A Report on Models of National Legislation, Policy and Guidelines in the Africa Region, Asia and Pacific Region, and the Latin America and Caribbean Region: Law and Practice relating to Access to Information on the Environment, Public Participation in Processes leading to Decision-making and Access to Judicial and Administrative Procedures relation to Environmental Matters

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council decision 20/4 (GC2014) calls on the Executive Director in consultations with Governments and relevant international organizations, to seek appropriate ways of building capacity in and enhancing access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. In this regard, UNEP was further required by decision GC 20/4 to study various models of national legislation, policies and guidelines. This report is a study of State practice in three regions on national legislation, policy and guidelines covering access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. The study outlines various models found in the African region, the Asia and Pacific region and the Latin American and Caribbean region. It is clear from the study that although a lot takes place at the national level there is still a need for UNEP to enhance and promote these principles and create an enabling environment for Governments to build capacity in this area by learning from each oilier.