Environmental Compliance and Enforcement: Access to Information Asia Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Forum Beijing, People’s Republic of China December 14, 2007

Benefits of Access to Information Raises public awareness of environmental risks and non-risks Creates incentives for compliance and increases accountability for non-compliance Creates political will for making difficult decisions Leads to environmental actions and improved performance

Principles for Access to Information Open access promotes open government (e.g. establish public trust) Maximize disclosure and limit exceptions (e.g. propriety information) Minimize impediments to access (e.g. cost, venue, and timing)

Principles for Access to Information Need to know means need to understand (e.g. make information easy for public to understand) Need to know applies to regulators (e.g. provide training on rules and procedures)

Forms of Access to Information Public Disclosure Programs Right to Know Legislation Self Monitoring, Reporting & Record Keeping Power of the Media

Regional Models of Access to Information PROPER Program (Indonesia) Government Information Disclosure Regulations (China) Quantitative Risk Assessment (Singapore) Right to Information Act (India)

India Right to Information Act Covers any public authority – national and state governments, or institutions established or financed by government Applies to almost all information, including contracts, receipts, and samples of materials Includes right to inspect any work carried out by a public authority Imposes penalty for failure to meet specified timelines

Access to Information Maxim “The new source of power is not money in the hands of the few, but information in the hands of many.” W.W. Rostow