What is in Aarhus’ backyard Dr. Sándor Fülöp, Csaba Sándor Environmental Management and Law Association Comissioned by UNEP/GRID Arendal Dr. Sándor Fülöp, Csaba Sándor Environmental Management and Law Association Comissioned by UNEP/GRID Arendal

The task or question…  How existing backyard projects and the backyard concept as a whole helps to fulfil the Aarhus Convention and the PRTR Protocol?

Backyard projects?  One way to disseminate relevant, understandable information to the public  Features:  Internet access  Location based search  Integrated approach (environmental elements, horizontal issues)  Target group is the affected general public  Pollution information as core  Extensive metadata and supporting information  One way to disseminate relevant, understandable information to the public  Features:  Internet access  Location based search  Integrated approach (environmental elements, horizontal issues)  Target group is the affected general public  Pollution information as core  Extensive metadata and supporting information

The paper  14 topics (quasi indicators) developed, based on the Aarhus Convention and the PRTR Protocol (and guidance manuals)  6 case studies compared evaluated by topics  Conclusions and recommendations  14 topics (quasi indicators) developed, based on the Aarhus Convention and the PRTR Protocol (and guidance manuals)  6 case studies compared evaluated by topics  Conclusions and recommendations

The paper  Goal: The objective of this study is to compare the features of information systems to the goals and provisions of the Aarhus Convention and its PRTR Protocol and see which of them can be fulfilled by such systems in place.  Focus on dissemination not on collection or processing.  Translating legal texts to potential „backyard” features  Goal: The objective of this study is to compare the features of information systems to the goals and provisions of the Aarhus Convention and its PRTR Protocol and see which of them can be fulfilled by such systems in place.  Focus on dissemination not on collection or processing.  Translating legal texts to potential „backyard” features

14 topics  Assistance in asserting right to healthy environment  Communication forms and channels  Data quality issues, metadata  Explanatory, supporting material (legislation, policies, plans, programmes, procedures, use of system)  Assistance in asserting right to healthy environment  Communication forms and channels  Data quality issues, metadata  Explanatory, supporting material (legislation, policies, plans, programmes, procedures, use of system)

14 topics  Information on pollution releases and transfers (as a special case of pressures)  Information on other pressures (physical, administrative)  Information on state of the environment  Integrated approach  Information on pollution releases and transfers (as a special case of pressures)  Information on other pressures (physical, administrative)  Information on state of the environment  Integrated approach

14 topics  International relations (links, capacity building, cooperation)  Product information  Public Participation opportunities in the system including procedure, information on the subject, opportunity to comment, final decision.  System design issues.  International relations (links, capacity building, cooperation)  Product information  Public Participation opportunities in the system including procedure, information on the subject, opportunity to comment, final decision.  System design issues.

14 topics  User access procedures  Uses of the system: awareness, education, emergencies  User access procedures  Uses of the system: awareness, education, emergencies

The TABLE  Reference (Art. Para. Subpara)  Text  Potential feature fulfilling the provision  Reference (Art. Para. Subpara)  Text  Potential feature fulfilling the provision

Cases  US Scorecard (  EPER website (  UK Backyard site: ( agency.gov.uk/maps/)  Netherlands PER website (  Hungary, official EPER website (  Hungary, EMLA EPER website (  US Scorecard (  EPER website (  UK Backyard site: ( agency.gov.uk/maps/)  Netherlands PER website (  Hungary, official EPER website (  Hungary, EMLA EPER website (

Cases  Description of features  Evaluation of topics  Description of features  Evaluation of topics

Conclusions on cases  Systems focusing on PRTR data, real WIYBY  Extensive guidance, help, supporting information, cross-links  No health information, except  Great possibilities in improving PP features. Interactivity.  Systems focusing on PRTR data, real WIYBY  Extensive guidance, help, supporting information, cross-links  No health information, except  Great possibilities in improving PP features. Interactivity.

Ideal wiyby project (info content - pressures)  Pollutant releases and transfers at minimum on a level required by the PRTR protocol (emissions, transfers, all media, yearly reporting, diffuse sources, amount identifiable, facilities identifiable, pollutant or waste specific) (2.5) (2.8)  Physical pressures other than pollution: resource use: energy- water-land, disturbance, landscape degradation, GMO, product information, radiation (2.6) (2.8) (2.10)  Information on administrative pressures and responses: plans, policies, programmes, legislation, agreements in force. (2.4) (2.6) (2.11)  Evaluation of the above: performance, compliance, trends, progress, priorities (2.1) (2.4) (2.11)  Pollutant releases and transfers at minimum on a level required by the PRTR protocol (emissions, transfers, all media, yearly reporting, diffuse sources, amount identifiable, facilities identifiable, pollutant or waste specific) (2.5) (2.8)  Physical pressures other than pollution: resource use: energy- water-land, disturbance, landscape degradation, GMO, product information, radiation (2.6) (2.8) (2.10)  Information on administrative pressures and responses: plans, policies, programmes, legislation, agreements in force. (2.4) (2.6) (2.11)  Evaluation of the above: performance, compliance, trends, progress, priorities (2.1) (2.4) (2.11)

Ideal wiyby project (info content - state of the environment)  State of the environment: air, atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape, natural sites, biodiversity, GMOs (2.7) (2.8)  Evaluation of the above: performance, compliance, trends, progress, priorities (2.1)  State of the environment: air, atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape, natural sites, biodiversity, GMOs (2.7) (2.8)  Evaluation of the above: performance, compliance, trends, progress, priorities (2.1)

