Sakupljač feed-ova

On 28-30 September 2015, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL) jointly with the National School of Judges of Ukraine at financial support of USAID Fair Justice Project held a training for judges – trainers of the course “Human rights and environmental protection” on the basis of methodological materials developed by EPL.

Proposals to expose claimants in environmental cases to higher financial liabilities if they lose their cases could deter people from bringing actions, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). The consultation has been launched to update the UK’s responsibilities under the Aarhus convention, which guarantees public participation in decision-making as well as access to information and justice in environmental matters.

Ben Magec-Ecologists in Action claims that law 3/2015, entitling the Canary Islands Government to "streamline project deadlines they themselves decide", violates the right of citizens to a reasonable time frames for their participation in matters related to the environment as granted by the Aarhus Convention

A small hydroelectric power plant is planned in Innervillgraten. Environmentalists invited the Ministry to stop the construction of power plants and are going to petition the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling, whether or not the exclusion of environmental organizations from administrative procedures violated a fundamental right under the Aarhus Convention.

In a recent ruling the Supreme Court confirmed in the case of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) vs Commissioner for Environmental Information that NAMA was a public authority for the purposes of the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations 2007/2011, which transpose the European Directive and base the definition of environmental information on the Aarhus Convention. Opinion piece by Gavin Sheridan on the ruling.

Spanish NGOs have announced that they will denounce Spain to EU as access to justice in environmental matters is duty bound since the ratification of the Aarhus Convention by Spain and the European Union which is violated by the Law on Fees and reform of the Law of contentious jurisdiction administrative.

A public consultation on the evaluation of Regulation 166/2006/EC which established a European pollutant release and transfer register (E-PRTR regulation) is underway in the EU. The resulting assessment is then included in the European PRTR, an internet site easily accessible to the public, in line with the Protocol to the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

Criticism from the organization Green Environment towards the amendment of the Waste Management Act

Serbia will prepare a National Plan to reduce emissions (National Emission Reduction Plan - Nerpa), which should be submitted to the Energy Community by the end of this year, and hopefully be included in the National Energy Strategy and pass the procedure of public participation provided by the Aarhus Convention.

The principle of participation of civil society in decision-making, promoted by the Aarhus Convention, can be a model to several fields of public interest to enhance the quality of decision-making and efficient use of resources.

During the regular meeting of the Dialogue Platform on Human Dimension,Vadim Ni, chairman of the Kazakh eco-forum of public organisations, spoke regarding the difficulty concerning public access to environmental information. He highlighted the issue for individuals to secure information and advised solving the problem by discussing future industrial projects with the population in advance, in accordance with the Aarhus Convention and with article 163 of the environmental code of Kazakhstan.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan, in partnership with the Centre on Economic and Legal Analyses NGO, launched the first in a series of training courses in regional Aarhus Centres today to enhance the capacities of civil society organizations and local authorities on the third pillar of the Aarhus Convention.

The main aim of the program - implemented in support of OSCE - is to strengthen civil society in Armenia, as an essential partner of RA government and to implement a convention (Aarhus Convention) about "Access to information concerning environmental issues, public participation in decision-making and access to justice" within the framework of European Economic Commission of the United Nations. (...)

First step to start the process of transformation of the Ausino Spa in a special agency consortium of public law. The company will operate, exclusively, in the production, distribution and management of integrated water services in the territory of local associates. The application of the Aarhus Convention will ensure effective participation of the population residing in the territory of local associates to quality choices regarding production, delivery and management integrated water services.

The Court of Justice of the EU banned the European Commission from keeping information regarding hazardous waste and water quality confidential.

An Bord Pleanála hears communication with locals on development and has been told that the consultation with a Co Meath community in relation to a wind farm development has been hopelessly inadequate and does not meet standards set down in European legislation. (...) Counsel for the applicant rejected the claims and said it was clear that considerable analysis had been provided in the environmental impact assessment in relation to the likely impacts of the development.

Environmental information should be more accessible - in this regard the National Councilde passed an amendment to the Environmental Information Act yesterday. Based on requirements of the European Union it regulates not only the handling of hazardous substances such as certain chemicals in industrial plants, but also the transparent presentation of potential dangers and safety measures by the plant operator.

Front Harsien ODZ today condemned the absolutist way through which the government is pushing through three new laws regulating planning and environmental protection without adequate consultation as required by the Aarhus convention of which Malta is a signatory.

Din l-Art Helwa (NGO) has asked the government to ensure that the public is given adequate opportunity to voice their views and concerns on three Bills to regulate the forthcoming separation of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, published yesterday.

The Swiss Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (short: SwissPRTR) has a noble goal: It wants to create transparency about pollutant emitters and promote "eco-efficiency" in the factories. Since 2007, they are committed to emissions of 86 problematic substances to report. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) provides this data into the grid. The Office is attached to this active information on environmental data and in accordance with the Aarhus Convention obliges which Switzerland has ratified in 2014.