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2008
UNECE issues invitation to third meeting of the Parties, 11-13 June 2008, Riga, Latvia
Mr. Marek Belka, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, has issued a letter of invitation to the third meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, together with an advance copy of the provisional agenda of the meeting and a provisional programme of events.
The meeting will take place in Riga, Latvia, on 11-13 June 2008, at the kind invitation of the Government of Latvia. It will be preceded by meetings of the Working Group of the Parties and the Compliance Committee (running in parallel 8-10 June 2008) as well as a number of associated events such as those organized by the European ECO-Forum.
Further information on the meetings, including the online registration form and information on the programme, side-events, credentials, visa arrangements, travel and accommodation, may be found at the website www.aarhusMoP3.org.
The official meeting documentation may be found on the Convention's MOP-3 webpages, as well as in an information note on organizational matters.
Participants including delegates, observers and members of the media are invited to register online by 30 April 2008. Organizations wishing to hold side events are invited to apply for an on-site venue by 28 April 2008.
For further details, please see the host country MOP-3 website.
Slovakia ratifies GMO amendment and accedes to the Protocol on PRTRs
The amendment on public participation in genetically modified organisms (GMO) decision-making garnered its eleventh Party, when notification of Slovakia's ratification reached the UN Secretary-General's depository in New York on 1 April 2008. At the same time, Slovakia became the first country to accede to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR).
The number of ratifications to the Protocol has risen to seven.
Sixteen Member States' ratifications must be deposited to bring about the instrument's entry into force.
Website launched for third meeting of the Parties - Riga, Lavia, 11-13 June 2008
The Government of Latvia, host to the third meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, has launched a website providing information on the meeting. MOP3 will take place in Riga from 11-13 June 2008.
The website - www.aarhusmop3.org - includes information on travel and accommodation, application forms for financial support and side events, an informal programme including the calendar of social events, and on-line registration for the meeting, near-by hotels and excursions.
The Host Country plans to translate online the proceedings of the third meeting of the Parties into four languages - English, French, Russian and Latvian.
Links to official documents posted on the Aarhus Convention MOP3 webpages will be provided as these documents become available.
International workshop on access to information, public participation and access to justice regarding GMOs - 19-20 May 2008
On 19-20 May 2008 in Cologne, Germany, Parties to the Aarhus Convention will hold an international workshop on access to information, public participation and access to justice regarding GMOs. Representatives of interested governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, industry and academia are invited to take part.
The workshop will focus on identifying the most pressing needs and challenges in respect of these issues and exchanging on good practices to address them. The workshop is designed to be as interactive as possible and to consider the issues from a variety of perspectives.
Further information about the workshop, together with the provisional programme, registration form and other relevant documentation is available here.
Six new ratifications of the GMO amendment ...
Parties to the Aarhus Convention have deposited to the UN Secretary-General five new ratifications of the amendment on public participation in decision-making on the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms.
At the ninth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties, 13-15 February 2008, Sweden announced that it was in the process of depositing its instrument of ratification of the amendment, joining the earlier acceptance of the amendment by Moldova on 7 December 2007 and ratifications by the Czech Republic, on 29 January, and Estonia and the European Community, on 1 February 2008.
Spain deposited its acceptance of the amendment on 21 February 2008.
Spain's deposit, which was received on 21 February 2008, raises the number of ratifications of the GMO amendment to ten.
Three-quarters of the Parties to the Convention must ratify the amendment to bring about its entry into force.
... and one new ratification of the Protocol on PRTRs are announced
The Netherlands has become the most recent Party to ratify the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. The deposit of the country's instrument of acceptance was done on 11 February 2008.
The ratification by The Netherlands raises the number of ratifications of the Protocol to six, five of these by member states, which count toward entry into force of the instrument. Sixteen member state ratifications are needed to bring the Protocol into force.
Three translations of Protocol on PRTRs published
Three national translations of the Kiev Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers into the Dutch, Slavic Macedonian (Makedonski) and Spanish languages have been posted to the Protocol's webpage. The translations were provided to the Secretariat by the respective Member States. The Protocol is also available in the three official languages of the UNECE: English, French and Russian.
