This brochure introduces the Aarhus Convention and shows which rights to information, to participation and to file suit citizens are entitled to in the area of the environment, and how they can exercise these rights.

The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) requests the contracting parties to promote environmental education and environmental awareness among the public, especially on how to obtain access to information, to participate in decision-making and to obtain access to justice in environmental matters. The new European Directive on Public Access to Environmental Information implementing the Convention on a European level contains a similar provision. The objective of the project is to inform the German citizens about their rights under the Convention by means of a brochure in order to enable them to perform these rights.