Access to PRTR data and its dissemination, data ......Access to PRTR data and its dissemination,...
Transcript of Access to PRTR data and its dissemination, data ......Access to PRTR data and its dissemination,...
Access to PRTR data and its
dissemination, data presentation
including capacity building for
data usage and public awareness
Get your right to a healthy community
2nd Sub-regional workshop on the Protocol on PRTRs for countries in EECCA region, Minsk, Sept.19-21, 2016
Magda Tóth Nagy, REC Project Consultant
www.rec.org
Content
• Access to PRTR information and data and its
dissemination
• Achievements and challenges in implementation
• Information provision – Data presentation on PRTR
• Challenges in implementation
• What is needed
• Public awareness raising, capacity building, guidance
• Examples
• Lessons learned
www.rec.org
Access to PRTR data and its dissemination
PRTRs are Right to Know instruments
• Key features:
• regular information to the public on pollutants, releases and
transfers
• in electronic format - directly or provide info in any other effective
ways
• electronic access should be facilitated – accessible locations
• access to register free of charge
• confidentiality – public interest
• promote public awareness of the PRTR
• assistance and guidance in accessing the register and in
understanding and using the information contained in it
• capacity building
www.rec.org
Achievements in implementation
Experience based on projects implemented in SEE, EU and some
EECCA countries*
• Some countries have PRTR, some others make progress/efforts (Serbia, FYR Macedonia, - Albania, BiH, MN and Moldova)
• Few have operational systems and provide PRTR data regularly
• Having or developing
• online reporting tools, database/s and web-based presentation of
PRTR data
• specific websites for PRTR info with improved content of data
availability, searchability, information and presentation
• Examples: Serbia http://prtr.sepa.gov.rs/
FYR of Macedonia http://prtr.moepp.gov.mk/npgsql.aspx
http://prtr.moepp.gov.mk/Downloads/RIPZ-Upatstvo.pdf
• Few countries engaged in developing comprehensive
environmental information systems, integrating PRTRs. *Project Support Establishment and Advancement of PRTRs in Western Balkan c. and Moldova
www.rec.org
Example Macedonian PRTR website
www.rec.org
Challenges in implementation in SEE
and Moldova
• Lack of regular availability of PRTR data
• Efforts for PRTR reporting but limited scope or no PRTR reporting
• Media specific reporting not covering all media
• No complex environmental information systems and lack compatibility
among different reporting systems, methods of data collection
• Lack of accessibility of data; no web-based presentation or need
improvements in content and data presentation
• Building PRTRs on project basis, difficulty of
continuity of efforts
• Lack of regular financial resources allocated
for further development, maintenance and
update of PRTRs
www.rec.org
Information provision – Data presentation
on PRTR
• WHAT? • Data and information on PRTR
• Including technical data and information on individual facilities, media
and substance specific data, on sectors, trends, analyses, etc.
• Information on context of PRTR - legal and policy documents, benefits of
PRTR, studies, info on impacts of pollution, pollution prevention
measures, etc.
• Information enabling public participation in PRTR decision-
making
• Information on proposed measures to develop PRTRs or on significant
changes
• On opportunities to comment, outcomes of PP and on decisions and its
considerations
• HOW? • in an easily accessible way and format
• easily understandable format - technical information
www.rec.org
Challenges in implementation
• FOR WHOM?
• Public/citizens
• NGOs
• Authorities
• Operators
• Other stakeholders, professionals
• Different needs – different approaches of information
provision and data presentation needed in targeted way
• Bridging gap between technical information and easily
understandable information
www.rec.org
Challenges in implementation
• What info citizens would like to see • Information on what affects them directly e.g. what is the impact of the
pollution on their health, environment, nature, etc. ,
• What is happening in their community, how polluting activities can be
stopped
• Need data/info to be put in context
• NGOs need broader scope of info • for taking actions, campaigning, being involved
in decision-making on PRTR or environmental
policy measures, pollution prevention and
reduction activities, etc.
• Operators look for guidance on details of reporting procedure, assistance
• Professionals, students need analyses and background materials for
research, study, etc.
www.rec.org
Information provision – Data presentation
on PRTR: What is needed
• How to learn about needs? • Regular dialogue or surveying of needs of target groups
• Involvement of CSOs and representatives of operators, other
stakeholders
• Joint activities/projects with involvement of CSOs and operators
• Seminar with CSOs on how to make the PRTR web site/data
presentation more user-friendly in presence of competent
authority
• Example:
Dialogue and involvement of representatives of NGOs and
operators in developing and implementing Strategy and Action Plan
on PRTR development and operation (Macedonia and Moldova)
• http://prtr.moepp.gov.mk/Downloads/PRTR-national-strategy-draft.pdf
www.rec.org
Public awareness raising, capacity
building, guidance • Awareness raising for general public, CSOs and operators
• Example: CSO brochure in FYR of Macedonia giving useful tools and
ideas on what role CSOs can play, how they can access and use PRTR
data and get involved in PRTR development and operation
• Promotion of the PRTR, demonstrating what benefits PRTR can bring
(leaflets, web site, links with other environmental processes and sustainable
development, SDGs, launching event and media coverage, etc.)
• Guidance and awareness raising materials for authorities and
operators to promote PRTR, demonstrate benefits, roles and obligations
and assist in fulling them
• Trainings and workshops incl. aspects of
data accessibility/usage and presentation for
authorities, operators and CSOs
Example: Trainings for CSOs SEE, Moldova
www.rec.org
Some lessons learned
• Key is to have PRTR data and information available on the
register
• Link between the online reporting tools, databases and web
based presentation of data should be promoted
• Learning about needs of public and CSOs, operators and other
stakeholders, regular dialogue, and involving them in looking
for proper solutions on what info and how should be given
• Strategic approach beyond project considerations to be
followed incl. planning and human and financial resources for
PRTR
• International assistance providing solutions and good practices
usable and accessible for all countries.
www.rec.org
Further information and contacts
Raisa Gerasina
REC, Project Manager
Project webpage:
http://aarhus.rec.org/prtr
PRTR Protocol and other related
websites:
Magda Tóth Nagy
REC, Senior Adviser, Project
Consultant
mtothnagy@teammembers.
rec.org
www.unece.org/env/pp;
www.prtr.net;
http://prtr.ec.europa.eu