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The document outlines how involving citizens in urban planning and investment decisions can lead to more innovative sustainable solutions and reduce inequalities. It describes various levels of participation—from informing to empowering—and provides examples of tools such as participatory budgeting, citizen juries, and digital platforms to enhance democratic processes in cities.

The document argues that Hungarian freshwater lakes, including Lake Balaton, Lake Fertő, Tata Old Lake, and Lake Velence, are facing irreversible environmental risks from state and private tourism investments. The NGOs claim that Hungarian national legislation has been used to streamline permitting processes and limit the ability of the public and NGOs to challenge harmful projects, potentially violating EU Habitats and EIA Directives. They specifically request an infringement procedure regarding a complaint about a 60-hectare tourism complex at Lake Fertő.

The study finds that government accountability in Peru's WASH sector is still under construction, with a lack of integrated mechanisms despite existing legal frameworks like DL 1280. While various multi-stakeholder platforms exist, they are fragmented and lack formal coordination with the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation (MVCS). The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact government-to-citizen accountability because such mechanisms were largely non-existent, though it did accelerate digital coordination. Additionally, there is low awareness among national experts regarding the SWA partnership and its Mutual Accountability Mechanism (MAM), with the government's commitments primarily tied to the National Sanitation Plan 2017-2021.

The report argues that emissions trading mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement risk undermining global mitigation ambition and causing human rights violations. It proposes three essential policy pillars—robust public participation, social and environmental safeguards, and independent grievance mechanisms—as prerequisites for any such framework. The document highlights failures in previous systems like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and provides examples of 'good policies' from development finance institutions to guide the UNFCCC in creating a rights-compliant rulebook.

The document analyzes the legal mechanisms for accessing justice in environmental matters within the EU, focusing on the Aarhus Convention and EU directives. It details the rights to access environmental information, public participation in decision-making, and the ability to challenge acts or omissions that affect the environment. The guide examines standing requirements for individuals and NGOs, the scope and standard of judicial review, and the necessity of effective remedies, including injunctive relief. It also addresses the specific challenges of challenging decisions made by EU institutions.

ClientEarth argues that the European Commission's Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy must strictly adhere to environmental laws and the Aarhus Convention to avoid litigation and ensure sustainability. The organization emphasizes the need for regional cooperation and the harmonization of EU rules regarding grid access and offshore hybrid assets to efficiently scale offshore wind capacity, which is expected to reach over 250GW by 2050.

The document asserts that CAP National Strategic Plans fall under the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, meaning Member States must conduct scoping, public consultation, and reporting regardless of whether the specific CAP SP Regulation has been formally adopted. It provides a legal framework for environmental NGOs to demand meaningful participation, including early access to draft plans and environmental reports, and the requirement that stakeholder opinions be integrated or justified if rejected.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies systemic barriers to public participation in US federal rulemaking, noting that industry interests often have disproportionate influence and that marginalized communities are frequently excluded. The document recommends earlier community involvement, the use of plain language, increased transparency regarding funding and meetings, and improvements to digital accessibility on platforms like regulations.gov.

This guide provides a comprehensive framework for governments to implement and improve legal requirements for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) in the large-scale mining sector. It details 20 key components of an integral legal framework, covering the entire mine life cycle from exploration to post-closure. The document emphasizes the importance of public participation, financial guarantees for mine closure, and the avoidance of legal stabilization clauses for environmental and social provisions to ensure sustainable development and reduce the risk of international investment disputes.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to mining governance, emphasizing the necessity of a robust legal framework for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP). It details the responsibilities of governments across five mining phases: prospecting, exploration, planning, construction/operation, and closure/post-mining transition. Key recommendations include ensuring legal consistency, mandating public participation and transparency, requiring financial guarantees for site restoration, and implementing strategic environmental assessments. The guide also provides practical tools for gap analysis and legal reform, while highlighting critical issues such as gender equality, indigenous rights, and the prevention of international investment disputes through clear, non-arbitrary regulatory processes.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) emphasizes that while solar geoengineering (SG) cannot substitute for emissions reductions, the potential for atmospheric experiments requires robust, transparent, and inclusive public engagement. The brief outlines the risks of SG, such as 'termination shock' and 'moral hazard,' and provides a framework for engagement levels—ranging from informing to empowering—to ensure that research is conducted with societal legitimacy and ethical oversight.

