Aceves-Ávila, Carla D. --- "The Right of Access to Information as a Tool for Environmental Protection and Poverty Eradication in Mexico" [2012] ELECD 652; in Le Bouthillier, Yves; Cohen, Alfie Miriam; Gonzalez Marquez, Juan Jose; Mumma, Albert; Smith, Susan (eds), "Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Law

Editor(s): Le Bouthillier, Yves; Cohen, Alfie Miriam; Gonzalez Marquez, Juan Jose; Mumma, Albert; Smith, Susan

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781003282

Section: Chapter 8

Section Title: The Right of Access to Information as a Tool for Environmental Protection and Poverty Eradication in Mexico

Author(s): Aceves-Ávila, Carla D.

Number of pages: 23

Extract:

8. The right of access to information as a
tool for environmental protection and
poverty eradication in Mexico
Carla D. Aceves-Ávila

8.1 INTRODUCTION
Principle 10 of the Río Declaration states that:

Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens
at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate
access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities,
including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities,
and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facili-
tate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information
widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings,
including redress and remedy, shall be provided.1

The three concepts found within Principle 10, namely access to environmen-
tal information, access to decision-making processes and access to environ-
mental justice through redress and remedy, form the basis of environmental
democracy. They also constitute powerful tools for poverty eradication.
Environmental resources and the services they provide are especially
important for people living in poverty since a good part of this population
draws much of their livelihoods from forests, pastures, fisheries or farming.
Thus, their economy as well as their quality of life is strongly linked to envi-
ronmental goods and services. Also, they tend to reside in areas with stressed
or low quality environmental resources such as sloped areas with greater risk
of landslides, dry rivers or rivers which when flooded represent a greater
hazard, and polluted areas ...