A SEAT AT THE TABLE

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A SEAT AT THE TABLE Including the Poor in
Decisions for Development and Environment
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Illiterate
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No Access
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Costly
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Risky
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No Documentation
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Taboo
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• Communicate right form and channel
• Reduce Costs

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• Rights
• Equality
• Ability
• Extra Rights

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Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration

• Environmental issues are best handled with
  participation of all concerned individuals, at
  the relevant level. At the national level, each
  individual shall have appropriate access to
  information concerning the environment that is
  held by public authorities
• and the opportunity to participate in
  decision-making processes. States shall
  facilitate and encourage public awareness and
  participation by making information widely
  available. Effective access to justice and
  administrative proceedings, including redress and
  remedy, shall be provided.

Environmental issues are best handled with
participation of all concerned individuals, at
the relevant level. At the national level, each
individual shall have appropriate access to
information concerning the environment that is
held by public authorities and the opportunity
to participate in decision-making processes.
States shall facilitate and encourage public
awareness and participation by making information
widely available. Effective access to justice and
administrative proceedings, including redress and
remedy, shall be provided.
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The Access Initiative 2010
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Cases studied
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Findings Barriers

• Lack of legal thresholds for engagement
• Literacy
• Access to communication channels
• Cost
• Exposure to risk
• Who has a voice?

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Policy Responses

• Establish thresholds for enhanced access
• Use the appropriate form
• Use appropriate channels
• Reduce costs
• Make the voice of the poor influential

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A Country-Specific Approach
4 Steps Example country
Establishing general rights Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Paraguay
Ensuring fair implementation Philippines
Ensuring equal ability to use rights USA
Creating additional rights (?)
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Can the U.S. serve as an example?
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Environmental Justice in the US
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, national
origin, or income with respect to the
development, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies. .
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Massachusetts EJ Populations are those segments
of the population that the Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs has determined to be most
at risk of being unaware of or unable to
participate in environmental decision-making or
to gain access to state environmental resources.
Massachusetts EJ Populations are those segments
of the population that the Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs has determined to be most
at risk of being unaware of or unable to
participate in environmental decision-making or
to gain access to state environmental resources.
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Where are we a good model?

• Communicating through appropriate channels
• Lowering the costs of participation
• Broadening the reach of environmental justice
  processes

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