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Home > About the Aarhus Clearinghouse
- The Aarhus Clearinghouse for Environmental Democracy supports the effective implementation of the Aarhus Convention through the collection, dissemination and exchange of information on laws and good practices relevant to the public's right to
- access environmental information,
- participate in environmental decision-making, and
- achieve justice on environmental matters.
"Although regional in scope, the significance of the Aarhus Convention is global. It is by far the most impressive elaboration of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, which stresses the need for citizens' participation in environmental issues and for access to information on the environment held by public authorities. As such it is the most ambitious venture in the area of environmental democracy so far undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations."
Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006) |
The Aarhus Clearinghouse also contains information relevant to the implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration at the global, regional and national levels around the world.
The Clearinghouse supports the functioning of the Aarhus Convention's compliance review mechanism. It assists the Compliance Committee of the Convention with access to national implementing legislation and practices.
National Focal Points to the Convention and designated national nodes of the Clearinghouse provide information to the Clearinghouse. Nongovernmental organizations
and other stakeholders may also submit information to the Clearinghouse through their national focal points or through the Aarhus Convention Secretariat.
The Clearinghouse provides information for a wide range of users, including Parties, Signatories and other states; Intergovernmental organizations; NGOs; students and researchers; and the general public. Easy access to information on how countries have implemented the Aarhus Convention can provide an invaluable source of inspiration for other countries that work on developing their own procedures, mechanisms and legislation.
The Aarhus Clearinghouse website was developed for UNECE by UNEP/GRID-Arendal with the support of the Government of Norway. It is managed by the Aarhus Convention Secretariat and hosted by UNEP/GRID-Arendal.
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United States | Global E-Waste Crisis: Millions of Televisions will become obsolete by 2009
IN 2009, the United States will switch from analog to digital television, a move which will make millions of televisions obsolete. Non-governmental organizations are calling on consumers to stem the potential flood of toxic electronic waste (e-waste) by asking manufacturers to take back their obsolete products and ensure that they are recycled safely and responsibly. Their concerns also extend to the health of workers exposed to these products. Hazardous chemicals such as mercury and toxic brominated flame retardants threaten the health of those workers and their communities, according to concerned e-waste civic advocates. Annual releases of Mercury and brominated flame retardants are among the pollutants tracked under the reporting requirements of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR). As of 7 October 2008, the PRTR Protocol had been ratified by the European Community and nine other United Nations member States.
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, 2008
Canada | Pourquoi l’avenir de l’Internet dépend-il des écologistes?
À la différence de l’environnement, l’internet n’est pas largement perçu par les autorités, les législateurs et les décideurs politiques comme un bien commun essentiel. Un rapport explicatif par APC, la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Europe (CEE-ONU) et le Conseil de l’Europe a été présenté à Genève le 23 mai 2008. Le consultant et auteur David Souter a produit le rapport comme une contribution au débat sur comment mieux répondre aux besoins des multiples publics dans un environnement en mutation rapide de l’internet. Le rapport soutient que : « cela fait du sens d’explorer un peu plus la possibilité de développer un ensemble de principes qui pourraient sécuriser une large adhésion dans la communauté à la gouvernance de l’internet ». En d’autres mots, en ajoutant plus de substance aux principes du Sommet mondial de la société de l’information de 2005 (SMSI), nous avons le potentiel d’amener progressivement des changements à la gouvernance de l’internet, à en croire l’auteur.
Son argument se borne à dire que l’établissement d’un code de pratiques pour l’inclusion rendrait la gouvernance de l’internet plus crédible pour les acteurs, améliorerait la coordination et la consistance parmi les différents organismes impliqués et assurerait la prise en compte d’une large gamme d’opinions et d’expériences dans la prise de décision concernant l’internet.
Alternatives Action and Communication Network for International Development, 2008
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