INFORMATION POLICY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPHERE IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE AND THE EU

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a legal mechanism for ensuring the right to access environmental information to ensure sustainable development of society. In the context of our study we developed an understanding of information human rights - the right to collect, disseminate, use and preserve environmental information is fundamental and natural.
We understand information human rights as a group of rights with a center around freedom of information, the right to environmental information, the right to communication in environmental sphere, the right to access to environmental information that is public or socially significant, the right to privacy, and the protection of personal data.
In the EU, access to environmental information is regulated by Directive 2003/4/EC (Aarhus Convention, 1998). Citizens of the EU have the right to receive this information within one month from the moment they ask and not to mention why they need it. In addition, public authorities are required to actively disseminate information on environmental information at their disposal.
In Ukraine defined system of a jurisdiction whose collection includes different types of environmental information and formation of information on environmental policy. But the issue of public administration in the field of environmental protection is currently split between different executive bodies; there is no united information policy and the body responsible for it. There is no obligation for the authorities to inform the population even in crisis situations.
This study will form the legal framework to ensure the right of access to environmental information in Ukraine by introducing the position of Information Commissioner - an official, the competence of which includes monitoring of compliance of information law with information policy in the environmental field.

Keywords: environmental information, information human rights, Information Commissioner, sustainable development

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.218