2007
Mini-conference on Agenda 21 and the Information Society - Geneva, 13 December 2007
UNECE hosted a mini-conference entitled, "Agenda 21 and the Information Society: Assessing Progress on Closing the Digital Divide, Access to Environmental Information and ICT for Sustainable Development in the ECE Region," on 13 December 2007, in Geneva.
The event marked the 15th anniversary of the adoption of Agenda 21 and principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development by the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. These agreements prefigured the development of the Aarhus Convention.
This one-day conference opened with a session examining the growth of the Information Society in the UNECE region and initiatives to build the region's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity.
A second session was devoted to Web-based information clearinghouses. The closing session previewed European and national perspectives on the Directive establishing Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) and the complementary development of a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS).
Electronic Information Tools Task Force members and other experts discussed how recent developments in Information Society are changing public access and use of environmental information, and the impact these changes will make in the areas of e-environment, e-commerce, e-democracy in Europe.
The mini-conference was chaired by Mr. Charles Geiger, Speical Advisor to UNCTAD on the Commission for Science and Technology for Development and former Executive Director of the World Summit on the Information Society. The event was co-organized by the UNECE informal ICT Group for Development.
For the complete mini-conference programme, click here. See also coverage of the conference in the Aarhus Clearinghouse Convention News.
Lithuania ratifies amendment on GMO decision-making
Lithuania has become the most recent Party to ratify the amendment on public participation in decision-making on the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms (decision II/1). The deposit of the country's instrument of ratification was done on 30 August 2007.
The Parties adopted the amendment to the Convention at their second meeting held in Almaty, Kazakhstan,
25-27 May 2005.
Bugaria, Denmark and Luxembourg have also ratified the GMO amendment.
The amendment will enter into force only after three-quarters of the Parties ratify it.
Germany becomes fifth Party to the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs
Germany became the fourth country to ratify the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the Aarhus Convention, having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 28 August 2007. As the European Community is also a Party, Germany's action raises the number of Parties to the treaty to five.
The Protocol would need to chalk up 12 further Member State ratifications by early 2008 to allow the first session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to be held back-to-back with the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention, scheduled for 11-13 June 2008, in Riga.
Task Force on Access to Justice to hold mini-conference
The first day of the task force's 2007 meeting will take the form of a ‘mini-conference’ on the theme of ‘ Opening the Doors to Justice: The Challenge of Strengthening Public Access ’. The event, set for 10 September 2007, in Geneva, will allow for the free exchange of opinions on the ‘burning issues’ in the implementation of the third pillar of the Convention between a wider range of stakeholders than normally participate in task force meetings.
For more information, click here.
Estonia ratifies the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs
Estonia became the third country to ratify the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the Aarhus Convention, having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 15 August 2007.
The first session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol may be held back-to-back with the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention, scheduled for 11-13 June 2008, if a further thirteen ratifications are deposited by early 2008.
Aarhus workshop on public participation in strategic decision-making
The workshop will discuss existing practices for public participation in
plans, programmes and policies as well as in the preparation of laws and
regulations that may have a significant effect on the environment (articles
7 and 8 of the Aarhus Convention). It will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on
3 and 4 December 2007.
For complete information, see the Convention's new webpage on Public
Participation in Strategic Decision-making.
Convention's website undergoes facelift
Beginning in July 2007, the website of the Aarhus Convention will undergo
an extensive facelift. We have arranged the information pages on the
website into four broad categories or menus, including:
- General information on the Convention and its Protocol
- The Meeting of the Parties and other Convention bodies and processes
- Capacity-building and information tools
- Practical information.
Under "Publications", major guidance documents, recommendations and
training materials used to promote implementation of the Convention are
have been brought together for the first time.
The Press centre's new "Media" page features more than two dozen
published articles on the development and progress of the Convention.
International workshop on involving the public in international
forums
The workshop will be held in Geneva on 20-21 June 2007. The aim of the
workshop is to provide a forum within which representatives of various
international forums (from governments, secretariats and other
stakeholders) can meet together to exchange experiences of their
practices with respect to the themes of access to information, public
participation in decision-making and access to justice.
The workshop is being held in culmination of the consultation process on
the Almaty Guidelines and the issues they address.
For more information, click here.
