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Goal Target Instrument Article / Description

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

 6.6

By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

Indicators
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
UNDRIP
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
29.1
Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources. States shall establish and implement assistance programmes for indigenous peoples for such conservation and protection, without discrimination.
Escazú Agreement
Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean
1
The objective of the present Agreement is to guarantee the full and effective implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean of the rights of access to environmental information, public participation in the environmental decision-making process and access to justice in environmental matters, and the creation and strengthening of capacities and cooperation, contributing to the protection of the right of every person of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment and to sustainable development.
4.1
Each Party shall guarantee the right of every person to live in a healthy environment and any other universally-recognized human right related to the present Agreement.
4.2
Each Party shall ensure that the rights recognized in the present Agreement are freely exercised.
4.3
Each Party shall adopt the necessary measures, of a legislative, regulatory, administrative or any other nature, in the framework of its domestic provisions, to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of the present Agreement.
4.6
Each Party shall guarantee an enabling environment for the work of persons, associations, organizations or groups that promote environmental protection, by recognizing and protecting them.
5.2
The exercise of the right of access to environmental information includes:
5.2 The exercise of the right of access to environmental information includes:
5.2.a
requesting and receiving information from competent authorities without mentioning any special interest or explaining the reasons for the request;
5.2 The exercise of the right of access to environmental information includes:
5.2.b
being informed promptly whether the requested information is in possession or not of the competent authority receiving the request;
5.2 The exercise of the right of access to environmental information includes:
5.2.c
being informed of the right to challenge and appeal when information is not delivered, and of the requirements for exercising this right.
5.3
Each Party shall facilitate access to environmental information for persons or groups in vulnerable situations, establishing procedures for the provision of assistance, from the formulation of requests through to the delivery of the information, taking into account their conditions and specificities, for the purpose of promoting access and participation under equal conditions.
5.4
Each Party shall guarantee that the above-mentioned persons or groups in vulnerable situations, including indigenous peoples and ethnic groups, receive assistance in preparing their requests and obtain a response.
6.1
Each Party shall guarantee, to the extent possible within available resources, that the competent authorities generate, collect, publicize and disseminate environmental information relevant to their functions in a systematic, proactive, timely, regular, accessible and comprehensible manner, and periodically update this information and encourage the disaggregation and decentralization of environmental information at the subnational and local levels. Each Party shall strengthen coordination between the different authorities of the State.
6.2
The competent authorities shall endeavour to ensure, to the extent possible, that environmental information is reusable, processable and available in formats that are accessible, and that no restrictions are placed on its reproduction or use, in accordance with domestic legislation.
6.3
Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.a
the texts of treaties and international agreements, as well as environmental laws, regulations and administrative acts;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.b
reports on the state of the environment;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.c
a list of public entities competent in environmental matters and, where possible, their respective areas of operation;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.d
a list of polluted areas, by type of pollutant and location;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.e
information on the use and conservation of natural resources and ecosystem services;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.f
scientific, technical or technological reports, studies and information on environmental matters produced by academic and research institutions, whether public or private, national or foreign;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.h
information on environmental impact assessment processes and on other environmental management instruments, where applicable, and environmental licences or permits granted by the public authorities;
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.i
an estimated list of waste by type and, when possible, by volume, location and year; and
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.j
information on the imposition of administrative sanctions in environmental matters.
6.3 Each Party shall have in place one or more up-to-date environmental information systems, which may include, inter alia:
6.3.z
Each Party shall guarantee that environmental information systems are duly organized, accessible to all persons and made progressively available through information technology and georeferenced media, where appropriate.
6.4
Each Party shall take steps to establish a pollutant release and transfer register covering air, water, soil and subsoil pollutants, as well as materials and waste in its jurisdiction. This register will be established progressively and updated periodically.
