Can communities get the environmental information they need?
People need access to environmental information to understand decisions affecting their land, oceans, natural resources and livelihoods. Without it, meaningful participation and accountability are difficult.
In 2026,Transparency International New Zealand has undertaken pilot research in Fiji and Solomon Islands to look at how this works in practice.
The research focuses on fisheries and environmental impact assessment systems in Fiji, and mining, logging and environmental impact assessment systems in Solomon Islands. It looks at what information should be available, what people can actually access, the barriers they face, and where greater transparency is needed.
THE RESEARCH
Access to Environmental Information in Fiji and Solomon Islands
The research combines a review of laws and public information systems with stakeholder experiences and direct testing of information requests.
It finds that having information somewhere in the system is not enough. For information to support accountability, people need to be able to:
Find it -> Access it -> Understand it -> Use it
The report identifies practical opportunities to strengthen access to environmental information, including better proactive disclosure, more accessible information systems, stronger implementation of information rights, and more meaningful access for communiti
