The United Nations Environment Assembly,
Taking into consideration Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the document “The future we want”, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, in particular paragraph 99, in which the Heads of State and Government encouraged action at the regional, national, subnational and local levels to promote access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters, as appropriate,
Recognizing that the respect of the principle contained in the United Nations Charter of democracy, good governance and the rule of law at the national and international levels are essential for sustainable development,
Emphasizing that broad public participation and access to information and judicial and administrative proceedings are essential for sustainable development,
Recalling that the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme in February 2010 adopted the voluntary Guidelines for the Development of National Legislation on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Bali Guidelines),
Also recalling decision 27/2 of the Governing Council as it relates to the active participation of all relevant stakeholders, particularly those from developing countries, drawing on best practices and models from relevant multilateral institutions, and the need to explore new mechanisms to promote transparency and the effective engagement of civil society in its work and that of its subsidiary bodies,
Noting the Declaration on the Application of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, adopted by some countries of the region in the framework of the Rio+20 Conference,
Recalling resolution 1/13 of the United Nations Environment Assembly, which encourages countries to continue their efforts to strengthen international dialogue, technical assistance, and capacity-building in support of the implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, and to work to strengthen the rule of law with regard to environmental matters at the international, regional and national levels, noting the progress made at the regional and national levels,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 70/1, which adopted the outcome document of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”,
Noting the national- and regional-level achievements with regard to strengthening the rights of access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters, as well as the ongoing challenges with regard to the implementation of those rights and the specific circumstances of each country,
1. Encourages countries to continue their efforts to strengthen international dialogue and cooperation, technical assistance and capacity-building in support of the implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on environment and development, taking into account relevant advances, instruments, experiences and practices since its adoption, and to work for the strengthening of environmental rule of law at the international, regional and national levels;
2. Notes the progress made in the Latin American and Caribbean region to advance the development of a regional agreement on access to information, public participation, and access to justice in environmental matters, as enshrined in Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration of 1992, with the support of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean as technical secretariat.