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Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making

Background

The Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making was established by the Meeting of the Parties through decision EMP.II/1 ENG FRE RUS adopted at its second extraordinary session (Geneva, April 2010).
The Task Force is working to improve the implementation of the Convention's provisions on public participation, including through sharing expertise and good practices, developing recommendations, strengthening civil society and building capacity for public authorities and other stakeholders.
The Task Force is also working to identify common problems in implementing the Convention's provisions on public participation and make possible solutions available to interested Parties and other stakeholders.
At its fourth session, the Meeting of the Parties adopted a work plan for 2011-2014 for the Task Force. From its establishment until the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (Maastricht, 30 June - 1 July 2014), the Task Force was led by Ireland and chaired by Phillip Kearney. The mandate of the Task Force was further extended by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention through decision V/2 ENG FRE RUS adopted at its fifth session (Maastricht, the Netherlands, 30 June and 1 July 2014), decision VI/2 ENG FRE RUS adopted at its sixth session (Budva, Montenegro, 11-14 September 2017) and decision VII/2 ENG FRE RUS  adopted at its seventh session (Geneva, 18-21 October 2021). The Task Force is currently led by Italy and chaired by Ms. Loredana Dall'Ora. 

 

Meetings

The first meeting of the Task Force was held on 25-26 October 2010 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The second meeting of the Task Force was held on 6-8 June 2012 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The third meeting of the Task Force was held on 29-30 October 2012 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The fourth meeting of the Task Force was held in Luxembourg on 12-13 March 2013 at the premises of the European Commission in Luxembourg.
The fifth meeting of the Task Force was held on 23-24 February 2015 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The sixth meeting of the Task Force was held on 10-11 February 2016 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The seventh meeting of the Task Force was held on 15-16 December 2016 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The eighth meeting of the Task Force was held on 8-9 October 2018 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The ninth meeting of the Task Force was held on 1-2 March 2021 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The tenth meeting of the Task Force was held on 10-11 (am) October 2022 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The eleventh meeting of the Task Force will be held on 12-13 December 2024 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
 

 

Recommendations on public participation in environmental decision-making

Over the intersessional period 2011-2014, the Task Force has developed recommendations on public participation in environmental decision-making. The recommendations have been prepared through an open and participatory process. The final publication of the Maastricht recommendations on promoting effective public participation in decision-making in environmental matters (ECE/MP.PP/2014/8) is available here.
The Recommendations are intended as a practical, user-friendly tool to improve the implementation of the Convention's provisions on public participation in decision-making. While the Recommendations are not intended as an official interpretation of the Convention, it is hoped they will be an invaluable tool through which to share expertise and good practice to assist policymakers, legislators and public authorities in their daily work of implementing the Convention.
Earlier drafts of the Recommendations and comments received from governments and stakeholders on those drafts are available here
Case studies of public participation in environmental decision-making
The Task Force is interested to collect case studies of public participation in environmental decision-making.  The template for the submission of case studies is available here. A number of selected studies are already available on the Aarhus Good Practice online compendium available in the Aarhus Clearinghouse on Environmental Democracy