Coming to terms with public participation in decision making: Balancing clarity and impact in the Aarhus Convention. Issue 2 (1st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yankun; Butcher, Bill
• Is Part Of: Review of European, comparative & international environmental law. Volume 31:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 221
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01
• Subjects: Environmental law, International -- Periodicals; Environmental law -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 341.4
• DOI: 10.1111/reel.12437
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-0386

Abstract

Abstract: Public participation in decision making plays an essential role in achieving sustainable development goals. The 1998 Aarhus Convention, a benchmark in this field, fosters this role and, in its Article 6, sets out procedures and standards for implementing public participation in decision making on specific activities. Given the widespread adoption and recognition of the Aarhus Convention, it is important to clarify these standards to guide the design of public participation regulation and its implementation and practice. To that end, this article identifies and analyses the major interpretative issues that arise from the terminology adopted in Article 6 and examines the balance between clarity in the terminology and the impact of the provision. The article also suggests a series of best practice principles for better implementing the Aarhus Convention and achieving effective public participation.