“美丽中国”建设背景下西方环境信息权的启示——以《奥胡斯公约》为缘起

Enlightenment of Western Environmental Information Right in the Context of the “Beautiful China” Initiative: Based on the Aarhus Convention

西方环境信息公开制度经历了由“信息自由”到“环境信息权”长达半个多世纪的演进,而《奥胡斯公约》则在其演进过程中具有重要的里程碑意义。从20世纪90年代开始,西方将环境信息权作为人权保障之特殊权利的呼声愈来愈高,更强调环境公正和公众的环境参与。通过梳理环境信息权在西方发展的基本脉络,对其知情要件、知情协调及环境人权主张展开深入剖析,进而结合《奥胡斯公约》及其他西方环境信息权立法中的有关规定,对“美丽中国”建设背景下我国的环境立法现状及其发展作出思考。

The western environmental information disclosure system has experienced the evolution from “freedom of information” to “environmental information right” for more than half a century, and the Aarhus Convention is a milestone in its development process.Since the 1990 s, the West has been calling for the right to environmental information as a special right to protect human rights, emphasizing environmental justice and public environmental participation.This article summarizes the basic context of the development of the right to environmental information in the West, and makes an in-depth analysis of its three connotations: the elements of knowing, the proposition of environmental human rights, and the right relief.Then, combined with the relevant provisions of the Aarhus Convention and other western environmental information rights legislation, it puts forward some thoughts on the current situation and development of China’s environmental legislation in the context of the “Beautiful China” Initiative.