work (the Task on Public Participation in Decision-making ). Importantly, this Meeting also prepared the ground for another far-reaching development: the adoption in 2011 of a procedure to allow accession to the Convention by non-UNECE member States.
With respect to the Convention’s Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs), 2003, which entered into force on 8 0ctober 2009,* the Report highlights the event of the first session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol where its governing architecture, its Work Programme for 2011–2014 and other key decisions were adopted. As the Report the PRTR.net web portal (http://www.prtr.net/) is continuing to play an important role in assisting Governments and stakeholders in the development, implementation and improvement of pollutant release and transfer registers in the UNECE region and beyond.
NOTE
* The Protocol is the first international legal instrument of this kind and its objective is “to enhance public access to information through the establishment of coherent, nationwide pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs).” This Protocol is expected to play a significant role in information on pollution as no company will want to be identifies as among the biggest polluters. The Protocol currently has 38 signatories and 27 parties, including the EU.
Primary Source: UNECE- REPORT 2011 (ECE/INF/2011/1) available at:
http://www.unece.org/publications/Annual%20Reports/topics/annual_report_2011_EN_web.pdf
For further information:
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/prtr.htm
About the author
MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
