The Task Force discussed effective provision of information in case of an imminent threat to human health and the environment, the use of modern technologies by the public and the update of the Recommendations on electronic information tools (see more details on the ongoing consultation). The Task Force participants exchanged case studies and good practices and discussed recent and upcoming developments focusing on active dissemination of environmental information.

The Task Force took stock of recent and upcoming developments with regard to public access to information related to: emissions; the application of restrictions on access to information; and the protection of whistle-blowers and other persons exercising their rights in conformity with the provisions of the Aarhus Convention.

Reference to the outcomes and conclusions of the Joint UNECE-EEA Workshop on Open Data for the Environment was made on a number of occasions during the Arhus Convention Task Force on 3-4 October and included in the recommendations for the future work.

Meeting was attended by:

• European Commission (DG Environment)
• UNEP, UNECE, Group on Earth Observations (Global Environment Outlook -GEO6), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
• 12 EU Member States (AT, BE, CH, CR, ES, FR, IR, LA, MT, NO, PL, SK)
• 4 West Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia)
• ENI East countries, 4 Central Asia countries (TJ, KG, KZ, UZ), and Mongolia
• NGO – Ecoropa, European ECO Forum, Earthjustice,  Arnika-Citizens Support Centre from Czech Republic
• Academia - Osaka University
• Other international organisations such as European Investment Bank (EIB)

 Key outcomes

• The Task Force noted the importance of addressing the use of modern digital technologies and the provision of environmental information by the public (e.g. Citizen Science, local and traditional knowledge, other citizen engagement initiatives) in the updated Recommendations on electronic information tools;
• The Task Force suggested addressing the outcomes of the UNECE – EEA workshop on Open Data for the Environment (Geneva, 2 October 2019), other relevant activities related to SEIS in the pan-European region and the EU Environmental Information Systems (EIS) project in the updated Recommendations on electronic information tools;
• The Task Force  suggested addressing recent developments regarding the reporting on the state of the environment, electronic public records, the use of Copernicus and other Earth Observation systems, big data, health-related information, in the updated Recommendations on electronic information tools;
• The Task Force expressed its appreciation to Parties, partner organizations and stakeholders for submitting case studies on electronic information tools and drafting proposals as reported in information document 3 (AC/TF.AI-6/Inf.3).

EEA contributed with general recommendations and comments sent in advanced on the document “Update of the Recommendations on electronic information tools” and submitted one Case study on Reportnet 3.0.

Agenda | Key outcomes | Press release from UNECE