Access to Environmental Information in JAPAN

Aarhus Net in Japan

Masami Kittaka

April 29, 2013

STRIPE at Jakarta

Aarhus Net

• An NGO network to realize Aarhus Convention in Japan

• Established in Oct. 2003• Members: Lawyers, Scholars, NGOs• http://www.aarhusjapan.org/index.html• Activities • Translation of the convention text • Publication of brochure about the

convention• Advocacy • Study meetings• Dialogue with governments

Access to Government Information Act

• Legislation National Level: Enacted in 2001 Local Level: 99.7 % of local governments have

information-disclosure ordinances • Fee (National level)

300 yen (≒US$3) + 10 yen/page for photocopy

90% was disclosed

2009 2010 2011 2009 2010 2011

Number of disclosure (National level)National government

All Part No All Part No

Independent Administrative Agency

Period： Jan. 31 – Feb. 18, 2013

Method： By Internet

Scope： Non profit organization all over Japan

Responses： 475 of 3,516 organizations (Response rate:13.5%)

Questionnaire to Environmental NGOs

ある, 66.3%

ない, 33.7%ある

ないNo YES

Have received governmental fund?

ある, 42.9%

ない, 57.1%

ある

ないNo

YES

Have contract with governments?

Questions about Information Env. Disclosure

知っている,

87.7%

知らない,

12.3%

知っている

知らない

Know Information Disclosure Act?

ある, 10.9%

ない, 89.1%

ある

ない

Ever requested inform based on Information Disclosure Act?

64.8%

12.8%

16.2%

12.3%

2.6%

10.7%

11.2%

11.7%

0.0% 25.0% 50.0% 75.0%

特に情報公開で得たい情報がない

から

どのような情報が得られるか分か

らないから

具体的にどのような手続きを取れ

ばよいか分からないから

手続きが煩雑そうだから

費用がかかりそうだから

時間がかかりそうだから

手続きをとっても、情報が出てく

ると思えないから

その他

YES

No

No

YES

Why not use the Act?There is no information that must be obtained by the act

Don’t know what kind of info can be obtained

Don’t know how to use it

Seems to difficult

Seems to cost much

Seems to take time

No expectation of disclosure

Others

Others:•Able to obtain info. without using the act•Able to ask the gov. staff for necessary info.•Afraid to jeopardize the relationship with the government

Other Comments on Information Disclosure

• Not easy process for lay persons• No clear standard for disclosure• Requirement for disclosure is too strict• Hard to identify the documents to be

disclosed• Government can become selective to

whom the info is disclosed.• Government asks reason for disclosure • Disclosed with lots of black out of

information

Limit of “Access to Information Act”in comparison with the Aarhus Convention

• Disclosing organs Limited to governmental organs Private companies providing public services (utility,

waste management and etc.) are not included.

• Exemption of disclosure Information on emissions of private companies could be

an exemption due to protect confidentiality of commercial and industrial information

Disclosure on CO2 Emission Case

NO!

GovernmentFactory

• Companies report consumption of energy amount by its factories to Ministry of Economy, trade and Industry (METI) based on the law on the “energy saving law”.

• An Environmental NGO requested disclosure of reported data by factories on the Act

• Judgment by Supreme Court (Oct. 14, 2011)• Disclosure may threaten the competitiveness of the

companies.• The data is not necessary to protect human health and

life.

Nishiyodogawa Air Pollution Case• Nishiyodogawa: Industrial Area • Plainttifs: 726 Pollution ( 1st-4th groups) Slogan “we want to leave a blue sky to our children” • Defendants: 10 major companies + Japanese Government

+ Highway management company• Duration: 21 years (1978-1998)• Compensation: 3.99 billion yen (Settlement for 1st lawsuit in 1995) 1.5 of 3.99 billion is used for renewal of community 3.99 billion yen ≒ US$ 40 million• The Aozora (=blue sky) Foundation was established in 1996

http://aozora.or.jp/nishiyodogawakougai/

First Hearing in 1978 Judgment (1st instance for 1st group) in 19916000 people marched to the court house.

Environmental information in Nishiyodogawa case

http://aozora.or.jp/nishiyodogawakougai/9.html

• Discovery of victims by local doctors• Medical survey in collaboration with

school doctors• Questionnaires by victims’ group• Various Scholars' assistance

• Scientific data on the airstream• Analysis of statistical data• Estimate on emission from the

corporations• Historical back ground

• Publication of defendants• Statement of victims• Media coverage

Nishiyodogawa in 1962

Severe air pollution since 1960’s“Shopping mall of pollution diseases”

Lack of sense of human rights among residents

Thank you!

Masami KittakaMasami.Kittaka@gmail.com