Background
The mandate of the Task Force on Access to Information was laid down by the Meeting of the Parties through decision IV/1 (ENG FRE RUS) adopted at its fourth session (Chisinau, 29 June - 1 July 2011). At the following sessions of the Meeting of the Parties, the Task Force mandate was renewed for a further period through decision V/1 (ENG FRE RUS; see also document ECE/MP.PP/2014/2/Add.1 ENG FRE RUS), decision VI/1 (ENG FRE RUS ; see also document ECE/MP.PP/2017/2/Add.1 ENG FRE RUS) and decision VII/1 (ENG FRE RUS; see also document ECE/MP.PP/2021/2/Add.1 ENG FRE RUS)
The Task Force on Access to Information:
(a) Continues strengthening implementation of the Convention's provisions on access to information, including through promoting exchange of information, experiences, challenges and good practices concerning public access to information on the matter. It also addresses the issue of accessibility of product information and environmental information held by private sector;
(b) Strives to identify capacity-building needs, barriers and solutions;
(c) Continues monitoring and supporting the implementation of the updated recommendations on the more effective use of electronic information tools (ECE/MP.PP/2021/2/Add.2) and collecting relevant case studies;
(d) Continues monitoring technical developments, and, where appropriate, contribute to other initiatives relevant to electronic access to information, electronic public participation in decision-making and electronic access to justice in environmental matters;
(e) Continues contributing to further development of the Aarhus Clearinghouse for Environmental Democracy and PRTR.net.
The Task Force is led by the Republic of Moldova.
- Meetings
-
Ninth meeting (Geneva, 5-6 Novemeber 2024)
Eighth meeting (Geneva, 9-10 November 2023)
WGP-26 AI thematic session (Geneva, 22 June 2022)
Seventh meeting (Online, 16-17 November 2020)
Sixth meeting (Geneva, 2-4 October 2019)
WGP-22 AI thematic session (Geneva, 19-21 June 2018)
Fifth meeting (Geneva, 10-11 October 2016)
Fourth meeting (Geneva, 8-10 December 2015)
Third meeting (Geneva, 3-5 December 2014)
- Updated Recommendations on the more effective use of electronic information tools
-
Over the intersessional period 2017-2021 and pursuant to decision VI/1, the Task Force had developed the update of the recommendations on electronic information tools set out in decision II/3 (see ECE/MP.PP/2005/2/Add.4, annex). The updated Recommendations on the more effective use of electronic information tools (ECE/MP.PP/2021/2/Add.2) were prepared through an open and participatory consultation process and adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention through decision VII/1 (ECE/MP.PP/2021/2/Add.1) at its seventh session (Geneva, 18-21 October). They aim to assist Parties, signatories and other interested States in supporting the implementation of the Aarhus Convention through the promotion of the development, maintenance, upgrade and use of electronic information tools by applying common approaches and standards. In addition, they support efforts to implement other relevant international commitments such as environment-related Sustainable Development Goal and targets, the Paris Agreement and other multilateral environmental agreements, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, a number of Human Rights Council resolutions and relevant pledges under the framework of the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, the “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference and the Group on Earth Observations.
- Electronic Information Tools Case Studies
-
Further information is available from:
- Previous activities
-
Information about previous activities of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools is available here