Review article
GENERAL PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENT – THREE PILLARS OF THE AARHUS CONVENTION
Nevenko Herceg
; University of Mostar
Zoran Tomić
; University of Mostar
Abstract
Convention on access to information, public participation in decision
making and access to justice in environmental matters – The Aarhus
Convention – is an international legal framework in the area of the environment
protection. This convention, initiated under the auspices of
UN, is the most ambitious venture as far as environment protection is
concerned. Its adoption made at the same time a huge step in the international
law development. Accepting the principles and formally accessing
to the Aarhus Convention, countries from our region (Southeast
Europe) show that rights in the environment protection area are not the
luxury reserved only for the rich ones. This document defines the rights
in the environment area and makes the reliable foundation for involving
the general public in the environment policies which confirms our commitment
to future generations. That is a proof that sustainable development
can be achieved only by involving all participants in the society.
The Aarhus Convention is a link between the authorities’ responsibilities
and environment protection, because participation of the public increases
responsibility and transparency in decision making, as well as
consciousness of the public about environmental matters. It also provides
support for the made decisions. Efficient participation of the public
promotes cooperation principles and consultation between citizens
and decision makers, which contributes to general society democratization.
That is enabled by the Aarhus Convention implementation which
includes: access to information, participation of the public in decision
making and access to jurisdiction when speaking of environment. These
are at the same time three main Convention pillars. Twelve years ago
the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the Convention as “the
most ambitious venture in environmental democracy undertaken under
the auspices of the United Nations”. We can say that the mentioned descriptionis probably correct even today, although there have been many
other significant improvements in environmental democracy.
Keywords
public; environment; sustainable development; participation of the public; access to information; access to jurisdiction; the Aarhus Convention; Law on environment protection
Hrčak ID:
228635
URI
Publication date:
11.12.2012.
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