Guinea-Bissau Joins International Agreement on Environmental Democracy, Becomes First Country Outside Europe

Strategic Insights -

Guinea-Bissau has made history by becoming the first country outside of Europe to join the international Aarhus Convention, which promotes environmental democracy and holds governments accountable for environmental and human rights. As part of this agreement, the country aims to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and ensure public participation in decision-making processes. According to Environment Minister Viriato Luis Soares Cassama, this move will also grant citizens access to justice when their rights to the environment are violated.

Key Takeaways:

  • Guinea-Bissau is the first country outside of Europe to join the Aarhus Convention, an international agreement on environmental democracy, which guarantees people's right to live in an environment adequate to their health and well-being.
  • The convention provides citizens with the right of access to public information on environmental matters and the right to participate in decision-making processes.
  • Guinea-Bissau signed the convention on April 4, bringing the total number of signatories to 47.
  • The country has become the 44th African country to join the Aarhus Convention and the 47th signatory overall.
  • Guinea-Bissau joins the UN Water Convention, becoming the fourth African country to do so in 2021.
  • The country is vulnerable to climate change, with threats from flooding and increased salinisation in coastal regions, which affect agriculture and can lead to drinking water shortages.
  • Mining and construction activities pose a threat to the country's protected areas.
  • The Aarhus Convention is one of the only legally binding global instruments on environmental democracy, along with the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

Statistics:

  • 47: Total number of signatories to the Aarhus Convention, including Guinea-Bissau
  • 4 April: Date Guinea-Bissau signed the Aarhus Convention
  • 2021: Date Guinea-Bissau joined the UN Water Convention, becoming the fourth African country to do so
  • 44: Number of African countries to have joined the Aarhus Convention before Guinea-Bissau
  • 1: Guinea-Bissau as the first country outside of Europe to join the Aarhus Convention

Sources:

  • United Nations (https://unece.org/climate-change/press/guinea-bissau-accedes-aarhus-convention-opening-new-horizons-environmental)
  • UNECE (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:22005A0517(01))
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (https://unece.org/environment-policy/public-participation/aarhus-convention/introduction)