Workshop for senior members of the juduciary organized in
Ukraine
The first sub-regional workshop for senior members of the judiciary is
scheduled to take place on 4-5 June 2007 in Kiev, Ukraine. The workshop
will bring together senior judges from the six countries of the sub-region,
as well as several members of the EU Forum of Judges for the
Environment (EUFJE) and international environmental law experts.
The workshop is being organized in cooperation with Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and with financial support of
Sweden.
Public consultation on future of Aarhus concluded
On 1 June 2007, the Secretariat released a compilation of the public
comments received on the draft elements for a long-term strategic plan
for the Aarhus Convention. In all, 20 comments were submitted from 14
countries and the Council of Europe.
To read these comments, click here.
Aarhus Convention secretariat addresses sustainability of the
Information Society
At an event organized by the five United Nations Regional Commissions
for Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Latin American and the Caribbean,
and Western Asia - "The Information Society: From Declaration to
Implementation" (Geneva, Switzerland) - Mr. Jeremy Wates, Secretary to
the Aarhus Convention, spoke on managing the environmental footprint of
the Information Society.
The event also provided an opportunity to explore how new forms of
electronic participation are being promoted in the UNECE region by the
Convention.
For more information, see the UNECE press release.
Bulgaria ratifies GMO Amendment
On 30 April 2007, Bulgaria deposited with the UN Secretary-General its
instrument of ratification to the Amendment to the Aarhus Convention
dealing with decision-making on genetically modified organisms, becoming
the third Party to the Amendment.
At the second meeting of the Parties to Convention (Almaty, Kazakhstan,
25-27 May 2005), the Parties adopted the Amendment to the Convention
on public participation in decisions on the deliberate release into the
environment and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms
(decision II/1).
Denmark and Luxembourg have also ratified the GMO amendment.
Public consultation on future of Aarhus extended
The deadline for consultation on the draft elements for a long-term
strategic plan for the Aarhus Convention has been extended by one month
to the end of May 2007 to allow further opportunities for public comment.
See further details.
Switzerland ratifies the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs
Switzerland became the second country to ratify the Protocol on
Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the Aarhus Convention,
having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 27 April 2007.
The Protocol, which was signed in May 2003, in Kiev, Ukraine, shall enter
into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the sixteenth
instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, under
article 27 of the Protocol.
Croatia ratifies Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations on the 27 March 2007, Croatia will become the 41st
Party to the Aarhus Convention on 25 June 2007.
Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument
of ratification. Croatia is one of 14 countries outside of the European Union
to have ratified the treaty.
Public consultation of future of Aarhus
A public consultation on the long-term future of the Aarhus Convention
has been launched. See further details.
Capacity-building workshop on the Aarhus Clearinghouse
and Electronic Information Tools
The first in a proposed series of capacity-building workshops aimed at
national administrators and other information providers to the Aarhus
Clearinghouse Mechanism was held at the Regional Environmental Center,
in Szentendre, Hungary, on 8-9 March 2007. Twenty-four experts from 12
countries, mainly of South Eastern Europe, participated in the workshop.
Bosnia and Herzegovina used the occasion to announce the launch of its
national web portal to the Aarhus Convention.
Germany ratifies the Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations on the 15 January 2007, Germany is set to become
the 40th Party to the Aarhus Convention on 15 April 2007.
Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument
of ratification.
Belgrade Conference proposed as target for ratification of
Protocol on PRTRs
The Chairperson of the Meeting of the Parties, Ms Hanne Inger Bjurstrøm,
has encouraged National Focal Points and participants in the Working
Group on PRTRs to explore the possibilities for expediting progress
towards ratification of the Protocol by their countries.
The Bureau of the Convention has proposed that the Sixth Ministerial
Conference 'Environment for Europe', scheduled for 10-12 October 2007
in Belgrade, should serve as a target to stimulate progress toward
ratification.
To read the Chairperson's letter, click here.
2006
Aarhus compliance review leads to debate on access to
justice in Belgium
A Belgian NGO claimed that the failure of some Belgian courts to grant
standing to environmental NGOs in certain cases concerning planning and
permitting decisions was in violation of the Convention.
Reviewing the case, the Compliance Committee found that Belgium had
not failed to comply with the Convention.
However, certain decisions arising from proceedings initiated before the
Convention’s entry into force would have been in conflict with the
Convention’s provisions had the proceedings been initiated after the entry
into force, according to the Committee.
