Jean Welstead, Karen Aitchison And Bridget Savage
Enviros Consulting Ltd
ISBN 0 7559 6193 5 (Web only publication)
This document is also available in pdf format (676k)
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Purpose of this study
Methodology
Structure of report
CHAPTER TWO CONTEXT
Legislative drivers - background
Legislative drivers - high level principles
Legislative drivers - principles specific to Scotland
Environmental justice
Trust and reputation
Environmental information
Related initiatives taking place in Scotland
Users of environmental information
Conclusions
CHAPTER THREE FINDINGS: ASPECTS OF DEMAND
Evidence on awareness and demand for environmental information
Meeting the public interest
Sources of environmental information
Requesters of environmental information
Types of environmental information
Promotion of environmental information services
Conclusions
CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS: ASPECTS OF SUPPLY
Environmental information providers
Nature of environmental data
Data management
Interpretation of information
Current dissemination of environmental information
Effect of EIR on provision of information
Access to information
Public preferences in accessing information
Cost and value of information
Structure of organisation
Barriers to providing information: trust and transparency
Barriers to accessing information: staff awareness and attitudes
Public use of information
Conclusions
CHAPTER FIVE CASE STUDIES
Case Study 1 - Environmental Health Surveillance System for Scotland (EHS3)
Case Study 2 - London Borough of Brent Council :One-Stop-Shop
Case Study 3 - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) : Consumer Direct
Case Study 4 - The Danish Information Centre for Environment and Health (DICEH)
Case Study 5 - Environment Agency UK : 'What's in Your Backyard?'
Case Study 6 - Public Health Institute Scotland :The Healthy Environment Network (HEN)
Case Study 7 - USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Environmental Information (OEI)
Case Study 8 - Australia Government Environment Portal
Case Study 9 - UK - Green Consumer Guide
Case Study 10 - US EPA - AIRNow
Case Study 11 - The London Borough of Newham Council :Local Service Centres
Case Study 12 - The Canadian Rural Information Service (CRIS)
Case Study 13 - Friends of the Earth - Accessing Relevant Knowledge (ARK)
Case Study 14 - DEFRA and Devolved Administrations - Air Quality Northern Ireland
Case Study 15 - Welsh Air Quality Forum - Air Quality Wales
Summary of good practice relevant to Scottish context
CHAPTER SIX OPTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
One-stop-shop
Call centre
Online services
Use of GIS
Information networks
Government portals
'Single interest' service
'Real-time' service
Summary
CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
The need for effective provision of environmental information
Aims of the effective provision of environmental information
The desired characteristics of effective provision of environmental information
Effective access
Data management and interpretation
Promotion and engagement with the user
Public participation
Proposed Recommendations
REFERENCES
APPENDEX 1 RESEARCH TOOLS
List of Figures
Figure 3.1 'Have you ever wanted information about environmental issues, e.g. information about recycling, local pollution, flood risk, planning applications, climate change or global warming?'
Figure 3.2 'Can you please tell me the name of any organisations that offer help, advice or information on the environment?'
Figure 3.3 'Who usually requests information from your organisation?'
Figure 3.4 'Why did you want environmental information?'
Figure 3.5 'What are the most common types of request which you provide information about?'
Figure 3.6 'How do you promote your organisation's provision of environmental information?'
Figure 4.1 'What media are used to disseminate information?'
Figure 4.2 'If you were to request information on the environment what would be your preferred method of obtaining information?'
Figure 4.3 'If you required this particular service how much would you be prepared to pay for it if at all?' separated according to social group
Figure 5.1 Organisational Structure for Brent Council's One-Stop-Shop
Figure 6.1 Conceptual model for an environmental information service
List of tables
Table 1.1 Project objectives and research methodology
Table 3.1 Q3 'Did you request the information that you wanted?' by Q5 'Awareness of the legal right to access environmental information.'
The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.