6.5
Each Party shall guarantee that in the case of an imminent threat to public health or the environment, the relevant competent authority shall immediately disclose and disseminate through the most effective means all pertinent information in its possession that could help the public take measures to prevent or limit potential damage. Each Party shall develop and implement an early warning system using available mechanisms.
6.6
In order to facilitate access by persons or groups in vulnerable situations to information that particularly affects them, each Party shall endeavour, where applicable, to ensure that the competent authorities disseminate environmental information in the various languages used in the country, and prepare alternative formats that are comprehensible to those groups, using suitable channels of communication.
6.7
Each Party shall use its best endeavours to publish and disseminate at regular intervals, not exceeding five years, a national report on the state of the environment, which may contain:
6.7 Each Party shall use its best endeavours to publish and disseminate at regular intervals, not exceeding five years, a national report on the state of the environment, which may contain:
6.7.a
information on the state of the environment and natural resources, including quantitative data, where possible;
6.7 Each Party shall use its best endeavours to publish and disseminate at regular intervals, not exceeding five years, a national report on the state of the environment, which may contain:
6.7.z
Such reports shall be drafted in an easily comprehensible manner and accessible to the public in different formats and disseminated through appropriate means, taking into account cultural realities. Each Party may invite the public to make contributions to these reports.
6.8
Each Party shall encourage independent environmental performance reviews that take into account nationally or internationally agreed criteria and guides and common indicators, with a view to evaluating the efficacy, effectiveness and progress of its national environmental policies in fulfilment of their national and international commitments. The reviews shall include participation by the various stakeholders.
7.2
Each Party shall guarantee mechanisms for the participation of the public in decision-making processes, revisions, re-examinations or updates with respect to projects and activities, and in other processes for granting environmental permits that have or may have a significant impact on the environment, including when they may affect health.
7.3
Each Party shall promote the participation of the public in decision-making processes, revisions, re-examinations or updates other than those referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article with respect to environmental matters of public interest, such as land-use planning, policies, strategies, plans, programmes, rules and regulations, which have or may have a significant impact on the environment.
7.4
Each Party shall adopt measures to ensure that the public can participate in the decision-making process from the early stages, so that due consideration can be given to the observations of the public, thus contributing to the process. To that effect, each Party shall provide the public with the necessary information in a clear, timely and comprehensive manner, to give effect to its right to participate in the decision-making process.
7.5
The public participation procedure will provide for reasonable timeframes that allow sufficient time to inform the public and for its effective participation.
7.7
The public’s right to participate in environmental decision-making processes shall include the opportunity to present observations through appropriate means available, according to the circumstances of the process. Before adopting the decision, the relevant public authority shall give due consideration to the outcome of the participation process.
7.9
The dissemination of the decisions resulting from environmental impact assessments and other environmental decision-making processes in which the public has participated shall be carried out through appropriate means, which may include written, electronic or oral means and customary methods, in an effective and prompt manner. The information disseminated shall include the established procedure to allow the public to take the relevant administrative and judicial actions.
7.12
Each Party shall promote, where appropriate and in accordance with domestic legislation, public participation in international forums and negotiations on environmental matters or with an environmental impact, in accordance with the procedural rules on participation of each forum. The participation of the public at the national level on matters of international environmental forums shall also be promoted, where appropriate.
7.17
With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.a
a description of the area of influence and physical and technical characteristics of the proposed project or activity;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.b
a description of the main environmental impacts of the project or activity and, as appropriate, the cumulative environmental impact;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.c
a description of the measures foreseen with respect to those impacts;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.d
a summary of (a), (b) and (c) of the present paragraph in comprehensible, non-technical language;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.e
the public reports and opinions of the involved entities addressed to the public authority related to the project or activity under consideration;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.f
a description of the available technologies to be used and alternative locations for executing the project or activity subject to assessment, when the information is available; and
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.g
actions taken to monitor the implementation and results of environmental impact assessment measures.
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.z
The aforementioned information shall be made available free of charge to the public in accordance with paragraph 17 of article 5 of the present Agreement.
