The Role Of Public Participation And Environmnetal Activism In Environmental Governance In Latvia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2011vol2.994Keywords:
environmental activism, environmental governance, non-governmental organisations, public participationAbstract
The paper discusses engagement of non-governmental organisations and activist groups in environmental governance in Latvia. The research is based on desk research, a number of case studies and action research. Author attempts to analyse to what extent environmental NGOs and groups of activists have contributed to environmental governance and what role public participation plays in that. Author concludes that identification of problematic issues and policy planning are those stages where public participation and activism in environmental governance plays most crucial role. Contrary to common public believe about informal groups and environmental activism only attempting to oppose any proposed projects or new developments, these groups can and do play and important role in environmental governance. Author also concludes that institutional system that supports public participation is crucial in facilitating public involvement in environmental governance. Author also suggests that participatory environmental governance can better meet challenges of sustainability.Downloads
References
Davidson, D.J., Frickel S. Understanding Environmental Governance: A Critical Review. Organization Environment 2004 17, p.471-492
Carmin, J. NGO capacity and environmental governance in Central and Eastern Europe. Acta Politica, Volume 45, 1/2, p.183-202
Young, O.R.. Natural Resources and the state: The political economy of resource management. University of California Press, 1981
Gramberger, M. Citizens as Partners. OECD Handbook on Information, Consultation and Public Participation in Policy-Making. 2001, p.166
Philips S. NGO's crowd out government in Haiti. Newsworks, February 10, 2011. Available at: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/12754-ngos-crowd-out-government-in-haiti
Lursoft data base of societies and foundations (viewed on March 1, 2011). Available at: http://www.lursoft.lv/lursoft-statistika/Sabiedrisko-organizaciju-to-apvienibu-biedribu-un-nodibinajumusadalijums-pa-veidiem&id=66
Civic Alliance – Latvia. Public participation. Available at: http://www.nvo.lv/recourse. php?lang=en&id=569
The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. (Passed by the Parliament of Latvia on 18 April 2002). Aarhus, 1998
Aarhus Convention III National Implementation Report. Ministry of Environment and Regional Development, January 2011
Indriksone, A. Nevalstiskās organizācijas – pašvaldību partneri attīstības plānošanā. Sabiedriskās politikas centrs PROVIDUS. 2003, p. 93 (in Latvian)
State Chancellery. Opportunities for Public involvement in the Policy-making Process. Available t: http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/sabiedribas-lidzdaliba/sabiedribas-lidzdaliba/
Jamison, A. The making of the new environmental consciousness: a comparative study of environmental movements in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. Edinburgh University Press. 1990, p.216
Environmental Protection Law, 2006 (with amendments)
