Making

Abstract

In response to the ever-worsening climate and biodiversity crises, that have seen widespread disruptive weather events and environmental degradation on an unprecedented scale, as well as producing tens of millions of “climate refugees”, the EU developed a new environmental policy “The EU Green Deal”. The EU Green Deal” (2019) set the ambitious target of making Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, and to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030, in order to meet their NDC’s under the Paris Agreement. A key element of this is the “Fit for 55” work package (July 2021) legislative proposals. This is the most comprehensive revision of the EU environment and climate acquis in the history of the EU. It represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring the EU into compliance with its international law obligations, and secure the effectiveness of EU environmental law, by introducing environmental “access rights” into the legislative proposals. Environmental “Access Rights” is the collective term for rights such as access to justice, public participation and access to information required by international law, the Aarhus Convention.