论环境公共决策中风险沟通的法律实现——以预防型环境群体性事件为视角

当前我国环境群体性事件呈高发态势。根据引发事件事实状态的不同可将其分为事前预防型环境群体性事件和事后救济型环境群体性事件。预防型环境群体性事件中公众所抵制的是有关环境风险的决策结果,实质上是在主张环境公共决策过程中认知风险的权利。着眼于预防型环境群体性事件所针对的环境公共决策过程,主要运用理论分析、规范分析、比较分析的方法,从行政决策权的行使与公众参与权利的实现入手,探究环境公共决策无法取得实质合法性的根源,寻求化解之法治路径。当前环境公共决策在结构和程序上呈现出封闭性,与决策结果具有直接利害关系的公众被排除在外,其认知风险的权利得不到有效实现,风险沟通不畅导致社会可接受的风险共识不能形成,环境公共决策无法取得实质合法性,引发预防型环境群体性事件增多。由于环境风险的不确定性特征,环境公共决策中专家的理性地位被动摇,公众参与环境决策的诉求更为强烈,其对风险的认知直接决定了对最终决策结果的认可和接受程度,政府无法独占风险决策地位。在社会层面形成具体风险认知的共识以便决策结果获得普遍的认同和接受成为环境公共决策取得实质合法性的必要条件。化解预防型环境群体性事件,需要在环境公共决策过程中进行有效的风险沟通。为此,环境法应当将公众作为环境决策的合作者,要求决策者主动、全面公开决策所依据的事实和理由,对公众意见给予及时充分的回应,寻求其理解和支持;实现环境信息公开的风险沟通功能;通过程序性的设计促进风险沟通的实现,保障公众参与的有效性。当前有关立法已反映出对风险沟通的重视,但只是萌芽。     

Assessing participatory and multi-level characteristics of biodiversity and landscape protection legislation: the case of Poland

In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework for analysing formal rules regulating the involvement of various actors in protected areas decision-making over time and apply it to Poland. Based on the analysis of legal acts and policy documents, we suggest that since the democratic transition started in 1989, the governance of Polish protected areas has been increasingly multi-level and participatory. However, different designations indicate different levels of involvement by non-state actors, with Natura 2000 standing out from the traditional protected areas. Regarding governance issues, establishing and taking management decisions were characterised by the greatest changes in actors’ involvement. While participation of non-public actors is still limited mostly to information and consultation, the involvement of non-state public actors of various levels increased significantly. The paper highlights the importance of a systematic analysis of legal rules as a starting point for empirical investigation of the governance of protected areas.     

“They give you lots of information,but ignore what it's really about”: residents' experiences with the planned introduction of a new high-voltage power line

Cases of strong local opposition to the planned introduction of new high-voltage power lines (HVPLs) have been documented in the past. During and after the planning process for a new HVPL, local residents will be informed about the siting process and its outcomes. Although it has been suggested in the literature that this communication plays an important role in residents' responses to a new HVPL, it has been rarely empirically studied. In this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 residents about their experiences with the planned introduction of a new HVPL near their homes. Thematic analysis revealed that residents' experiences were centred around negative expectations of living near the new HVPL and perceived injustice of the planning process and its outcomes. Residents' perception that communication was not tailored to their information needs played a significant role in these negative experiences. Suggestions for improving communication will be discussed.     

An assessment of public engagement for access management planning in southwestern Alberta,Canada

This paper describes efforts to bridge the gap between the existing research and proposed recreation access management for public lands in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Recreation access management has been identified as a complex problem and public consultation is one element in addressing the complexity. An Internet-based survey (n = 945) examined the acceptability and desirability of public consultation processes to assist with access management planning. Non-parametric tests indicate significant differences in desirability of public consultation types existed for all variables except gender. Respondents expressed the desire for a diversity of public consultation approaches with a strong preference for face-to-face field visits. Mechanisms for engagement in access management planning should be based on public consultation preferences to ensure broad, on going engagement and subsequent user acceptance and compliance.     

