This paper addresses the public participation in environmental decision-making as environmental human rights, devoting most the discussion to the Aarhus Convention, which was concluded in 1998 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Publ...
This paper addresses the public participation in environmental decision-making as environmental human rights, devoting most the discussion to the Aarhus Convention, which was concluded in 1998 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Public participation in decision-making is the second pillar of the Convention, which is found in articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Convention.
Article 6 concerns public participation in decision-making by public authorites on whether to permit or license specific activities.
Article 7 covers public participation with respect to plans, programmes and policies.
Articel 8 sets out the public participation during the preparation of executive regulations and/or generally applicable legally binding normative instruments.
The following categories of public participation are especially in this paper pointed out;-The public must be informed, early in the environmental decision-making procedure- The procedural time-frames must allow for genuine public participation.
- The final decision to authorise the activity must take due account of the outcome of the public participation.
- The public must take part in the procedures concerning plans, programmes and policies relating to the Environment.
- Public participation must be ensured also in the preparation of environmental policies as well as standards and legislation that may have a significant effect on the environment.
Finally, the paper compare current Korean Administratve Procedure Act with emerging international trends such as the Arhus Convention.