What is environmental information?
The definition of environmental information in the EIRs is very wide and includes information which may not be considered environmental at first glance. For public authorities, it is important to understand the definition and to use the correct regime for dealing with information requests. It is not essential for requesters of information to fully understand the definition provided that public authorities deal with their request correctly.
The definition given in the regulations must be followed and so it is quoted in full here. It is as follows:
Any information in written, visual, aural, electronic or any other material form on:
- the state of the elements of the environment, such as air and atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites including wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and its components, including genetically modified organisms, and the interaction among these elements;
- factors, such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment, affecting or likely to affect the elements of the environment referred to in (a);
- measures (including administrative measures), such as policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements, and activities affecting or likely to affect the elements and factors referred to in (a) and (b) as well as measures or activities designed to protect those elements;
- reports on the implementation of environmental legislation;
- cost-benefit and other economic analyses and assumptions used within
the framework of the measures and activities referred to in (c); and
- the state of human health and safety, including the contamination
of the food chain, where relevant, conditions of human life, cultural
sites and built structures inasmuch as they are or may be affected by
the state of the elements of the environment referred to in (a) or,
through those elements, by any of the matters referred to in (b) and
(c).
For a more detailed explanation see:
Having trouble deciding the difference between environmental and other information? For guidance and examples see:
Page last modified: 9 October 2007
Page published: 31 July 2005
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