Why Access to Environmental Information Matters in the Digital Age

The journalists’ experiences show that access to information directly influences the quality of reporting on issues such as rainfall, disaster management, and public spending. When environmental data is available and reliable, journalists can help the public better understand the implications of climate change and natural disasters. Even when responses are delayed, the consistent use of Right to Information requests helps reinforce the culture of transparency and participation envisioned by Nepal’s Right to Information Act.

Across South Asia, similar efforts are underway to strengthen the enabling environment for media freedom and access to information. In the Maldives, a recent report on the Environment for Media by the Centre for Law and Democracy and the Maldives Journalists Association urged reforms to ensure that the Right to Information Act meets international standards, removes broad exemptions, and empowers information commissioners to enforce decisions effectively.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) empowers individuals to access, evaluate, and use information responsibly. It includes the ability to understand how Right to Information (RTI) Acts function, such as knowing how to request public information, what types of information are accessible, and how these laws support transparency and accountability. This is directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10.2, which measures how many countries have laws that give people the right to access public information. By learning MIL, people are better equipped to use these laws and take part in building open and fair societies.

By promoting the right to information, UNESCO reinforces the message that environmental data belongs to the public—a principle especially important in Nepal, where access to accurate environmental information supports disaster preparedness, sustainable development, and government accountability.