CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 19 December 2024

Closing date: 7 February 2025

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Consultation on the of the Aarhus Convention National Implementation Report 2025

Ministry: Ministry for Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness (MEEC)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

1. Background

The Aarhus Convention, formally known as the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, is an international treaty adopted on the 25^th of June 1998 in Aarhus, Denmark. It is a legally binding agreement under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and its primary aim is to promote transparency, accountability, and public participation in environmental matters.

The Convention establishes three core rights for the public:

• • • Access to Information: The right of the public to access environmental information held by public authorities.
    • Public Participation: The right of the public to participate in decision-making processes that affect the environment, particularly in relation to certain activities like public projects and policies.
    • Access to Justice: The right of individuals and groups to challenge public decisions that have been made without complying with environmental laws or regulations.

The Aarhus Convention has been signed by over 40 countries, mostly in Europe, and has been instrumental in advancing environmental democracy. It has also influenced the development of environmental laws and policies in both Europe and beyond. The Convention emphasizes that a well-informed public is essential for effective environmental protection and sustainable development.

The Aarhus Convention establishes a number of rights for the public (individuals and their associations) with regard to the environment. The Parties to the Aarhus Convention are required to make the necessary provisions so that public authorities (at national, regional or local level) contribute to these rights becoming effective. As part of its obligations as a Party to the Convention, Malta is required to submit a national implementation report for the period July 2020 – June 2024

 

2. Consultation

Article 10 of the Aarhus Convention requires the Meeting of the Parties to keep the implementation of the Convention under continuous review through regular reporting by the Parties. National Reports are required to be prepared through a transparent and consultative process involving the public. To this end, Parties are required to review their earlier report (submitted in 2021) and submit an updated version.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is holding a public consultation to seek the public’s input on what type of information the public would like the Authority to include in the 2025 National Implementation Report on the Aarhus Convention, including any issues which they would like to be reflected in the report.

ERA welcomes any feedback on this reporting process and on any issues which may be reflected in the Report. ERA shall be taking note of the feedback received relative to the Aarhus Convention and shall include any relevant information in the draft report which will then be issued for public consultation.

Previous Aarhus Convention National Implementation Reports submitted by Malta are available from the Aarhus Online Reporting Tool.

 

3. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected].

 

4. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.