This finding was sufficient to prompt Belgium to convene a
multistakeholder roundtable held in the federal parliament in mid-May
2006.
The Government also initiated further training for the judiciary,
consultations between the relevant Ministers at federal and regional level
and the establishment of a national team of officers to follow up on the
matter.
The Committee’s Chairperson, Mr. Veit Koester of Denmark, commented
that the case "illustrates the value of having a mechanism which responds
to input from the public, without which the issue might not have come to
the attention of the Committee."
European Community ratifies the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs
The European Community became the second Signatory to ratify the
Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, having deposited its
instrument of approval with the Secretary-General of the United Nations
on 21 February 2006.
The Protocol, which was signed in May 2003, in Kiev, Ukraine, will enter
into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the sixteenth
instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by a member
State of the United Nations, under article 27 of the Protocol.
Although the European Community’s ratification does not count toward this
goal, it is expected to spur ratification of the instrument by its 25 Member
States.
Luxembourg ratifies the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs
Luxembourg became the first country to ratify the Protocol on Pollutant
Release and Transfer Registers to the Aarhus Convention, having
deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations on
7 February 2006.
The Protocol, which was signed in May 2003, in Kiev, Ukraine, shall enter
into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the sixteenth
instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, under article
27 of the Protocol.
Greece becomes 39th Party to Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations on the 27 January 2006, Greece is set to become the
39th Party to the Aarhus Convention on 27 April 2006.
Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument
of ratification.
Slovakia accedes to the Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations on the 5 December 2005, Slovakia became the first
country to accede to the Convention. Slovakia will become the 38th Party
to the Aarhus Convention on 5 March 2006.
The Convention was opened for accession to any Member State of the
United Nations on 28 December 1998, under article 19. Article 20 of the
Convention states that the Convention shall enter into force on the
ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
Luxembourg becomes 37th Party to Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations on the 25 October 2005, Luxembourg became the
37th Party to the Aarhus Convention on 23 Janaury 2006.
Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument
of ratification.
2005
Aarhus Compliance Committee reviews new communication
The ninth meeting of the Compliance Committee to the Aarhus Convention
will be held in Geneva, 12-14 October 2005. During the ninth session, the
Committee will discuss the content of communication ACCC/C/2005/11,
which concerns the standing of NGOs under Belgium legislation and case
law.
The Committee is also expected to finalize and adopt its findings and, as
appropriate, recommendations with regard to communications
ACCC/C/2004/06 involving the Republic of Kazakhstan and
ACCC/C/2004/08 involving the Republic of Armenia.
Sweden becomes 36th Party to Aarhus Convention
Having deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations on the 20 May 2005, Sweden became the 36th Party
to the Aarhus Convention on 18 August 2005.
Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument
of ratification.
Almaty meeting breathes new life into environmental democracy
movement
The Parties to the Aarhus Convention opened their second meeting in
Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 25 May 2005. The Meeting concluded after three
days of deliberation with the adoption of an amendment to the
Convention extending the rights of the public to participate in decision-making on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Also adopted were Guidelines on how Parties should apply the principles
of the Aarhus Convention in other international environment-related
forums and Recommendations on electronic information tools to
increase public access to environmental information.
The Meeting reviewed the first set of national reports on implementation to
see whether and how the goals of the Convention are applied in practice.
The reports reveal that the Parties have made important progress in
applying the Convention but also that significant obstacles to
implementation remain.
In the first test of the Convention's compliance mechanism, the findings of
its Compliance Committee that three countries -- Turkmenistan,
Ukraine and the host country Kazakhstan -- had failed to comply with
certain provisions of the Convention were upheld by the Parties.
The Meeting renewed the mandate of the task force on access to justice,
having identified this ‘pillar’ of the Convention as the one posing the
greatest challenges.
The Parties extended an invitation to States outside the UNECE region to
accede to the Convention and pledged their support for the drawing up of
appropriate regional instruments.
A high-level segment, held on 27 May, was chaired by Ms. Aitkul
Samakova, Minister of Environmental Protection of Kazakhstan.
See the press release.
New ratifications of the Aarhus Convention
Austria, the European Community and the United Kingdom deposited their
instruments of ratification on 17 January 2005, 17 February and
23 February respectively, which brings the number of Parties to the
Convention to 35.
