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What is the Partnership for Principle 10?
Over a decade ago, Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration articulated public access to information, participation in decision-making, and access to justice as key principles of environmental governance. A decade later, one hundred governments reaffirmed these goals during the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The Partnership for Principle 10 (PP10) is committed to translating these principles into action by promoting transparent, inclusive, and accountable decision-making at the national level. The Partnership provides a venue for governments, international organizations, and civil society groups to work together to implement practical solutions that provide the public with access to information, participation, and justice for environmentally sustainable decisions.
The Partnership builds on the work of The Access Initiative (TAI), a global coalition of civil society organizations promoting access to information, participation, and justice in decision-making that affects the environment. TAI supports independent monitoring of government progress by civil society groups using a common assessment tool.
What are the PP10 Strategies?
PP10 addresses the main implementation gaps in national systems for public participation. These implementation gaps stem from the rapid evolution of national public participation systems, the incomplete development of the law and provisions supporting implementation, and the gap between law and practice. PP10 addresses these gaps by:
Serving as an Accountability Mechanism -- PP10 will facilitate accountability by ensuring peer-review of the partners' commitments, and by providing information about the specific commitments and the partners' progress toward achieving them.
Mobilizing Financial Resources -- PP10 will mobilize financial resources for national-level implementation by focusing on "matchmaking" among the commitments of different partners, and by ensuring that appropriate bilateral connections between potential donors and potential recipients are made.
Serving as a Learning Mechanism -- PP10 will serve as a learning mechanism by documenting and exchanging emerging knowledge and best practice in the implementation of Principle 10. PP10 will establish a framework for documentation, and facilitate collaborations to generate learning in specific areas.
Expanding the Partnership -- PP10 will expand its membership to establish its global scope, and to aid in mobilizing resources.
When was PP10 Launched?
PP10 was launched at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 2002. In Johannesburg, the founding partners agreed on a general framework for the development of the Partnership. In a presentation to the United Nations, the members of the Partnership committed themselves to support independent assessments and collaborate across sectors in order to meet the commitments made in the Rio Declaration and the WSSD Plan of Implementation. Click here for more information on PP10 activities at WSSD.
How does PP10 Support Sustainable Development?
A decade ago, Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration articulated public access to information, participation in decision-making, and access to justice as key principles of environmental governance. Agenda 21, "a comprehensive plan of action to be taken by members of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which humans impact on the environment," provided further elaboration of these principles and acknowledged their essential role for sustainable development. The United Nations' Millennium Declaration emphasized the importance of "creat[ing] an environment - at the national and global levels alike - which is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty."
The Partnership for Principle 10 is committed to translating these principles into action and to supporting transparent, equitable, and accountable decision-making for sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Goals.
