Uncovering the Environment: The Use of Public Access to Environmental Information

本项目审查提供环境信息的政策是否成功地吸引了公众的参与并实现了预期的环境效益。对统计数据、调查问卷和访谈的分析将显示如何使用获取这一信息的权利。调查结果将置于其背景下，以了解获得信息是否对公众参与环境监管和实质性成果产生影响，获得公共当局掌握的信息的权利是近几十年来治理变革的一个主要特点。与此同时，还确立了公众获取环境信息的具体权利。除了更广泛的信息自由的原因之外，（寻求更大的公开性和透明度，加强监督和问责制，鼓励公众信任和参与政府程序），这是出于加强环境保护的愿望，“认识到在环境领域，改善获得信息和公众参与决策的机会，可提高决策的质量和执行情况，有助于提高公众对环境问题的认识，让公众有机会表达其关切，并使公共当局能够适当考虑这些关切”（《奥胡斯公约》）。在国际、欧盟和国家层面，有单独的法律确保获得环境信息的权利，这与更广泛的信息自由立法不同。此外，在联合王国，环境信息的重点是在公众可查阅的登记册上提供数据，而不仅仅是让公众有权对公共当局掌握的信息提出具体要求。该项目将通过审查获取环境信息的权利在实践中的运用情况以及在多大程度上实现了上述目标，来评估获取环境信息的影响。这将通过审查权利使用的规模和性质，研究谁在寻求信息，正在寻求什么样的信息，以及如何使用这些信息，并收集信息持有者、使用者和受影响者的经验，通过收集关于信息请求和关于主动传播的信息使用情况的数据，通过与掌握和获得信息的人以及受所获知识的运用影响的监管机构进行研究。该项目将集中在苏格兰，它提供了一个大的，多样的，但可管理的研究领域，研究人员有强大的合作与关键的公共机构和专业知识，把研究结果纳入更广泛的背景下的环境辩论，冲突和政策。这项研究将有利于那些关心环境问题和信息自由。公众（包括政治家、媒体和非政府组织）将更好地了解信息权的实际和潜在用途，并看到有效利用信息权影响和监督政府政策、程序和实质性决定的例子。掌握环境信息的公共当局将了解如何使用获取权，告知其处理请求的程序及其关于应主动公布哪些信息的政策。可以深入了解如何减轻满足法律的要求的负担，以及如何使治理过程更加高效和有效。对于苏格兰信息专员和负责监督公众获取信息的其他人来说，了解谁在寻求什么信息以及以何种方式使用信息，将使他们能够为公众和公共当局成员提供有针对性的建议和支持，以使所有相关方受益。

This project examines whether the policy of providing access to environmental information has successfully engaged the public and achieved the intended environmental benefits. Analysis of statistical data, questionnaires and interviews will show how the right to access this information is being used. The findings will be placed in their context to see whether access to information is making a difference to public participation and substantive outcomes in environmental regulation.The right to access information held by public authorities has been a major feature in changes to governance in recent decades. Parallel to this has been the establishment of a specific public right of access to environmental information. In addition to the reasons for wider freedom of information (seeking greater openness and transparency, increasing scrutiny and accountability, encouraging public trust and participation in governmental procedures) this has been driven by a desire to enhance environmental protection, "[r]ecognizing that, in the field of the environment, improved access to information and public participation in decision-making enhance the quality and the implementation of decisions, contribute to public awareness of environmental issues, give the public the opportunity to express its concerns and enable public authorities to take due account of such concerns" (Aarhus Convention). There are separate laws at international, EU and national levels ensuring the right of access to environmental information, distinct from wider freedom of information legislation. Moreover, for environmental information in the UK, emphasis was placed on making data available on publicly accessible registers rather than simply entitling members of the public to make specific requests for information held by public authorities. This project will evaluate the impact of access to environmental information by examining how the right of access is being used in practice and how far the objectives noted above are being satisfied. This will be achieved by examining the scale and nature of the use of the right, studying who is seeking information, what sort of information is being sought and what use is being made of it and gathering the experiences of those holding information, those using it and those affected by it. This will be achieved by gathering data on requests for information and on usage of the information which is proactively disseminated, through research with those holding and obtaining information, as well as with regulatory bodies affected by the deployment of the knowledge obtained. The project will focus on Scotland which provides a large, varied but manageable study area where the researchers have strong collaboration with the key public bodies and the expertise to put findings into the wider context of environmental debates, conflicts and policies.This research will benefit those concerned with environmental matters and freedom of information. Members of the public (including politicians, the media and NGOs) will gain a better understanding of the actual and potential use of information rights and see examples of their effective use to influence and scrutinise government, on policy, procedure and substantive decisions. Public authorities holding environmental information will gain an awareness of how the right of access is being used, informing their procedures for handling requests and their policies on what information should be published pro-actively. Insight can be gained into easing the burdens of fulfilling the legal requirements and how the governance processes can be made more efficient and effective. For the Scottish Information Commissioner and others charged with oversight of public access to information, the understanding of who is seeking what information and using it in what ways will enable them to tailor their advice and support, for members of the public and public authorities, in order to benefit all concerned.