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Public Participation in International Forums

Promoting public participation in international forums 

Parties to the Convention have an obligation to promote the principles of the Convention in international organizations and international processes relating to the environment. For example, prior to taking part in international negotiations and events, each Party should inform the public and seek its input on the issues to be discussed. Parties should also push for greater openness and transparency in international negotiations on environmental matters, with opportunities for the public to be heard on the issues on the table. After an international event is over, they should inform the public of its outcomes and make sure that they involve the public when implementing those outcomes. Thematic sessions on public participation in international forums are held under the Convention to assist Parties in implementing their obligation.  Ongoing advisory assistance is also provided to interested international forums to support them in making their procedures more open and participatory. Major guidance material is as follows:

Almaty Guidelines on Promoting the Application of the Principles of the Aarhus Convention in International Forums,

Snapshot on the Almaty Guidelines 

Checklist of Measures

Article 3(7) and the Almaty Guidelines

While the Aarhus Convention primarily addresses issues at the national level, its Parties have committed themselves, through article 3(7) of the Convention, to promote the application of the principles of the Convention in international environmental decision-making processes and within the framework of international organizations in matters relating to the environment.

At their second meeting (Almaty, 25-27 May 2005), the Parties adopted, through decision II/4 (ENG FRE RUS), a set of guidelines on promoting the principles of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in international forums dealing with matters relating to the environment. The primary purpose of these guidelines, known as the "Almaty Guidelines", is to provide general guidance to Aarhus Parties. They may also be of wider interest to those involved in forums that deal with environmental matters.

In the same decision, the Parties established a Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums to enter into consultations with international forums with respect to the Guidelines. Further information about the Task Force is available below.  

At their fourth meeting (Chisinau, 29 June-1 July 2011), the Parties adopted decision IV/3 (ENG FRE RUS) on promoting the principles of the Convention in international forums. In that decision, Parties agreed that significant work still remained to be done to implement article 3, paragraph 7 of the Convention and to continue the work on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums directly under the authority of the Working Group of the Parties.

At their sixth session (Budva, Montenegro, 11-14 September 2017), the Parties adopted decision VI/4 on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums (ENG FRE RUS). They recognized the valuable work that has been done to implement article 3, paragraph 7, of the Convention, while acknowledging the considerable challenges that still need to be addressed to fully implement this provision. At their seventh session (Geneva, 18-21 October 2021), the Parties adopted decision VII/4 on promoting the principles of the Convention in international forums (ENG FRE RUS). In that decision, the Parties noted the increasing understanding of both the challenges faced and the good practices employed by international forums with respect to public participation and recognized that expert assistance is an important and powerful tool for sharing experience and promoting the principles of the Convention. This area of work is led by France.

Other links and documents

Compendium of case studies of good practice on promoting public participation in international forums

Public Participation in International Forums. A Snapshot on the Almaty Guidelines
ENG FRE RUS

International workshop on involving the public in international forums

Checklist of measures to be borne in mind when developing a national action plan to systematically promote the principles of the Convention in all international forums dealing with matters relating to the environment ENG FRE RUS

Working Group of the Parties

27th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (26 - 28 June 2023)

The Working Group at its 27th meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following:

1. Environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context;

2. International trade-related decision-making; and

3. The issue of balanced and equitable participation and different modalities for engaging stakeholders in international decision-making;

4. Updates on Promotion of the principles of the Convention in relation to a legally binding instrument on business and human rights under the Human Rights Council, in Sustainable Development Goals-related processes and in climate- and plastic related international forums;

5. Updates on subjects to be addressed by upcoming forums, including environmental-related processes under the General Assembly, such as the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, scheduled for September 2023, and the Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 2024.

