The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) commits to promoting inclusive public participation for the transition to a green economy. Under the frameworks of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (the Protocol on PRTRs), and within the available resources, UNECE is committed to provide advice on legal issues and practices with regard to access to information and public participation in decision-making on different plans, policies, projects and programmes related to the greening of economy. It will also facilitate consensus building among countries and a wide range of stakeholders and will continue providing advisory services to Governments and international organisations on these issues. Furthermore, it will continue supporting: (a) multilateral decision-making processes to take joint commitments; (b) regional multi-stakeholder platforms to share challenges and good practices in access to information and effective public participation; and (c) the development of recommendations, guidance material and electronic information tools. Specific activities include sessions of the respective meetings of the Parties and subsidiary bodies, round tables and workshops and coordination mechanisms.
The commitment falls under focus area 9 of the Batumi Initiative to promote public participation and education for sustainable development.
Implementing partners include Ministries responsible for environmental matters in Parties and other interested Member States; NGOs; Regional Environmental Centres and Aarhus Centres; OSCE, UNEP, OECD, CBD/Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, UNITAR, UNFCCC, OHCHR, and international financial institutions.
The commitment is relevant to SDG targets 1.4, 1.5, 2, 3.d, 4, 6, 7, 9.4, 11, 12.4, 12.6, 12.8, 13, 15.6, 16.3, 16.6, 16.7, 16.10, 16.b, and 17.6.