The document examines a citizen food assembly in York, UK, highlighting how participatory processes can drive sustainable food system changes, such as relocalising supply and reducing waste through 'food hubs'.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has written to Minister Gwede Mantashe seeking clarification on two draft determinations for new generation capacity. The CER questions whether the Minister has conducted or intends to conduct public participation as required for administrative actions affecting the public. Additionally, the CER seeks to determine if the proposed 1500 MW coal capacity allocation includes the 900 MW already appointed to 'preferred bidder' projects Thabametsi and Khanyisa, which would leave only 600 MW of new capacity available.

CIEL announced the temporary closure of its Washington, DC, and Geneva offices and the suspension of in-person meetings and travel due to COVID-19. Despite these operational changes, the organization committed to holding corporations and governments accountable for environmental destruction, protecting human rights in pandemic responses, ensuring future solutions avoid past problems, and maintaining the inclusion of marginalized communities in virtual spaces.

The document outlines a series of recommendations for the next U.S. president to reverse the effects of the Trump administration's 'unprecedented attacks on science'. It proposes concrete actions across six key areas: promoting science-based decision-making, strengthening scientific integrity, enforcing transparency, addressing conflicts of interest, safeguarding government scientists, and fostering public participation. Additionally, it suggests protecting democratic processes through campaign finance and voting rights reforms to reduce 'moneyed influence' in government. The author argues that failing to restore independent science risks increased pollution, poor emergency response, and threats to public health and safety.

The report examines several green energy initiatives across Africa, highlighting a recurring failure to conduct meaningful public consultation and respect land rights. Through case studies on green hydrogen in South Africa and Namibia, nuclear and geothermal power in Kenya, and wind energy in Kenya, the document demonstrates how 'green' labels are often used to bypass human rights standards. It concludes with recommendations for international financiers and states to mandate human rights targets and prioritize the rights of Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities in the Just Energy Transition.

The report details how the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) integrates climate change into its monitoring of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICRC). It analyzes the CRC's use of General Comments, State reporting procedures, and the communications procedure to hold States accountable for protecting children from climate harms. Key findings highlight a growing trend of climate-related recommendations, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and a strong emphasis on children's procedural rights to participation and education. The document also notes a landmark 2019 Joint Statement by five human rights treaty bodies asserting that failure to prevent foreseeable climate-related human rights harm could constitute a violation of State obligations.

The guide outlines a comprehensive legal framework for managing the environmental and social impacts of large-scale mining throughout its entire lifecycle. It identifies 20 essential components for a robust legal system, ranging from sustainable development commitments and public participation to financial guarantees for mine closure. The document provides a phased approach for government action—covering exploration, planning, construction, operation, and closure—and offers practical tools, such as gap analyses and checklists, to help governments improve their regulatory governance and avoid the social and environmental legacies of abandoned mines.

The report advocates for social-ecological transformations in Asian cities to meet global climate and development goals. It focuses on three key sectors: the built environment, transport, and public participation, arguing that environmental protection must be integrated with social justice to avoid further marginalizing vulnerable populations. The authors highlight that while Asian cities are major GHG emitters, their density offers opportunities for efficiency. The report emphasizes the need for nature-based solutions, active transport, and inclusive governance, while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has both exposed urban inequalities and provided a catalyst for rethinking unsustainable consumption and urban design.

The document serves as a guide for the public, NGOs, and legal professionals on how to exercise the right to environmental justice in Slovakia. It details the three pillars of environmental democracy—access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice—explaining how these are implemented through the Aarhus Convention and EU directives. The manual specifically outlines Slovak national laws, such as the Administrative Court Procedure Act, and provides practical instructions on filing lawsuits, appealing decisions, and utilizing international remedies like complaints to the European Commission.