All documents relevant to the thematic sessions are available from the following pagehttps://unece.org/environmental-policy/events/twenty-seventh-meeting-working-group-parties-aarhus-convention

26th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (22 - 23 June 2022)

The Working Group at its 26th meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international decision-making on legally binding instrument on plastics (e.g., with regard to the marine environment and air pollution)

2. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international decision-making on legally binding instrument on business and human rights, covering States' obligations with regard to the responsibility of business actors under their jurisdiction
3. Updates on promotion of the principles of the Convention in processes under the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the focus on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and

4. Updates on promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.  

All documents relevant to the thematic sessions are available from the following page: https://unece.org/info/Environmental-Policy/Public-Participation/events/365937

25th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (3 May and 7 and 8 June 2021)

The Working Group at its 25th meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles within the context of International decision-making on geoengineering

2. Promotion of the Convention’s principles within the context of International decision-making on biosafety
3. Promotion of the Convention principles in international decision-making in the COVID-19 context

All documents relevant to the thematic session are available from the following page: https://unece.org/environmental-policy/events/aarhus-convention-wgp-25

24th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (28 - 29 October 2020)

The Working Group at its 24th meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in the policies of international trade negotiations
2. Promotion of the Convention principles within the context of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
3. Update on the promotion of the Convention principles in international financial institutions
4. Update on the promotion of the Convention principles in the UNFCCC processes
5. Update on stakeholder engagement in UNEP and in the United Nations Environment Assembly
6. Update on the promotion of principles of the Aarhus Convention in the high-level political forum on sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goal-related processes

All documents relevant to the thematic session are available from the following page under PPIF session tab: https://unece.org/info/Environmental-Policy/Public-Participation/events/349835

23rd meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (26-28 June 2019)

 

The Working Group at its 23rd meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in the policies of international financial institutions
2. Cross-cutting issues to enhance access to information and/or public participation in international forums3. Promotion of the Convention principles within the context of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
3. Promotion of the Convention principles within the context of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
4. Update on the promotion of the Convention principles in the UNFCCC processes
5. Update on stakeholder engagement in the United Nations Environment Assembly
6. Update on the promotion of principles of the Aarhus Convention in the high-level political forum on sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goal-related processes.

All documents relevant to the thematic session are available from the following page under PPIF session tab: https://unece.org/info/Environmental-Policy/Public-Participation/events/18129


22nd meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (19-21 June 2018)
The Working Group at its 22nd meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international decision-making on chemicals and waste (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Minamata Convention on Mercury and SAICM)2. Update on the promotion of the Convention principles in the UNFCCC processes3. Update on stakeholder engagement in the United Nations Environment Assembly and the UNEP access to information policies4. Update on the promotion of principles of the Aarhus Convention throughout developing, implementing and monitoring implementation of SDGs5. Update on the promotion of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in the IFIs processes. All documents relevant to the thematic session are available from the following page under PPIF Thematic session tab: https://unece.org/info/Environmental-Policy/Public-Participation/events/18118

21st meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (4-6 April 2017)

The Working Group at its 21st meeting held a thematic session focusing on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international decision-making on environment and health matters
2. Update on the promotion of the Convention principles in the UNFCCC processes
3. Update on stakeholder engagement in the United Nations Environment Assembly and the UNEP access to information policies
4. Update on the promotion of principles of the Aarhus Convention throughout developing, implementing and monitoring implementation of SDGs

In view of the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties (Budva, Montenegro, 11-14 September 2017 ) the 21st meeting of the Working Group of the Parties also discussed a draft decision on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums. 

All documents relevant to the thematic session are available from the following page under PPIF Thematic session tab: https://unece.org/info/Environmental-Policy/Public-Participation/events/18015

 

20th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (15-17 June 2016)

The Working Group at its 20th meeting featured a thematic session that focused on the following themes:

1. Promotion of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in the UNFCCC processes with the focus on lessons learnt from the COP-21 and preparations for the COP-22
2. Recent developments in promoting the principles of the Aarhus Convention in the policies of international financial institutions
3. Update on stakeholder engagement and access to information policies of the UNEP
4. Update on the promotion of the Convention’s principles through developing, implementing and monitoring implementation of SDGs

The report of the 20th meeting of the Working Group and presentations and background documentation discussed during the thematic session are available under PPIF Thematic session tab here

19th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (17-19 June 2015)

The thematic session on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums held during the 19th session of the Working Group of the Parties focused on the following four themes:
1.    Public participation in the UNFCCC processes on the road to Paris
2.    Update on stakeholder engagement and access to information policies of the UNEP
3.    Promotion of the Convention’s principles in trade negotiations
4.    Promotion of the Convention’s principles through developing, implementing and monitoring implementation of SDGs.

