The Council of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the right of citizens to participate in the governance of their nation (Beder, 2996). At the national level, individuals have access to environmental information held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials (Beder, 2006). States should encourage participation by making information available to the general public. The need for public participation is emphasized in Agenda 21. The most important prerequisite for achieving sustainable development is participation in decision-making. The need for civil society to participate in environmental impact assessment procedures is fundamental and to also participate in decision-making that will affect the community in which it resides. People also have the right to be informed in advance of environmental risks and the right to compensation when environmental damage has been caused.