The Access to Information in MERCOSUR for Sustainable Development

Since environmental quality is considered to be a feature indispensable to a healthy and dignified life, civil society must integrate the decision-making processes involving inalienable rights such as the protection of the environment. In this context, pursuant to article 225 of the Federal Constitution of Brazil of 1988, the defense and protection of the ecologically balanced environment for present and future generations is a responsibility of both the Government and the community.. However, proper information being inaccessible there is not a basis for making a well-educated decision, thus rendering society unable to participate in this process. In this sense, access to environmental information constitutes not only an implementation tool but also a significant prerequisite for public participation in environmental matters, since information is a major source of knowledge. At the first stage of this study, the various concepts of environmental information as well as their societal importance are discussed. Then, the study ponders upon the legislation that guarantees access to environmental information in the MERCOSUR member countries: Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. The needs for integration of public policies for environmental protection by this Latin American community, as well as for the establishment of thematic environmental education, directly related to the process of sustainable development, were among the priorities of the Treaty of Asunción, establishing the MERCOSUR in 1991. In this context, the right of access to information in the MERCOSUR countries appears to be of outmost importance. Finally, the paper concludes that information, being the cornerstone of ethics and good citizenship, is regarded as a basic instrument for building environmental awareness of the population as well as essential for sustainable development, being the ultimate target set by Agenda 21. Public policies for environmental education and awareness can only be effectively implemented on the basis of integration between the neighboring, Latin American countries, being part of a block which seeks economic integration, as well as political, social and cultural development.