The presentations and background documentation discussed during the thematic session are available under PPIF thematic session tab here. The report of the 19th meeting of the Working Group, including the agreed outcomes of the thematic session, is available here.

 

17th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (26-28 February 2014)

In view of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (Maastricht, 30 June-2 July 2014), the 17th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties discussed a draft decision on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums and held a thematic session with a focus on:

1. Follow up from the previous thematic session

2. ECE Multilateral Environmental Agreements. 

The presentations and background documentation discussed during the thematic session of the 17th meeting of the Working Group are available under PPIF thematic session tab here

 

16th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (Geneva, 19-21 June 2013)

At the 16th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties, the thematic session focused on three themes:

1. Follow up from the previous thematic session
2. The new United Nations Environment Assembly
3. Policy reviews by international financial institutions

The presentations and background documentation discussed during the thematic session are available under PPIF thematic session tab here. The report of the 16th meeting of the Working Group, including the agreed outcomes of the thematic session (agenda item VII), is available here (ENGFRERUS).

 

15th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (3-5 September 2012)

The first thematic session on promoting the principles of the Convention in international forums was held during the 15th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (3-5 September 2012). Inter alia, the thematic session covered: 

1. Public participation before, at and after Rio+20
2. Measures taken at national level to systematically promote public participation in international forums
3. Public participation in IFI-funded projects

The presentations and background documentation discussed during the thematic session are available under PPIF thematic session tab here. The report of the 15th meeting of the Working Group, including the agreed outcomes of the thematic session, is available here (ENGFRERUS). 
PPIF Task Force (2005-2011)

Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums (2005-2011)
At their second meeting, the Parties established the Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums to consult with international forums regarding the Almaty Guidelines. The consultation process was conducted over a thirteen-month period from June 2006 to July 2007. Further information about the consultation process and its outcomes is available here.
At their third meeting (Riga, 11-13 June 2008), the Parties adopted a decision (ENG FRE RUS) welcoming the work of the Task Force to date and renewing its mandate for a further three years.
The Task Force, led by France, met six times: 23-24 February 2011, 29 June 2010, 6 July 2009, 8-9 November 2007, 9-10 November 2006 and 24-25 November 2005. Since the fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties (Chisinau, 29 June-1 July 2011),  the Convention's work on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums now continues directly under the authority of the Working Group of the Parties (see decision IV/3 above).  
Documents and presentations from the Task Force's meetings and workshops may be found below:
Documents of the sixth meeting of the Task Force and workshop
Documents of the fifth meeting of the Task Force and workshop
Documents of the fourth meeting of the Task Force
Documents of the third meeting of the Task Force
Documents of the second meeting of the Task Force
Documents of the first meeting of the Task Force
 

Consultation process (2006-2007)

Consultation process  (2006-2007)
Over a thirteen month period between June 2006 to July 2007, the Task Force on Public Participation on International Forums carried out a consultation process with international forums regarding the Almaty Guidelines.
In undertaking the consultation process, Parties to the Aarhus Convention hoped to obtain the views of other international forums on the Almaty Guidelines and also to learn from their experiences in the area of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
The initial focus of the consultation process was a written questionnaire. The questionnaire was organised around five broad, open-ended questions designed to allow representatives of forums, including their stakeholders, to provide comments on the Guidelines and to share relevant experiences. The deadline for responses to the questionnaire was 17th September 2006.
The results from the consultation process was intended to provide Parties to the Aarhus Convention with further guidance in implementing their obligation to promote the application of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in international forums and to assist them in reviewing the Guidelines if appropriate.
Responses received from the international forums and other relevant correspondence are available here. A synthesis of the responses, including more detailed addenda, was prepared by the Aarhus Convention secretariat and is available here. 
Following the outcome of the initial consultation process, an international workshop with interested international forums and their stakeholders was held in Geneva on 20-21 June 2007. The main aim of the workshop was to provide a forum within which Aarhus Parties and representatives of various other international forums (from governments, secretariats and other stakeholders) might 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.
As well as hearing presentations by prominent experts in the area of public participation in international forums, participants had the opportunity to take part in interactive issues-based discussion groups. The Almaty Guidelines (ENG FRE RUS) were a key background document and the Aarhus Parties received feedback on them, in the context of the consultation process. The workshop was conducted in English with French and Russian interpretation provided during most of the sessions.
Through decision III/4 adopted at their third meeting (Riga, 13-15 June 2008), Parties requested the Task Force to prepare a compendium of case studies of good practice on promoting public participation in international forums. The compendium of case studies collected to date is available here.
Documents from the consultation process and international workshop

