Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) as tools to access environmental information May 2013

What is a PRTR? 2 Central database Storage + management + validation of data Data dissemination

Benefits of a PRTR 3 GOVERNMENT Increases efficiency and capacities

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Benefits of a PRTR 5 GOVERNMENT Increases efficiency and capacities CIVIL SOCIETY Empowers

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Benefits of a PRTR 7 GOVERNMENT Increases efficiency and capacities CIVIL SOCIETY Empowers INDUSTRY Involves

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Benefits of a PRTR Reporting by priority productive activities such as: Energy sector Production and processing of metals Mineral industry Chemical industry Waste and waste-water management Paper and timber production and processing Intensive livestock production and aquaculture Animal and vegetable products from the food and beverage sector 9

PRTR international context UN Conference on Environment and Development Rio Declaration, Principle 10 Chapter 19, Agenda 21 Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation and Decision- Making enters into force World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation SAICM Global Plan of Action PRTR Protocol enters into force * OECD Task Force on PRTRs (2002) * PRTR International Coordinating Group (2005) 2009

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12 PRTR Capacity-building - UNITAR ASIALATIN AMERICA EASTERN EUROPE Cambodia Ecuador Panama Central America Georgia Kazakhstan Ukraine Peru Azerbaijan Mongolia

Establishment of PRTRs under FOI 13

At international level: Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters Article 5 obliges Governments to provide for: Immediate dissemination of information in cases of imminent threat to health and environment State of environment reports Pollutants releases and transfers (“to establish progressively a coherent national system of pollution inventories or registers on a computerized and publicly accesible database”) PRTR Protocol 14 Legal basis for a PRTR and FOI

“This Regulation establishes an integrated pollutant release and transfer register at Community level in the form of a publicly accessible electronic database and lays down rules for its functioning, in order to implement the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers and facilitate public participation in environmental decision-making, as well as contributing to the prevention and reduction of pollution of the environment”. “Access to information provided by the European PRTR should be unrestricted and exceptions from this rule should only be possible where explicitly granted by existing Community Legislation”. 15 Some examples - legal basis for a PRTR European Union

“The Swiss Federal Council, based on Article 46 paragraph2 of the Federal Act of 7 October 1983 on the Protection of the Environment (EPA), ordains: …This Ordinance is intended to guarantee public access to information on pollutant release and the transfer of waste and of pollutants in waste water by means of a register.” “Access, in particular via the internet, to information contained in the PRTR shall be guaranteed for a minimum of then years from the date of its electronic publication, in particular on the internet.” 16 Switzerland Some examples - legal basis for a PRTR

“A database to be known as the National Pollutant Inventory will be established to: (a)Provide information to enhance and facilitate policy formulation and decision making for environmental planning and management; (b)Provide publicly accesible and available information, on a geographic basis, about specified emissions to the environment, including those of a hazardous nature or involving significant impact; and (c)Promote and assist with the facilitation of waste minimisation and cleaner production programmes for industry, government and the community.” 17 Australia Some examples - legal basis for a PRTR

“The Minister shall: …publish, arrange for the publication of or distribute through an information clearinghouse: (i) information respecting pollution prevention, (i) pertinent information in respect of all aspects of environmental quality, and (ii) a periodic report on the state of the Canadian environment.” 18 Canada Some examples - legal basis for a PRTR

Presenting data 19

Database with “search” option 20 *Source: CEC Taking Stock,

Database with “search” option 21 Selection by year Selection by facility Selection by location Selection by activity *Source: Swiss PRTR,

Database with “search” option 22 *Source: Swiss PRTR,

Geographic Information System (GIS) 23 *Source: Swiss PRTR,

Geographic Information System (GIS) 24 *Source: Swiss PRTR,

Geographic Information System (GIS) 25 *Source: CEC Taking Stock,

Trend graphs 26 *Source: Norweigan PRTR,

Trend graphs 27 *Source: Spanish PRTR,

Ranking 28 *Source: CEC Taking Stock,

29 UNITAR PRTR design/implementation package Updated guidance document New guidance on legal consdierations Online reporting model PRTR:Learn ENGLISH, RUSSIAN, SPANISH 2013

Thank you for your attention! More information and links to existent PRTRs in different countries can be found in