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Citizens speak out: A louder call for European eParticipation. This publication presents democracy in Europe under threat from growing apathy by the public. it describes European Union efforts to re-engage people in politics through use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) which make it easier for governments to be more open and for citizens to participate more actively and influence the decisions and laws that affect their lives. With case studies and links. ENGLISH
Publisher: Directorate General Information Society and Media, 2009.

Overview of the first meeting of the Steering Committee for the medium-sized GEF Project "POPs monitoring, reporting and information dissemination using Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)”. The first meeting of the Steering Committee for the Global Environment Facility medium-sized project "POPs monitoring, reporting and information dissemination using Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)" provided an opportunity for representatives from seven different countries to discuss the activities and other important aspects of the project. The project addresses PRTR design and development in Cambodia, Chile, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Peru, Thailand and Ukraine. UNECE, UNEP and UNITAR support the project. With documents, including the meeting report, and presentations available in English, Russian and Spanish.
Dates: Mon 1 Jun 2009 to Fri 5 Jun 2009
Publisher: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), 2009.

IAP2 Public Participation Toolbox. This toolbox provides a quick reference of techniques to share information with the public. With bullet points on how to think through the application of a particular technique, and tips on what can go right or wrong. ENGLISH
Publisher: International Association for Public Participation, 2009.

Information sheets on GE tree research. Research on genetically engineered trees (also known as "transgenetic trees") is being currently carried out in a number of countries. WRM has produced information sheets on the countries where GE tree research -in many cases including field trials- is taking place. With information on the regulatory framework for research and field trials at national level and links to a policy briefing in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. ENGLISH
Publisher: World Rainforest Movement (WRM), 2009.

Environmental accounting of imported goods and services: towards an integrated approach. This workshop presented the state of the art in environmental accounting modeling, including life cycle analysis, material flows accounts, input/output assessment and environmental footprinting. Also discussed were the development of a methodology for the assessment of global environmental impacts of traded goods and services and a tool for internalizing the costs of imported pollution. ENGLISH
Publisher: Ecole des Mines de Paris, 2009.

U@MARENOSTRUM: Strengthening Public Participation for water protection and management. This e-Participation project aims to involve citizens and local actors (community groups, associations etc.) from the Mediterranean costal zones in decision-making processes with the help of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) and GIS (Geographic Information System). These processes have to do with the adoption and implementation of water and marine environmental protection policies and legislations in the Mediterranean region in accordance with the European Union (EU) environmental legislation. The project will be developed between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010 by cooperation of the following entities: : GFI Benelux, Gov2u (Greece), The Region of Ionian Islands (Greece), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research– Greece, Foundation Comunidad Valenciana-Región Europea (Spain), The Community of French Riviera (France) and Directorate General for Modernization of Valencia (Spain). The project will lead to the development of a user friendly portal that captures information on a geographical map. The citizens will be able to register and post their views about water issues by placing flags with written comments to appropriate locations on the maps that will exist on this portal. Additionally they will be able to participate in discussion forums on specific policy issues that will be proposed by the local or national authorities or by them. In order to contact and directly interact with the decision-makers, citizens will be able to use online petitions and letters to officials in which they can express their views, concerns and questions related to environmental issues. The platform will also feature a section that visualizes the different stages of the legislative process in a graphical matrix - from the introduction of a new topic, to the consultation process, the discussion and the passing of a draft bill in the local or regional Council or in the Parliament. For additional details, please contact Evika Karmagioli, T: +30-210-6121340, Email: evika@gov2u.org, Website: www.gov2u.org or visit the project website - www.uatmarenostrum.eu. ENGLISH
Publisher: Gov2u, 2009.

Inventory of EU Member States' measures on access to justice in environmental matters. In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the different measures adopted or in place in the Member States to implement Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention and related provisions, the Commission contracted a consultant to prepare a study focusing on the measures allowing members of the public to contest actions or omissions by public authorities. The objective of the study was more precisely to “produce an inventory of national measures implementing Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention and related provisions (Articles 2, 3 and 9(4)-(5)) and to assess for the [then] 25 Member States the current situation and recent developments regarding legal measures to implement the requirements of Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention”. The findings of the study can be found here (zip file ~6,5Mb) in 25 country reports (all Member States except Bulgaria and Romania, which had not yet joined the Community when the study was initiated) and a summary report. Member States comments on the study can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/aarhus/comments.htm. ENGLISH
Publisher: European Commission, 2007.

Latest trinational report presents most complete picture of North American industrial pollution. Ninety percent of the 5.5 billion kilograms of toxic pollutant releases and transfers reported in North America in 2005 can be traced to just 30 substances from 15 industrial sectors across the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to the latest tri-national pollution report from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Taking Stock 2005 compiles data from the three pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) in North America: Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), the United States' Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), and Mexico's Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC). In this edition, the report takes an in-depth look at the North American petroleum industry. Also new this year, the report (www.cec.org) employs air release data from the US National Emissions Inventory for criteria air contaminants-a group of pollutants associated with issues such as smog, acid rain, and respiratory effects-and for petroleum sectors not subject to reporting under the US PRTR program. The Taking Stock Online website allows users to further explore PRTR data for North America with customized reports by pollutant, facility, sector or geographic region. Taking Stock Online also provides interactive mapping of data search results using Google Maps, and features a North America-wide map layer displaying point-specific industrial pollutant data in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Using the Google Earth mapping service, the CEC's map layer displays about 35,000 North American industrial facilities that reported releases and transfers of pollutants in 2005. You can access this information at: http://www.cec.org/naatlas/prtr/. For more information, contact CEC contact: Mr. Eduardo Viadas, +1-514-350-4331, eviadas@cec.org. In English, French and Spanish.
Publisher: North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC), 2009.

Fuel Quality and Vehicle Emission Standards Overview for the Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. REC Caucasus with the support from the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) developed the publication - Fuel Quality and Vehicle Emission Standards Overview for the Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. With concept paper, overview, recommendations and next steps and country questionnaires. ENGLISH
Publisher: Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus), 2009.

New Regional Project: Sustainable Land Management for Mitigating Land Degradation and Reducing Poverty in the South Caucasus Region. The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus) in partnership with Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) has launched a regional initiative - Sustainable Land Management for Mitigating Land Degradation and Reducing Poverty in the South Caucasus Region. The project will be implemented in the South Caucasus region - Khrami-Debeda and Alazani-Iori watersheds. The project is financially supported by the European Union (EU) and is being implemented in close cooperation with all stakeholders in the South Caucasus Region. ENGLISH
Publisher: The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus - REC Caucasus, 2009.

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