 
Document title ENG FRE RUS
Written questionnaire DOC - -
Work Plan of the Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/2/Add.1) PDF PDF PDF
List of international forums invited to take part in the consultation process (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/2/Add.2) PDF PDF PDF
Provisional agenda for international workshop PDF - -
List of participants for international workshop PDF - -
Report of workshop, including Chairs' Summary PDF PDF PDF
Synthesis Paper on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2)   PDF PDF PDF
Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Rules, procedures and practices on Access to Information and Access to Justice) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.1) PDF PDF PDF
Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Rules, procedures and practices on Public Participation) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.2) PDF PDF PDF
Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Current and Future workplans) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.3) PDF PDF PDF
Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Challenges) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.4) PDF PDF PDF
Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Comments on Almaty guidelines) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.5) PDF PDF PDF
Summary of report commissioned by France on the state of the art on issues raised by public participation in international forums PDF PDF -
Full report commissioned by France on the state of the art on issues raised by public participation in international forums - PDF -
Bibliography for report commissioned by France on the state of the art on issues raised by public participation in international forums - English publications XLS - -
Bibliography for report commissioned by France on the state of the art on issues raised by public participation in international forums - French publications - XLS -
Bibliography for report commissioned by France on the state of the art on issues raised by public participation in international forums - Other language publications - XLS -

 
Background to the Almaty Guidelines

 

Background  

At the first meeting of the Parties (Lucca, October 2002), a discussion on the application of the Convention's principles in international forums took place on the basis of background material prepared at the request of the secretariat ( PDF PDF PDF and addendum in PDF). Through the Lucca Declaration, paragraph 31 ( PDF PDF PDF), the Parties recommended that the possibility of developing guidelines on “promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international environmental decision-making processes and within the framework of international organizations in matters relating to the environment” be given consideration, for adoption, as appropriate, at a future meeting of the Parties.
In October 2003, the Working Group of the Parties, the main intersessional body responsible for overseeing the work programme of the Convention, considered the issue on the basis of a background paper on Public Participation in International Forums PDF PDF PDF) prepared by the Bureau. It decided to establish, within available resources, a small ad hoc expert group to “consider the scope, format and content of possible guidelines and the appropriate process for their development” with a view to drawing up options for further consideration by the Working Group. The expert group was to be composed of “experts designated by governments, NGOs, relevant international organizations, other UNECE environmental conventions and multilateral environmental agreements”. The process was to take into account the need to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure the broadest possible ownership of the guidelines, as well as the experience already gained by Parties and Signatories in the implementation of article 3, paragraph 7, of the Convention.
Expert group on Public Participation in International Forums
The expert group met on 3-4 June 2004 to explore the possibilities for developing guidelines on involving the public (including NGOs and other stakeholders) in international environment-related bodies and processes.
It was composed of academics and experts designated by governments, international, intergovernmental and regional organisations, including MEA secretariats, and NGOs. Its interim results were reviewed by the Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention at its meeting in July 2004. The Bureau decided to convene a second meeting of the expert group with a view to having a draft of guidelines ready for adoption at the second meeting of the Parties to the Convention (Almaty, May 2005).
Pursuant to the decision of the Bureau, the second meeting of the Expert Group took place on 8-10 November 2004 in Geneva. The experts provided a number of comments on the text of the draft guidelines and amended it accordingly. The revised document ( PDF PDF PDF) was submitted to the fourth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (1-4 February 2005) for further consideration.
Further amendments to the draft guidelines were made at the fourth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties, at an open-ended Bureau Meeting (28 February-1 March 2005) and at the fifth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (22-23 May 2005). Following that meeting, the draft guidelines were presented to the Meeting of the Parties for adoption.
At its second meeting, the Meeting of the Parties recalled the work done by the Expert Group and the Working Group of the Parties and adopted the Guidelines and accompanying decision II/4 ( PDF PDF PDF). The Meeting also established the Task Force, to be led by France, to enter into consultations regarding the Guidelines with the relevant international forums within the scope of the Guidelines.
Documents of the second meeting of the Expert Group
Document Title   ENG FRE RUS
Provisional Agenda   DOC - -
Report of the 2nd meeting of the Expert Group on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/8)   PDF PDF PDF
Draft guidelines on Public Participation in International Forums   DOC - -
List of participants   DOC - -

