunities and realized forms

12. Forms of participation, implementing by Government NGO,s poltical parties, expert groups Ministry of ecological and radiating safety Government of Chelyabinsk region levels Movement for nuclear safety, Techa, Pravosoznanie, Kyshtym-57 and others 8 Citizen Control Preparing referenda ‘For nature!” - 2000 7 Delegated Power Lawsuits for sanctions and legislative initiatives 6 Partnership Lobbing campaign - Negotiations between NGO’s with Government 5 Placation Participation in expertise legislative initiatives throw deputies - collecting signatures Levels of public participationPublic and government activity in 1991 - 2002 0

13. Forms of participation, implementing by Government NGO,s poltical parties, expert groups levels Research of public opinion, public hearing 4 Consultation Invocation to authorities, polling of public opinion, Public control to the radiating situation in region Publications in media, public hearing, Science conferences 3 Informing Publications in media, briefings, Seminars 2 Therapy PR 1 Manipulation PR – direct scandal actions Levels of public participationPublic and government activity in 1991 - 2002

14. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) • Assessment of environmental impacts of plans, policies, programmes in • Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry including • Mining, transport, regional development, • Waste management, water management, telecommunications, • Tourism, town and country planning or land use set the framework for sustainable future development

15. Conclusion