In the first Environmental Democracy Index, India ranks 24th out of total of 70 countries which is topped by Lithuania.The index evaluates country’s progress in enacting laws in the promotion of transparency,accountability and engagement of citizens in making decisions regarding environment.
- The top ten nations are Lithuania,Latvia,Russia,USA,South Africa,UK,Hungary,Bulgaria,Panama and Columbia.as per the list released by World Resources institute and Access initiative on 20th May 2015.
- The index evaluates environmental democracy in 70 nations including 75 legal and 24 practice indicators depending on international standards.
- Advancing good governance and environmental rights are essential as there are number of crucial moments in environment and sustainability.
- According to Mark Robinson, global director,Governance WRI, the index would act as great lever in helping the governments to become more transparent and make ordinary citizens advocating more rights.
- 93% of the assessed nations have established right to environmental information.
- Also 45% of these nations do not have strong protections to ensure the access to information is affordable and timely.
- According to general council,US Environmental Protection Agency,Mr Avi Garbow, environmental democracy is not only about making  environmental information available to public but also in allowing citizens to take part in environmental decision making process.
- Nearly 46% of the countries assessed do not provide any ambient air quality data online for capital cities.
- As per the reports, in 73% cases the court would hear environmental cases.
- Reports also further said that only 14% of the countries have legal mechanisms helping women access courts to get redress when environmental rights are violated.
World Resource Institute or WRI– some information
- WRI is non governmental global research organisation.
- It was formed in the year 1982.
- Main objective of this is to seek equity and prosperity through sustained natural resource management.
- Founder is James Gustave Smith.
- CEO and President is Andrew Steer.
- Some main initiatives of this WRI are Aqueduct aimed at measuring , understanding water risks,EMBARQ Network of sustained urban transport and planning and Global Forest Watch in monitoring  forest online and alert system.
- Areas of interests of this WRI are climate,energy, food, forests, water, cities and transportation.
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