Strengthening Access to Environmental Information: Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTRs

1. Strengthening Access to Environmental Information: Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTRs • MarynaYanush • Secretariat of the Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTRs • Geneva • 2 November 2012

2. Grounds • Article 5, paras. 3 and 4, of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters • Recommendations on the more effective use of electronic information tools to provide public access to environmental information adopted through decision II/3 • Decision IV/1 of the Convention’s Meeting of the Parties regarding access to information that provides mandate to the Task Force on Access to Information (first meeting on 7-8 Feb 2013) with the following tasks: • Identify capacity-building needs, barriers and solutions • Identify regional and subregional priorities for further work • Monitor and support the implementation of the recommendations in decision II/3 • Continue contributing to further development of the Aarhus Clearinghouse for Environmental Democracy and PRTR.net • Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers

3. Areas • Information sharing and promotion activities • at the political forums (e.g. Working Groups of the Parties to the Convention and Protocol and EEA Management Board) • at the relevant expert meetings (e.g. Task Force on Access to Information and EEA expert meetings) • Capacity-building coordination • participation in capacity-building coordination meetings • cooperation within the concrete projects and events • Using electronic information tools • Linking the Aarhus ClearingHouse and PRTR.net portal with the AOA Virtual Library and the EEA SERIES • Strengthening cooperation of the national focal points for the Aarhus Convention, PRTR Protocol, WGEMA and EEA at the national level