Closing the Gap: Information, Participation, and Justice in Decision-making for the Environment

'Closing the Gap' reports on the early findings of an innovative approach to measuring progress in implementing Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, including PRTR development, at the national level. In 2001–2002, research teams in nine countries—Chile, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, and the United States—employed a common methodological framework on a pilot basis to assess the performance of their governments in meeting the Rio commitment. Their work was conducted under the auspices of The Access Initiative, a global coalition of civil society groups seeking to promote public access to information, participation and justice in decision-making affecting the environment.