OSCE Centre organizes workshop to encourage public participation in environmental decision-making

URALSK, 2 July 2009 -A workshop organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana that concluded today in Uralsk in western Kazakhstan aimed to develop co-operation and foster trust in the field of environmental decision-making among regional authorities, non-governmental organizations and the business community. 

The three-day workshop was organized by the Centre in close co-operation with the European Commission, the Czech non-governmental organization "Bezk" and the Ecological Forum of non-governmental organizations of Kazakhstan as part of a joint EU/OSCE project on improving co-operation on environmental matters. It brought together some 40 representatives from different organizations.

"The quality of life for residents may be increased, the health risks reduced and the environment better protected if stakeholders have sufficient access to information and introducing the best practices and methodology for enhanced public participation in environmental decision-making," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, Head of the OSCE Centre in a message delivered to workshop participants on his behalf.

Czech experts took part in the workshop. Discussions focused on recent surveys on such public participation in Kazakhstan's regions and participants developed a joint action plan to tackle the region's ecological and social problems.

"Sustainable ecological and economic development is possible thanks to the increased level of co-operation between the state authorities and civil society at all levels," said Yerbol Salykov, Deputy Head of the Western Kazakhstan's local administration. "This workshop helped promote such co-operation."

The workshop formed part of the Centre's work to promote the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan, which grants the public rights regarding access to information, public participation and access to justice on matters concerning the local, national and transboundary environment. It focuses on interactions between the public and public authorities.