Characterising public participation as an international law norm

Abstract

This article considers the nature of the right to public participation in environmental decision-making in international law. In doing so it briefly examines the rationales for public participation, its features and the various manifestations of the right in different international law treaties and instruments, as well as jurisprudence on the international scale which deals with it, finally addressing the question of whether the twin requirements for a customary international law, state practice and opinio juris, are met.