The seminar entitled "Prospectives of ratification Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers Protocol and assistance for developing it in Central Asia"
was held in December 2006, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The seminar was organized by European Ecoforum in cooperation
with "Greenwomen" Ecological News Agency (Kazakhstan).
Representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Business Association for Sustainable Development, Kazakh Scientific Research
Institute of Ecology and Climate as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan l took part in the seminar.
Participants were informed about the relevant international agreements to PRTR
Protocol.
They also discussed exisiting conditions of involvement of Central Asian
countries in this Prorocol
and role of the different sectors in creation of the Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers.
Participants shared information concerning practical examples and experience in
implementing PRTR projects and initiatives. Attendees expressed concern
regarding public initiatives in Central Asian countries for implementation of
the PRTR Protocol.
The participants recognized NGOs further need workshops and seminars to create
and use PRTR data; leaflets, booklets and other publications to raise public
awareness, assistance for organizations to use PRTR data properly and public
participation in creation of national PRTR data.
Participants prepared the statement addressing to governments and organizations:
-
continue work started after 5th Ministerial Conference in
Kiev (2003);
-
add special notes to Ecoforum report on implementation of
obligations for "Environment for Europe" process, informing about non-active
position of countries to aware access to information, public participation
in decision-making and ratification of PRTR Protocol;
-
offer Aurhus Convention Secretariat, governments and
international organizations to include special meeting on PRTR Protocol in
the agenda of 6th Ministerial Conference in Belgrade (Serbia, 2007).
NGOs sent letter of requirements to governments concerning how countries
implement PRTR Protocol.
****
Attention: ministers of environmental protection, concerned ministries and
departments, industrial enterprises, EECCA public organizations, OSCE, UNITAR,
European Eco Forum
STATEMENT OF CENTRAL ASIAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
During the fifth ministerial conference entitled
Environment for Europe held in Kiev in 2003, NGOs strictly identified their
position regarding the conference agenda, IN PARTICULAR, improvement of
access to information and public participation in making valuable
environmental decisions.
Four years after many problems remain unsolved. In October 2007 the fifth
ministerial conference will be held in Belgrade to give an evaluation of
fulfillment of decisions made in Kiev in 2003.
In this regard, we, non-governmental organizations of Central Asia, find it
important to pay attention in the ECO Forum report on the fulfillment of
commitments within the Environment for Europe process to the passivity of
countries in terms of improvement of informational access, public
participation in making valuable environmental decisions, and ratification
of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) to the
Aarhus Convention.
We are reminding the governments that the public is concerned over reports
on pollution rates and calling on the governments, Aarhus Convention
Secretariat, international and non-governmental organizations to incorporate
a special session on PRTRs in a list of events of the Environment for Europe
conference in Belgrade.
Public organizations believe that ratification of PRTRs is needed to
implement principle 10 of Rio-de-Janeiro declaration and further fulfillment
of Aarhus Convention. Extending the access to pollution data, the Protocol
will enable the people to receive necessary information on industrial
emissions and pollutants transfer and more actively influence the valuable
environmental decision-making process, as well as, enhance the
responsibility of business sector for environmental preservation, encourage
industrial enterprises to introduce effective treatment technologies and
develop clean production.
The value of PRTRs has been repeatedly demonstrated in various countries.
These registers were applied by local communities, industrial enterprises,
local administration, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
PRTRs give the general public an important information on environmental
pollution and are the tools for improving the handling of toxic chemicals.
The statement was endorsed at the workshop Prospects of Ratification of PRTRs
and Facilitation of PRTRs Implementation in Central Asia (15 December 2006,
Almaty).
|
