Dr Sean Whittaker

Published by Cambridge University Press, The Right of Access to Environmental Information highlights how the law enables individuals to seek environmental information from public authorities in England, the United States and China.

The ability to access such information is important in order to ensure that governments are making efforts to protect the environment, as well as enabling individuals to participate in environmental decision-making processes.  

Throughout, the book examines the influence of the Aarhus Convention, an international treaty which is perceived as the most influential instrument in this area of law. While the convention is perceived as shaping how states view the right to access environmental information, in reality it has only influenced how states design the formal procedures used to guarantee the right. Different states view the right in different ways, with some states undermining the right’s environmental aims.  

Ultimately, the book is about how people can hold public authorities to account in relation to environmental matters. It shows how different countries view the role of the public in protecting the environment – in turn touching on whether our current efforts are enough in light of the issues raised by climate change and global environmental degradation. 

The Right of Access to Environmental Information is available from Cambridge University Press.