Hunter, David B. --- "The emerging norm of transparency in international environmental governance" [2014] ELECD 650; in Ala’i, Padideh; Vaughn, G. Robert (eds), "Research Handbook on Transparency" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014) 343

Book Title: Research Handbook on Transparency

Editor(s): Ala’i, Padideh; Vaughn, G. Robert

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781007938

Section: Chapter 15

Section Title: The emerging norm of transparency in international environmental governance

Author(s): Hunter, David B.

Number of pages: 25

Abstract/Description:

Since the beginning of modern environmental law in the early 1970s, the right to access environmental information has been at the core of environmental protection efforts. This chapter addresses the prominence of transparency as an emerging norm of international environmental governance and the global pursuit of sustainable development. Many international environmental instruments are aimed at improving access to information, although perhaps not surprisingly the majority focus on ensuring that information is shared between State actors. Thus, governments have committed to sharing information about cross-border shipments of hazardous waste, genetically modified organisms, and toxic chemicals. Other environmental treaties ensure that neighboring countries share information about potential transboundary environmental impacts or about plans to develop shared rivers and lakes. Less common have been international requirements to share environmental information with the public. Rooted in both international human rights and the treaties and practice of international environmental law, the public’s access to information is one of three closely related procedural rights that have emerged as fundamental to environmental protection and sustainable development: (1) the right to access information (transparency); (2) the right to participate in decisions that affect your life and livelihood (inclusivity); and (3) the right of access to justice (accountability). This chapter focuses on the first right—that of transparency—but inclusivity and accountability are closely related and equally critical to the pursuit of sustainable development.