The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Public Participation Convention)1 is an international treaty negotiated by the member countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)2. It was opened for signature at the UNECE Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in June 1998. It currently has 40 signatories, but has not yet entered into force.