Investigating supportive conditions for participation in voluntary environmental programs

Voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) are commonly construed as contracts between industry and government that encourage businesses to voluntarily mitigate their environmental impacts beyond legal requirements. This research explores conditions under which polluting firms are likely to participate in VEPs. We analyze 34 comparable VEPs whose shared goal is to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, with focus on the alleged influences of three factors drawn from existing scholarship: government supervision; economic instruments; and public disclosure of participants' environmental records. The statistical results show a greater effect from government supervision than complete voluntarism and the positive effect of financial subsidies on firms' participation in VEPs. Although recent debates over regulatory reform have been oriented towards vesting greater discretion in regulatees to better address environmental harms, the findings imply that even in a highly privatized form of regulation, government oversight and assistance are necessary for promoting this new mode of environmental regulation.     

Partnerships and governance at the environment–health nexus in Ontario: lessons from five case examples

The move towards partnerships and collaborative governance models has been advocated in global health discussions for many years now. A case example methodology was applied to this study. It was composed of a document review and semi-structured interviews with key informants from five environment and public health partnerships in the province of Ontario, Canada. These case examples highlight the merits and the challenges of diverse partnerships, and the importance of governance and leadership models, scaling up (and out) impact, and cross-cultural communications to these arrangements. Further work is required to articulate situations in which public health partnerships can be strengthened.     

公民问责于矿业环境管制的路径选择

经济发展导致矿业环境受到污染和破坏的趋势得不到遏制,其中很大原因是没有发挥民众的力量.因矿业环境的公众产品属性而彰显市场失灵,必须通过政府管制以弥补市场的不足.但是政府因信息滞后和官员寻租等现象而导致政府失灵,必须通过民众参与以监督政府.民众问责是监督政府矿业环境管制的主要形式,责任政府是应当接受问责的政府.拓宽问责渠道、创新社会管理、健全法律制度等是矿业社区民众问责政府的改革方向.     

论公共文化环境建设的资源管理机制

通过对相关文献资料的梳理和分析,以安徽省财政支持公共文化服务体系建设为例,运用定量和定性研究相结合的方法,在充分的问卷调查及实地调研的基础上,总结了我国公共文化建设资源投入机制的实践与制度经验,指出了公共文化建设在资源投入及管理方面所存在的主要问题:财政投入的实际效益低下、资源保障机制不科学、公共文化服务软件投入不足、公共文化服务资源管理体制的结构性矛盾等.有鉴于此,文章分别从宏观与微观层面探讨了如何构建公共文化服务良性运行的资源管理机制,基于宏观政策与制度设计层面提出:创新公共文化建设资源管理的政策支持方式,建立基层公共文化服务的长效机制,构筑公共文化环境建设的资源分级保障机制,完善公共文化建设的人才环境,创设公共文化环境建设的资源整合机制,实施公共文化服务的运行评估与绩效评价机制.基于微观对策与措施层面提出:科学地确定现阶段公共文化建设的资源保障重点并明确各级财政的投入范围和基本保障的支出责任,转变公共文化财政资金的投入方式,改变公共文化环境建设的资源投入结构,完善公共文化建设的资金管理方式,等等.     

事业单位养老保险改革述评

人力资源和社会保障部发布《事业单位养老保险制度改革方案》后,引起了社会各界的强烈反响。许多专家、学者反对事业单位养老保险制度同城镇企业职工养老保险制度合并。在事业单位养老保险制度改革试点的一些省、区,一些专家、教授预期,改革后获得的养老金将会降低,纷纷提前退休。笔者认为,事业单位是不同于企业的单位,是不创造利润的单位,事业单位职工的工资主要来源于国家财政拨款,事业单位不宜推行以缴费为核心的统账结合的养老保险制度改革。     

环境公益诉讼立法问题研究

随着社会生产力的飞速发展,环境问题日益突出。环境公益诉讼是解决环境问题,保护国家、社会和公众环境权益的基本形式和有效途径,也是最后屏障。从国内一起环境公益诉讼案件出发,借鉴国外特别是美国环境公益诉讼的经验,提出了建立我国环境公益诉讼制度的若干立法建议,旨在探索一条落实科学发展观的环境保护新思路。