9.1
Each Party shall guarantee a safe and enabling environment for persons, groups and organizations that promote and defend human rights in environmental matters, so that they are able to act free from threat, restriction and insecurity
11.1
The Parties shall cooperate to strengthen their national capacities with the aim of implementing the present Agreement in an effective manner.
13
Each Party, to the extent of its ability and in accordance with its national priorities, commits to provide the resources for national activities that are needed to fulfil the obligations derived from the present Agreement.
Protocol of San Salvador
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural rights (Protocol of San Salvador)
11.2
The States Parties shall promote the protection, preservation, and improvement of the environment.
ACHPR
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
24
All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development.
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
6
Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities:
6 Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities:
6.a
Develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies, plans or programmes which shall reflect, inter alia, the measures set out in this Convention relevant to the Contracting Party concerned;
6 Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities:
6.b
Integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.
7
Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, in particular for the purposes of Articles 8 to 10:
7.a
Identify components of biological diversity important for its conservation and sustainable use having regard to the indicative list of categories set down in Annex I;
7.b
Monitor, through sampling and other techniques, the components of biological diversity identified pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, paying particular attention to those requiring urgent conservation measures and those which offer the greatest potential for sustainable use;
8
Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
8.a
Establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity;
8.b
Develop, where necessary, guidelines for the selection, establishment and management of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity;
8.c
Regulate or manage biological resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or outside protected areas, with a view to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use;
8.d
Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings;
8.e
Promote environmentally sound and sustainable development in areas adjacent to protected areas with a view to furthering protection of these areas;
8.f
Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies;
8.g
Establish or maintain means to regulate, manage or control the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account the risks to human health;
8.h
Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species;
8.i
Endeavour to provide the conditions needed for compatibility between present uses and the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components;
8 Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
8.j
Subject to its national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices;
8 Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
8.k
Develop or maintain necessary legislation and/or other regulatory provisions for the protection of threatened species and populations
8.l
Where a significant adverse effect on biological diversity has been determined pursuant to Article 7, regulate or manage the relevant processes and categories of activities
8.m
Cooperate in providing financial and other support for in-situ conservation outlined in subparagraphs (a) to (1) above, particularly to developing countries
9
Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, and predominantly for the purpose of complementing in-situ measures:
9.c
Adopt measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species and for their reintroduction into their natural habitats under appropriate conditions;
10
Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
10.a
Integrate consideration of the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources into national decision-making;
10.b
Adopt measures relating to the use of biological resources to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on biological diversity;
10 Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
10.c
Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements;
10 Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
10.d
Support local populations to develop and implement remedial action in degraded areas where biological diversity has been reduced;
10.e
Encourage cooperation between its governmental authorities and its private sector in developing methods for sustainable use of biological resources.
14.1
Each Contracting Party, as far as possible and as appropriate, shall:
14.1.a
Introduce appropriate procedures requiring environmental impact assessment of its proposed projects that are likeiy to have significant adverse effects on biological diversity with a view to avoiding or minimizing such effects and, where appropriate. allow for public participation in such procedures;
UNCCD
UN Convention to Combat Desertification
2.2
Achieving this objective will involve long-term integrated strategies that focus simultaneously, in affected areas, on improved productivity of land, and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions, in particular at the community level.
Ramsar convention
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
4.1
Each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wardening.
4.2
Where a Contracting Party in its urgent national interest, deletes or restricts the boundaries of a wetland included in the List, it should as far as possible compensate for any loss of wetland resources, and in particular it should create additional nature reserves for waterfowl and for the protection, either in the same area or elsewhere, of an adequate portion of the original habitat.
4.3
The Contracting Parties shall encourage research and the exchange of data and publications regarding wetlands and their flora and fauna.
4.4
The Contracting Parties shall endeavour through management to increase waterfowl populations on appropriate wetlands.
4.5
The Contracting Parties shall promote the training of personnel competent in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening.
