AARHUS CENTRES INITIATIVE

1. AARHUS CENTRES INITIATIVE Esra Buttanri Environmental Officer Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities OSCE Vienna

2. OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security • Three dimensions of security • Politico-military • Economic and environmental • Human dimension

3. Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities To contribute to strengthening of security and stability in the OSCE region by promoting international co-operation on economic and environmental issues.

4. Main instrument • The OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum since 1993…. 2010 - Promoting good governance at border crossings, improving the security of land transportation and facilitating international transport by road and rail in the OSCE region".

5. Annual Economic and Environment Forum 2007 “Key challenges to ensure environmental security and sustainable development in the OSCE area: Land degradation, soil contamination and water management” 2008 “Maritime and inland waterways co-operation in the OSCE area: Increasing security and protecting the environment” 2009 “Migration management and its linkages with economic, social and environmental policies to the benefit of stability and security in the OSCE region”

6. Priorities for 2010 Good Governance (fighting corruption, combating money laundering) Economic activities (migration management) Energy security (dialogue and co-operation) Environment and security

7. Aarhus Convention • “ ….. The adoption of the Aarhus Convention was a giant step forward in the development of international law in this field. ….Although regional in scope, the significance of the Aarhus Convention is global. It is by far the most impressive elaboration of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration…. As such, it is the most ambitious venture in the area of “environmental democracy” so far undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations.” • Kofi Annan • Former Secretary General of United Nations

8. The OSCE and Aarhus Convention • A unique tool for the OSCE to support environmental governance processes at national and local levels which in turn contribute to the countries’ efforts in addressing environment and security challenges. • The OSCE through its Secretariat in Vienna and its several field operations has been promoting the Aarhus Convention principles at local, national and international levels in close co-operation with the UNECE Aarhus Convention Secretariat and the Aarhus Convention National Focal Points appointed by the respective governments.

9. The OSCE and Aarhus Centres • Since 2002, the OSCE has been supporting the establishment and functioning of Aarhus Centres and Public Environmental Information Centres in several countries of Central Asia, South Caucasus and South Eastern Europe. • These Centres: • Open-up channels of communication between members of the public and government • Provide a stage for the public to take an active role in environmental decision-making. • “The Aarhus Centres are a bridge between good intentions and concrete results” • Mr. Marek Belka, former UNECE Executive Secretary

10. Aarhus Centres - Locations AARHUS CENTRES Platforms for • The OSCE currently supports 28 Aarhus Centers in • Albania (3) • Armenia (15) • Azerbaijan (3) • Belarus (1) • Georgia (1) • Kazakhstan (1) • Kyrgyzstan (1) • Tajikistan (3) • and Turkmenistan on the way… Co-operation Participation Partnership

11. Aarhus Centres - Mandate • To serve as a link between the government and NGOs in • the sphere of environmental policy-making and • implementation. • To provide platforms for coalition-building and • partnerships among NGOs in addressing environmental • issues. • More specifically: • Provide improved access to environmental information • Provide the platform and mechanisms for public • participation in decisions on activities, plans and • programmes, and legislation • Offer mechanisms for providing citizens with access to • review and challenge violations of environmental law.

12. Aarhus Centres - Activities • Access to information • Handle information requests to public authorities • Serve as a community access point and repository of national and local environmental information • Facilitate access to environmental information through various means • Maintain and updated website • Issue regular and thematic publications

13. Aarhus Centres - Activities • Public participation • Conduct trainings on facilitation skills • Promote practice of public participation in decision-making • Facilitate EIA processes by offering services for information dissemination and platforms for public participation • Assist public in obtaining information on decisions and informs public on EIA processes and results • Organize public hearings on planned projects, policies and legislation • Provide platform for participatory national and local environmental action planning

14. Aarhus Centres - Activities • Access to justice • Provide information and guidance to the public on court procedures • Establish and provide a database on court decisions in environmental matters • Organize training workshops for legal professionals • Facilitate or co-ordinate legal consultations to civil society organizations and individuals on environmental rights.

15. Aarhus Centres - Activities • Others • Facilitate public participation in national report preparations for the Aarhus Convention • Raise environmental awareness at all levels • Strengthen capacities of governmental and non-governmental organizations • Promote principles of other multilateral environmental agreements • Promote partnership among stakeholders

16. Aarhus Centres–Management and Guidance • Based on an agreement between the OSCE Field Operation and the Government (Ministry of Environment) • Guided by an Advisory Board that consists of representatives from government and NGOs • Independent Evaluation in 2008 • Aarhus Centres Road Map in 2009 • Aarhus Centre Guidelines in 2009 • Annual meetings of Aarhus Centre practitioners

17. Aarhus Centres – Funding • It is mostly through the ENVSEC initiative and other extra-budgetary funding mobilized by the OSCE as well as the resources of OSCE field missions

18. Environment and Security Initiative - ENVSEC Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC)

19. ENVSEC : Main Goal • To facilitate a framework for cooperation on environmental issues across borders and promote peace and stability through environmental cooperation and sustainable development • “Transforming Risks into Co-operation”

20. ENVSEC Implementation ENVSEC partnered with stakeholders from both governments and non-governmental entities to: Assess and map environmental problems that have the potential for threatening security; and Identify opportunities for co-operation Today ENVSEC operates in 20 countries from the Balkans to Central Asia and currently supporting over 50 projects with a total budget of EUR 25 million.

21. ENVSEC Regions

22. ENVSEC-South Eastern Europe • Launched in 2003 through national consultations and assessments • ENVSEC SEE regional consultation took place in Skopje in 2004 and endorsed the regional priorities. • Improve regional co-operation with regard to risk management and pollution hot spots • Achieve shared management of natural resources extending across borders.

23. ENVSEC-South Eastern Europe • Between 2003-2010, several projects on: • Assessment of pollution from mining hotspots • Creation of transboundary protected areas • Prevention of illegal logging • Facilitating access to environmental information and public participation

24. ENVSEC- Bosnia and Herzegovina • Mining hot spots assessment • Protection and management of mountain areas • Management of protected areas • Partnerships and capacity building for river basin management • Capacity building for multilateral environmental agreements • Support for implementation of Aarhus Convention

25. ENVSEC-South Eastern Europe2010-2012 Work Programme • Management and reduction of transboundary risks from hazardous activities (abandoned mines, tailing dams) • Management of shared natural resources (transboundary mountain protected areas, transboundary rivers) • Climate change adaptation for reducing security risks. • Strengthening regional cooperation on environmental governance through strengthening civil society

26. ENVSEC- Aarhus Initiative for the SEE • Goal: • To promote participatory mechanisms and partnerships among central and local public authorities, civil society organizations and business community for addressing environment and security challenges through supporting the implementation of Aarhus Convention and establishment and/or strengthening of Aarhus Centres • Target Groups: • Government agencies in charge of environmental issues, regional and local administrations, civil society and business.

27. Aarhus Initiative for the Bosnia and Herzegovina • Support to the governmental authorities in implementing its commitments under the Aarhus Convention. • Strengthen capacities of civil society organizations to ensure that they are strong partners to the government in environmental decision-making and implementation.

28. For more information Aarhus Centreshttp://www.osce.org/eea/13471.html Aarhus Conventionhttp://www.unece.org/env/pp/ THANK YOU! (esra.buttanri@osce.org)