What is Environmental Information?

The definition of environmental information is very wide and is defined in the EIRs as information which relates to:

The state of elements of the environment – such air, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites, flora and fauna, including cattle, crops, GMOs, wildlife and biological diversity – and it includes any interaction between them
The state of human health and safety, conditions of human life, the food chain, cultural sites and built structures, which are, or are likely to be, affected by the state of the elements of the environment and the interaction between them
Any factor such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases affecting, or likely to affect, the state of the elements of environment or any interaction between them
Measures and activities affecting, or likely to affect, or intended to protect the state of the elements of the environment and the interaction between them. This includes administrative measures, policies, legislation, plans, programmes and environmental agreements
Emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment
Cost benefit and other economic analyses used in environmental decision making

Environmental information covers a broad range of topics, such as:

the environment itself, including air, water, earth and the habitats of animals and plants
things that affect the environment, such as emissions, radiation, noise, and other forms of pollution
policies, plans and laws on the environment

Examples of environmental information are: