Established in 2010

Public Participation in Environmental Governance

MOP-8 of the Aarhus Convention: Promoting Participatory Environmental Governance as a Pillar of Environmental and Climate Action

January 5, 2026

The Eighth Meeting of the Parties (MOP-8) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) along with MOPP5 for the PRTR Protocol, held in Palais des Nations,Geneva, Switzerland, from 17–21 November 2025 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), marked a significant milestone in the evolution of public participation in environmental and climate governance. It was held back to back with the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on PRTRs) (21 November 2025). The two sessions featured a joint High-level Segment on 20 November 2025 where delegations focussed on the role of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol in advancing public rights to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Adopted in 1998, the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters enshrines three interdependent pillars of environmental governance. At MOP-8, Parties and observers emphasized that these procedural rights are no longer peripheral safeguards, but essential enablers of effective environmental and climate action, particularly in the context of energy transitions, biodiversity protection, and pollution control.¹

Convened at a time of intensifying environmental crises and accelerating climate action, MOP-8 reaffirmed the Aarhus Convention’s central role as a cornerstone of environmental democracy and participatory governance in the UNECE region and beyond. The eighth session provided a platform for Parties, Signatories, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss achievements and challenges in effectively engaging the public in promoting environmental democracy, digital transformation, circular economy and sustainable development. A number of substantive decisions were adopted at the session that will guide the activities of the Convention in the next intersessional period for 2026-2029.

MOP-8 brought together Parties, Signatories, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders to review progress and address challenges in effectively engaging the public, including in areas such as digital transformation, circular economy policies, and sustainable development. A number of substantive decisions were adopted, providing strategic direction for the Convention’s activities during the 2026–2029 intersessional period.

Delegates welcomed two new Parties to the Convention: Uzbekistan, completing the accession of all Central Asian states, and Guinea-Bissau, becoming the first Party from outside the UNECE region. A further milestone was marked by the entry into force of the Amendment on genetically modified organisms, which took effect in April 2025 following Ukraine’s ratification in January 2025, undertaken under the exceptional circumstances of the ongoing armed conflict.

Substantively, the Meeting adopted 21 decisions on compliance, addressing individual Parties and recommending improvements in legislation and practice relating to access to information, public participation, access to justice, and the protection of environmental defenders. These decisions covered a wide range of sectors, including forest management, oil and gas extraction, gold and lithium mining, pesticides, air quality, spatial planning, nuclear power plants, and renewable energy. A dedicated decision on the effective protection of environmental defenders was also adopted, alongside the re-election of the Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders. Parties further designated lead countries for key thematic areas and adopted corresponding decisions, including Switzerland (access to information), Italy (public participation), Belgium (access to justice), Luxembourg (international promotion of the Convention), and Austria (genetically modified organisms).

The Meeting also adopted the new Work Programme for 2026–2029, agreed on the related financial arrangements, and elected members of the Compliance Committee, as well as the Chair, Vice-Chairs, and other members of the Bureau.

A key outcome of MOP-8 was the adoption of decisions reaffirming that meaningful public participation must be ensured throughout environmental and climate policy cycles, from early planning stages to implementation and review. Parties stressed that participation should not be reduced to formal consultation exercises but should enable genuine influence over decisions affecting the environment and public health.² Several delegations highlighted that early and inclusive participation can prevent conflict, improve policy quality, and enhance public trust in institutions.

The Meeting culminated in the adoption of the Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions, a landmark political commitment underscoring the centrality of environmental democracy at a time of heightened global instability. The Declaration issues an urgent call to action, emphasizing that effective responses to the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution require the full realization of the public’s rights to access environmental information, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and seek justice, as enshrined in the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol. Notably, Parties reaffirmed that even in the face of rising geopolitical tensions, transparency, public participation, and access to justice remain indispensable conditions for legitimate, resilient, and sustainable environmental and climate action, essential for safeguarding international common interests and delivering solutions for present and future generations.

Climate governance featured prominently in the debates. In light of accelerating climate impacts, MOP-8 discussions addressed how Aarhus rights apply to climate-related decision-making, including the development of mitigation measures, adaptation strategies, and just transition policies. Participants underscored that climate action lacking public participation risks exacerbating social inequalities and provoking resistance, ultimately undermining both legitimacy and effectiveness. The Meeting reaffirmed that Aarhus principles are directly relevant to the implementation of climate commitments under the UNFCCC and to the achievement of climate-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Statements by the UNECE Executive Secretary and the Chair of MOP-8 emphasized that public participation constitutes a strategic asset rather than an obstacle to urgent action, strengthening resilience and supporting socially acceptable transitions, particularly in sectors undergoing profound transformation such as energy, transport, and land use.

MOP-8 also addressed the role of public participation in the context of digitalization and access to information, recognizing both opportunities and risks. While digital tools can broaden participation and access, concerns were raised regarding digital divides, information overload, and the need to safeguard meaningful engagement, especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Finally, regional and cross-regional perspectives enriched the discussions. Representatives from outside the UNECE region referred to the Escazú Agreement as a complementary and reinforcing framework, illustrating how participatory environmental governance is gaining global traction. Mediterranean stakeholders highlighted synergies between Aarhus principles and participatory practices under the Barcelona Convention, particularly in relation to marine protection, coastal management, and pollution prevention.⁴ These interventions underscored the importance of coherence between global, regional, and national governance frameworks.

For MEPIELAN, MOP-8 of the Aarhus Convention provides a concrete and timely illustration of how public participation is being re-conceptualized as a substantive pillar of environmental and climate governance. The outcomes resonate directly with the Centre’s research on participatory governance, relational international law, and the interaction between procedural rights and substantive environmental protection. As reaffirmed in 2025, meaningful public participation is not only a legal obligation but a practical necessity for achieving effective, legitimate, and sustainable environmental action in the service of international common interests and future generations.

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Endnotes

  1. UNECE, Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), 1998.
  2. UNECE, Decisions of the Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (MOP-8), Geneva, October 2025.
  3. UNECE Executive Secretary, Statement at the Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, Geneva, October 2025.
  4. UNEP/MAP, Barcelona Convention Framework and COP Decisions on Public Participation and Stakeholder Engagement, Mediterranean Action Plan.

 

Electronic References

  1. https://unece.org/environment-policy/public-participation/aarhus-convention
  2. https://unece.org/environment-policy/public-participation/aarhus-mop8
  3. https://unece.org/info/press/current-press-hub
  4. https://www.unep.org/unepmap/who-we-are/barcelona-convention

 

Key Outcomes and Discussions (MOP-8):

  • Geneva Declaration: Participants adopted the “Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the face of Geopolitical Tensions”.
  • Environmental Defenders: A dedicated decision was adopted to enhance the protection of environmental defenders.
  • Compliance Matters: The Meeting adopted 21 decisions on compliance regarding access to information, justice, and public participation, including cases on mining, energy, and air quality. Notably, decisions regarding the UK’s compliance (ACCC/C/2017/150) were postponed to an extraordinary MOP in 2026.
  • Key Milestones: The entry into force of the GMO amendment on 20 April 2025 was celebrated, and Uzbekistan was welcomed as a new Party.
  • Work Programme: A new work programme for 2026–2029 was adopted, with lead countries designated for key areas like access to information (Switzerland) and justice (Belgium).

 

Controversies and Other Activities:

  • EU Proposals: The EU introduced last-minute changes to the draft decision on environmental defenders, causing procedural concerns among other participants.
  • Side Events: Various side events were held, including discussions on “shadow” implementation reports from several countries (e.g., Belarus, Ukraine, Germany) and a focus on defending environmental defenders.

 

 

 

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
Author's Website

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

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