Ideal wiyby project (info content - background information)  Authorities holding the information, public functions, services, contacts (2.1)(2.3)(2.4)  Data quality and metadata (completeness, consistence, timeliness, updating, accuracy, gathering methods) (2.3) (2.4)  Terms and conditions of use of the information obtained (2.3) (2.4)  Terms and conditions of dealing with submitted personal information (2.1)  Glossary of frequently used terms (2.1) (2.4)  Authorities holding the information, public functions, services, contacts (2.1)(2.3)(2.4)  Data quality and metadata (completeness, consistence, timeliness, updating, accuracy, gathering methods) (2.3) (2.4)  Terms and conditions of use of the information obtained (2.3) (2.4)  Terms and conditions of dealing with submitted personal information (2.1)  Glossary of frequently used terms (2.1) (2.4)

Ideal wiyby project (info content - background information)  Help on using the system (2.1) (2.4) (2.12)  Charges might be applicable (2.1) (2.4)  Health, hazard, risk information on pressures (2.1) (2.4)(2.8)  Demographic, economic, product etc. information or links to such (2.8) (2.10)  Other (offline) communication channels (2.1) (2.2) (2.4) (2.8)  Links to other national and international WIYBY sites (2.9)  Procedures of public participation (2.11)  Help on using the system (2.1) (2.4) (2.12)  Charges might be applicable (2.1) (2.4)  Health, hazard, risk information on pressures (2.1) (2.4)(2.8)  Demographic, economic, product etc. information or links to such (2.8) (2.10)  Other (offline) communication channels (2.1) (2.2) (2.4) (2.8)  Links to other national and international WIYBY sites (2.9)  Procedures of public participation (2.11)

Ideal wiyby project (services - Finding and analysing information)  Free text search (2.1)  Overlay, aggregate and rearrange information (2.1) (2.8) (2.13)  Preset and custom queries to the database (2.1)  Transform and analyse raw information: environmental modelling, calculations like hazard, exposure, risk (2.1)  Free text search (2.1)  Overlay, aggregate and rearrange information (2.1) (2.8) (2.13)  Preset and custom queries to the database (2.1)  Transform and analyse raw information: environmental modelling, calculations like hazard, exposure, risk (2.1)

Ideal wiyby project (services - Support for public participation)  Submit general comments, notifications (2.11)  Contact key officials (2.11)  Comment on draft plans, policies, programmes, legislation (2.11)  Comment in individual permitting processes (2.11)  Virtual community discussion fora on the above (2.11)  Active invitation of potentially interested stakeholders to the processes (2.11)  Information on the outcome of PP, reasoning and the decision (2.11)  Submit general comments, notifications (2.11)  Contact key officials (2.11)  Comment on draft plans, policies, programmes, legislation (2.11)  Comment in individual permitting processes (2.11)  Virtual community discussion fora on the above (2.11)  Active invitation of potentially interested stakeholders to the processes (2.11)  Information on the outcome of PP, reasoning and the decision (2.11)

Ideal wiyby project (System design, horizontal issues)  Electronic information systems available on the Internet and offline (2.2) (2.12)  Present information related to a certain geographical object (point, line, area) (2.12)  Use of “push” technologies for active dissemination: newsletters, alert, notifications, newsfeeds (2.2) (2.12)  Toolkits for effectively using the information for various purposes: awareness raising, education, community monitoring, research, emergency preparedness etc. (2.12) (2.14)  Information available on different geographical scales where applicable: neighbourhood, municipality, county, region, national level. (2.12)  Use of GIS and mapping tools in visualization and analysis (2.12)  Electronic information systems available on the Internet and offline (2.2) (2.12)  Present information related to a certain geographical object (point, line, area) (2.12)  Use of “push” technologies for active dissemination: newsletters, alert, notifications, newsfeeds (2.2) (2.12)  Toolkits for effectively using the information for various purposes: awareness raising, education, community monitoring, research, emergency preparedness etc. (2.12) (2.14)  Information available on different geographical scales where applicable: neighbourhood, municipality, county, region, national level. (2.12)  Use of GIS and mapping tools in visualization and analysis (2.12)

Ideal wiyby project (System design, horizontal issues)  User interface design adjusted to information content and target groups (2.12)  Diverse form of information to help better understanding: documents, videos, audio recordings, files, tables etc. (2.1) (2.13)  Promotion of the system necessary to different audiences (2.4) (2.12)  Share expertise and experience, provide capacity building and training for the less developed (2.9) (2.12)  Take future expansions into account (2.12)  Plan user access categories and levels of service based on target groups (2.13) (2.14)  Require personal information where absolutely necessary (2.1) (2.13)  User interface design adjusted to information content and target groups (2.12)  Diverse form of information to help better understanding: documents, videos, audio recordings, files, tables etc. (2.1) (2.13)  Promotion of the system necessary to different audiences (2.4) (2.12)  Share expertise and experience, provide capacity building and training for the less developed (2.9) (2.12)  Take future expansions into account (2.12)  Plan user access categories and levels of service based on target groups (2.13) (2.14)  Require personal information where absolutely necessary (2.1) (2.13)

Further analysis  Analyse impact of WIYBY projects:  Webstat  User profiles  Survey  Analyse impact of WIYBY projects:  Webstat  User profiles  Survey