Abstract:
Public involvement or citizen engagement can be thought of as the
processes that ensure the sentiments / position of citizens and non-governmental
organizations are reflected in the way a authorities operate. More formally,
the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs defines public
participation „the involvement of citizens in the decision making process of the State
- through measures and / or institutional arrangements -to increase their influence
on public policies and programs, ensuring a more positive impact on their social
and economic levels”. The 2020 will remain in history as year of global pandemic
with strong restrictions. Most Governments have responded to the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic by declaring a state of emergency and by adopting
numerous measures to combat the spread of the virus, which have often included
restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and movement. It is important to realized
that the fundamental environmental rights should be respected and state should
create and elaborate the adequate mechanism for guaranteeing the right to access to
information and public participation in decision making process on environmental
matters.
