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thinking on how stress reduction can be achieved rather than on iden-
tifying reasons for not observing its obligations.
In addition, a right of standing should be available for everyone to
challenge decisions made by the government during the policy-making
process, including its reaction to the independent body
'
s advice on policy.
This would add to the pressure placed on the government to produce
policy that does contribute signi
cantly to reducing levels of anthropo-
genic stress, and to produce a credible case for inaction where it concludes
that economic and social conditions place limits on what can be achieved.
Whilst I do not propose to explore here the many complex issues con-
nected with the adequacy of access to justice, I suggest that provision
for standing might offer an option to present arguments before an inde-
pendent tribunal. This may provide a potentially less expensive and more
accessible alternative for the public to mount challenges than bringing
claims through formal legal processes before the courts. 157
157 Article 9(1) of the Aarhus Convention requires parties to offer an independent review
process as an alternative to bringing a claim before the Courts concerning a request for
environmental information.
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