Title: Transparency and privacy in environmental matters

Authors: Alessia Vacca; Hiroko Onishi

Addresses: School of Law, University of Sassari, Viale Mancini 5, Sassari, Italy ' School of Law, Kingston University, Room 432, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, UK

Abstract: The main theme of this paper is the examination of the current EU legal framework for open data in relation to environmental matters and its transparency. The paper will explore a number of benefits that transparency can bring to beneficiaries. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: the first part of the paper will deal with the efficacy of EU legislation in ensuring there is a sufficient level of transparency in communicating the environmental data openly to the public. The Aarhus Convention grants a wider scope of right of access to environmental information. The second part of the paper will look at possible adverse effects that transparency can bring to the individual and society as a whole. The paper will focus on exploring the conflicting interests between disclosure of the environmental data and potential harms caused to the individuals, such as deterioration of protection of the right to privacy.

Keywords: environment; transparency; privacy; Aarhus Convention; open data; directive 2003/4/EC; EU legislation; energy efficiency; energy sector; transparency in revenue; the right to privacy, Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2018.094522

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2018 Vol.11 No.4, pp.333 - 343

Received: 01 Oct 2015
Accepted: 08 Nov 2015
Published online: 05 Sep 2018 *

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