UNCLOS
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
61.1
The coastal State shall determine the allowable catch of the living resources in its exclusive economic zone.
61.2
The coastal State, taking into account the best scientific evidence available to it, shall ensure through proper conservation and management measures that the maintenance of the living resources in the exclusive economic zone is not endangered by over-exploitation. As appropriate, the coastal State and competent international organizations, whether subregional, regional or global, shall cooperate to this end.
61.3
Such measures shall also be designed to maintain or restore populations of harvested species at levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield, as qualified by relevant environmental and economic factors, including the economic needs of coastal fishing communities and the special requirements of developing States, and taking into account fishing patterns, the interdependence of stocks and any generally recommended international minimum standards, whether subregional, regional or global.
61.4
In taking such measures the coastal State shall take into consideration the effects on species associated with or dependent upon harvested species with a view to maintaining or restoring populations of such associated or dependent species above levels at which their reproduction may become seriously threatened.
61.5
Available scientific information, catch and fishing effort statistics, and other data relevant to the conservation of fish stocks shall be contributed and exchanged on a regular basis through competent international organizations, whether subregional, regional or global, where appropriate and with participation by all States concerned, including States whose nationals are allowed to fish in the exclusive economic zone.
118
States shall cooperate with each other in the conservation and management of living resources in the areas of the high seas. States whose nationals exploit identical living resources, or different living resources in the same area, shall enter into negotiations with a view to taking the measures necessary for the conservation of the living resources concerned. They shall, as appropriate, cooperate to establish subregional or regional fisheries organizations to this end.
145
Necessary measures shall be taken in accordance with this Convention with respect to activities in the Area to ensure effective protection for the marine environment from harmful effects which may arise from such activities. To this end the Authority shall adopt appropriate rules, regulations and procedures for inter alia:
145.a
the prevention, reduction and control of pollution and other hazards to the marine environment, including the coastline, and of interference with the ecological balance of the marine environment, particular attention being paid to the need for protection from harmful effects of such activities as drilling, dredging, excavation, disposal of waste, construction and operation or maintenance of installations, pipelines and other devices related to such activities;
145.b
the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to the flora and fauna of the marine environment.
192
States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment.
194.1
States shall take, individually or jointly as appropriate, all measures consistent with this Convention that are necessary to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from any source, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with their capabilities, and they shall endeavour to harmonize their policies in this connection.
194.2
States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that activities under their jurisdiction or control are so conducted as not to cause damage by pollution to other States and their environment, and that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with this Convention.
194.3
The measures taken pursuant to this Part shall deal with all sources of pollution of the marine environment. These measures shall include, inter alia, those designed to minimize to the fullest possible extent:
194.3.a
the release of toxic, harmful or noxious substances, especially those which are persistent, from land-based sources, from or through the atmosphere or by dumping;
194.3.b
pollution from vessels, in particular measures for preventing accidents and dealing with emergencies, ensuring the safety of operations at sea, preventing intentional and unintentional discharges, and regulating the design, construction, equipment, operation and manning of vessels;
194.3.c
pollution from installations and devices used in exploration or exploitation of the natural resources of the seabed and subsoil, in particular measures for preventing accidents and dealing with emergencies, ensuring the safety of operations at sea, and regulating the design, construction, equipment, operation and manning of such installations or devices;
194.3.d
pollution from other installations and devices operating in the marine environment, in particular measures for preventing accidents and dealing with emergencies, ensuring the safety of operations at sea, and regulating the design, construction, equipment, operation and manning of such installations or devices.
194.5
The measures taken in accordance with this Part shall include those necessary to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other forms of marine life.
195
In taking measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment, States shall act so as not to transfer, directly or indirectly, damage or hazards from one area to another or transform one type of pollution into another.
196.1
States shall take all measures necessary to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment resulting from the use of technologies under their jurisdiction or control, or the intentional or accidental introduction of species, alien or new, to a particular part of the marine environment, which may cause significant and harmful changes thereto.