Title: Access to information and sustainable development: friend or foe?

Authors: Lila K. Barrera-Hernandez

Addresses: 9511 Kentstone Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA

Abstract: This paper calls the reader|s attention to the extent to which the advancement of sustainable development depends on industry|s technology development ability and on the important role assigned to governments by environmental law and policy as brokers of industrial information. It argues that the provision of indiscriminate, unrestricted access to information may hinder industry|s ability to contribute to the future of sustainable development. Rather than advocating restriction of the public|s right to access, the paper proposes the need to review the manner in which the government|s role is carried out in the light of its potential negative impact on environmentally oriented technology development.

Keywords: access; confidential(ity); environment; industry; information; law; policy; technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1999.002249

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1999 Vol.11 No.1, pp.55-70

Published online: 13 Aug 2003 *

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