Documents of the first meeting of the Expert Group
Document Title   ENG FRE RUS
Provisional Agenda   DOC - -
Report of the 1st meeting of the Expert Group on the Public Participation in International Forums (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/13)   PDF PDF PDF
List of participants   DOC - -

Other related documents  
Document Title   ENG FRE RUS
UN Economic Commission for Europe        
Public Participation in International Forums. A snapshot on the Almaty Guidelines   PDF PDF PDF
Public Participation in International Forums
MP.PP/WG.1/2003/6
  PDF PDF PDF
Access to information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in International Forums (MP.PP/2002/18)   PDF PDF PDF
Survey of Selected Access to Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice Rules and Practices in International Forums (MP.PP/2002/18/Add.1)   PDF - -
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Major groups participation in CSD-12 official sessions   DOC - -
UN Secretary-General's Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations Relations with Civil Society
High Level Panel on UN-Civil Society; Contextual paper prepared by Fernando Henrique Cardoso   HTML - -
UN System and Civil Society – An Inventory and Analysis of Practices, Background Paper for the Secretary-General's Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations Relations with Civil Society   DOC - -
Keynote Speech by Fernando Henrique Cardoso   HTML - -
Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Best Practices in the Management and Governance of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Involving UN and Civil Society Actors; Background paper prepared by Carmen Malena for the Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Partnerships and UN-Civil Society Relations    DOC - -
The Diversity of Actors within the UN System; Informal paper of the Secretary-General’s Panel of Eminent Persons on Civil Society and UN Relationships    DOC - -
Interaction between Civil Society and the United Nations; Speech by Ms. Birgitta Dahl   DOC - -
United Nations Environment Programme
Report of the Fifth Global Civil Society Forum (UNEP/GCS/5/1)    DOC - -
Note on Global Ministerial Environment Forum; UNEP    DOC - -
UNEP available information for civil society   DOC - -
The Global Civil Society Forum , Note by UNEP    DOC - -
Enhancing the application of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (UNEP/GC/22/17 Ch.II section B)    DOC - -
Enhancing civil society engagement in the work of the UNEP; Revised Strategy Paper   DOC - -
Non-Governmental Organisations and other major groups
Strengthening Public Participation and Access to Information in the Americas; Environmental Law Institute/ Center for Human Rights and Environment    PDF - -
A citizen’s guide to the World Bank Inspection Panel, by Dana L. Clark   PDF - -
Public Participation, Access to Information and Development Banks in the UNECE Region, CEE Bankwatch Network   PDF - -
Participation of Non-Governmental Organisations in International Environmental Co-operation. Legal Basis and Practical Experience;Summary of a report by Ecologic Institute for International and European Environmental Policy    DOC - -
Received comments
TWN Inputs for Meeting on Aarhus Convention, Geneva 3-4 June 2004, Third World Network   DOC - -

Links to the related internet resources
Explanatory note Link
Secretary-General’s Panel of Eminent Persons on Civil Society and UN Relationships http://www.un.org/reform/civilsociety/panel.shtml
Multi-Stakeholder Processes for Governance and Sustainability - Beyond Deadlock and Conflict, by Minu Hemmati, with contributions from Felix Dodds, Jasmin Enayati & Jan McHarry http://www.earthsummit2002.org/msp/book.htm
International Environmental Governance & Stakeholder Disenfranchisement, United Nations University, Report by Ms. J. Green http://www.ias.unu.edu