The Access Initiative (TAI)

The resignation of the Speaker of the UK House of Commons demonstrates the power of transparency.

On his first full day in office, President Obama issued an Executive Order and several memoranda on transparency and participation in the Federal Government.

WRI has joined with 70 organizations to issue the 21st Century Right to Know Agenda Report in support of government transparency and accountability in the incoming Obama administration.

What is the link between the rule of law and poverty? A new report finds that billions of people "around the world are robbed of the chance to better their lives and climb out of poverty because they are excluded from the rule of law."

It would be impossible to identify all the decisions to be made by governments that will affect the environment in different places in the coming years.

Environmental democracy is about government being transparent, accountable, and involving people in decisions that affect their environment. 20 countries in The Access Initiative (TAI) network are expanding their work to promote environmental democracy. Here is a summary of what's ahead in 2008 and beyond.

As part of World Water Day, The Access Initiative (TAI) is releasing a case study of how in 2004, poor data dissemination put the citizens of the capital of the world's richest country at risk from lead in their drinking water.

Laws alone are not enough to ensure environmental protection. Civil society organizations often play a critical role in bringing those laws to life. In Uganda, Greenwatch has done exactly that for the country's laws on access to environmental information, the first of which passed in 1998.

The Access Initiative (TAI) and its partners are launching the first of its kind assessment of environmental governance in China. It is the first step towards engaging civil society organizations and government agencies to promote the public transparency, participation, and accountability that are essential foundations for sustainable development.

Once isolated Paraguay has changed radically due to a boom in soybean exports, which has brought changes in land and pesticide use.