See our press release.
2nd meeting of the Working Group on Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers (PRTRs)
The session reviewed options for rules of procedure and a compliance
mechanism to the Protocol and appointed a facilitator to prepare draft
elements for these for consideration at its next session.
Participants gave the draft guidance on the Protocol on PRTRs its first
reading and agreed to prepare a final version based on the drafts
circulated and amended during the session, with the aim of completing the
guidance in 2005.
The session also called attention to the need to address the capacity of
EECCA countries to implement the Protocol successfully and called for
greater outreach to the business sector, which has indirect obligations to
report to national PRTRs.
A new “Environmental Democracy” clearinghouse opens Aarhusclearinghouse.unece.org is being launched by the UNECE to
highlight and promote awareness of issues covered by the Aarhus
Convention. The clearing house showcases good practices in citizens’ environmental rights and is expected to make implementation of the
Convention more effective.
See the press release.
2004
UNECE hosts side-event on PRTRs at 4th European
Environment and Health Ministerial Conference
“PRTRs Now! How pollutant release and transfer registers can promote
pan-European environmental and public health” is the seminar organized
by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the
opening day of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and
Health in Budapest: “The future for our children”.
For more information, see the Working Group on PRTR webpages.
Compliance Committee examines public communications
The Aarhus Convention’s Compliance Committee entered a new phase
when it met in Geneva on 13-14 May 2004. For the first time, the
Committee began the work of examining communications submitted to it
by NGOs alleging non-compliance with the Convention.
So far, five communications have been submitted to the Compliance
Committee.
See the press release.
First meeting of the Working Group on Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers (PRTRs)
The Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
(PRTR) was adopted during the Kiev Ministerial on 21 May 2003. The first
meeting of the Working Group on PRTR established according to the
resolution of the Signatories to the Protocol was held in Geneva on
16-18 February 2004.
The meeting discussed preparations for the entry into force of the Protocol
and its first meeting of the Parties, needs and prospects for capacity-building, technical support, guidance and information exchange, as well as
national preparations for ratification and implementation of the Protocol.
2nd Meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools
The second meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information
Tools took place in Geneva on 26-27 January 2004.
3rd Meeting of the Compliance Committee
The 3rd meeting of the Compliance Committee took place on
22-23 January in Geneva.
2003
Aarhus side event at World Summit on the Information Society
The UNECE organised, in the context of the World Summit on the
Information Society, a side event on the Aarhus Convention entitled "Information and Communication Technologies for Environmental
Democracy".
The event focused on the use of electronic information tools to strengthen
environmental rights and their contribution to sustainable development
within the framework of good governance, and respect for human rights.
The event provided an opportunity for participants from different regions
to exchange perspectives through a round of presentations and a panel
discussion. Mrs. Brigita Schmögnerovà, Executive Secretary of the UNECE
chaired the discussions.
The event took place on Wednesday, 10 December 2003 at Palexpo
Centre in Geneva.
For more information on the World Summit go to http://www.wsisgeneva2003.org/home.html.
Aarhus Convention submission to Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights
In April 2003 a resolution on "Human rights and the environment as part
of sustainable development" (http://www.unhchr.ch) was adopted by
the Commission on Human Rights. It requested the Secretary-General to
submit to the Commission at its sixtieth session in spring 2004 a report "on the consideration being given to the possible relationship between the
environment and human rights", taking into account the contributions that
concerned international organizations and bodies have made.
The activities carried out under the Aarhus Convention are of great
relevance to this topic. To a certain extent, the Convention may be said to
embody the link between human rights and the environment, being an
instrument which on the one hand aims to ensure better protection of the
environment, and on the other, attempts to achieve this goal by seeking
to guarantee specific rights of individuals.
A submission to the report was made by the secretariat, on behalf of UNECE.
Aarhus Package adopted by European Commission
As the Aarhus Convention marks the second anniversary of its entry into
force the European Commission recently adopted three legislative
proposals putting the Convention into practice. If the European
Commisson's proposals are adopted by the EU, the provisions of the
Aarhus Convention will apply in full to the European Union's bodies and
institutions.
The Commission is also proposing a directive on access to justice in
environmental matters and a decision on ratifying the Aarhus Convention.
Have a look at the EC webpage
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/aarhus/index.htm
and press release.