Toward Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Japan

In June 1998, the Aarhus Convention was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, with the aim of realizing Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It entered into force in October 2001. The convention, whose official title is the "Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters," guarantees citizens' rights to get environmental information, take part in the decision-making of environmental policies, and take advantage of the judicial system over environmental matters.

The United States and Germany have already entitled citizens and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to file lawsuits for environmental conservation, with positive results. Meanwhile, Japan has not established such a litigation system so far.

To find ways for Japan to fulfill the criteria of the Aarhus Convention, environmental groups and individuals held a symposium on March 10, 2003, where they proposed the inauguration of a network, tentatively named the NGO Network to Implement the Aarhus Convention in Japan, (the Aarhus Net for short).

The network is expected to offer various suggestions, including revision of the present legislative framework and adoption of new ones to enable the public to participate in the environmental policies and resort to legal action over environmental conservation. The preparatory committee of the network hopes that 100 NGOs and other groups will join the Aarhus Net, and plans to set up the network by this summer.



Posted: 2003/04/25 09:12:22 AM
Japanese version