On The Right To Our Country’s Environment Know And Legal Protection

Abstract:The right to know about environment refers to the right of the public to know and obtain environmental information and seek relief in case of infringement on such right. Right to know is an independent natural right, which is closely related to freedom of information, and thus essential to human development. At present, the system of right to know about environment is not mature, with its subject and object scope being continuously expanded and the obligee and obligor possibly becoming one, yet the realization of such right has great significance in achieving the values of freedom, equality and justice. In our country, there are some scattered provisions on the publicity of government or business information in various laws and regulations related to the right to know about environment, nonetheless, the relevant legal system is not sophisticated enough,with insufficient effective accountability and relief channels and uncertain scope of protection. In order to safeguard the right to know about environment, the following measures should be taken from aspects of the public, the government, numerous enterprises and the whole society:relevant legislation improvement, including without limitation, broadening the obligee scope, defining range of environmental information, requesting the obligors to disclose such information, establishing and improving the right relief mechanism, and defining the legal liability for violating such right; increasing involvement by social organizations so as to impel the obligors to conscientiously fulfill their obligations.By the above measures, environment-related mass incidents will be reduced due to information asymmetry, and environmental degradation will be retarded.