Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Federal, state and local laws entitle the public to have an active role in the transportation decision making process. However, it remains difficult to engage the public in the long range planning process. The laws requiring public involvement are intentionally vague and don’t prescribe specific approaches, so there is little consistency in public participation approaches and many state, regional, and local transportation agencies choose to do only what is necessary to meet minimum requirements (PBS&J, 2009). The purpose of this study is to examine public participation in transportation planning with specific focus on how the characteristics of public participation, the level of engagement, and deliberation affect the extent to which transportation planning decisions are reflective of public input received. A quantitatively driven mixed methods study was completed in three phases using secondary data, exclusively. Phase I included a review of each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and a study of the public involvement procedures that were used to develop each MPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). Phase II focused on the input that was gathered by each MPO for public participation activities conducted during the development of the MTP. In Phase III, the results of Phases I and II were used to conduct a cross tabulation analysis to determine if there was a relationship between the characteristics of public participation, the level of engagement of participation, and the use of deliberation, and the degree to which public input was reflected in the MTP. The findings of this study indicate support for literature based in levels of engagement and the use of deliberation. Despite the design of the participation plan, transportation decisions reflect public input more often when MPOs have broad outreach to the public, higher levels of engagement, and use deliberative public participation techniques. Implications for policy and practice, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

1 Abstract The theme of the thesis is public participation in environmental decision-making. Its main aim is to analyse its current legal regulation in the Czech Republic and its deficiencies. The Czech Republic as a party to the Aarhus Convention and a member of the EU is obliged to ensure that the Czech legal regulation complies with the regulation of public participation contained in the Aarhus convention and the EU law. Therefore a small part of this thesis is devoted to analyse those regulation. Main focus, however, lies with the Czech regulation. The thesis examines the most important acts containing the regulation of public participation and draws attention to its deficiencies as well as to the relevant case law. While analysing the specific acts and their deficiencies the thesis focuses on two questions. Firstly, whether all the persons who should be granted the possibility to participate in environmental decision-making under the Aarhus Convention are given this possibility under the Czech law. And secondly, whether the given possibility is truly effective. Finally, the thesis deals with the possibility to redress the inadequate legal regulation by amending the current legislation or by changes in the judicial interpretation.

The main goal of this thesis is to analyze the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is one of the most important horizontal tools for environmental protection. The EIA process can be described as the procedure of identification and assessment of potential significant effects of a project on the environment. The information and outputs provided by the assessment process are considered by decision makers before a decision is made. The EIA process was first mentioned in the US in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969. Then the EIA process was adopted in other economically developed countries. The beginning of this thesis is focused on two significant multilateral environmental agreements - The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) and The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention). Then the EU legislation related to the EIA process is described (especially Council Directive 85/337/EEC - the EIA Directive). The following part analyzes the Czech legal regulation of the EIA process that is included in Act No. 100/2001 Coll. Attention is turned to historical development, particular phases of the EIA process, the transboundary...

Through partnerships and collaborations with universities, non-profits, local government, and private foundations, neighborhood associations and residents have been using Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) as a tool for neighborhood recovery in post-Katrina and Rita New Orleans. The landfall of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast Region changed the way that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for Emergency Management and Response, PPGIS, and community recovery. This research explores GIS and PPGIS best practices through an evaluation of New Orleans, LA case studies and seeks to present solutions for the development of a post-disaster PPGIS for community recovery.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Agriculture is the greatest source of economic development in Malawi. Due to decentralisation process the Ministry of Agriculture and Food security through the Department of Agriculture Extension Services sector established the New Agricultural Extension policy to create participatory processes for farmers needs to be addressed. Research has shown that the more people participate in developmental issues the more their needs are prioritised and addressed as long as participatory structures have a legal backing and are respected by government officials. In Malawi respect of constitution in terms of supporting the local government and district assemblies in particular is minimal such that the elections of local government councillors who are supposed to be local people’s representatives and voting officials in the assembly have been postponed until further notice. This raises questions as to whether farmers concerns are prioritised in the District Executive Committee which reports to the assembly. This research was aimed at assessing participatory processes in the local government of Malawi to establish effectiveness of institutions established to promote participation in agricultural processes and the ability for such institutions to satisfy the farmers’ needs. Considering that Malawi is a vast country and Ntcheu district covers a big area, Njolomole Extension Planning Area was chosen as the case study among other seven Extension Planning Areas within the district. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to gather relevant information. Data collected was analysed and presented inform of figures, chart and tables and is based on objectives and emerging themes. The research has established that participatory structures in agricultural processes are not effective because most of the committees that could allow participation of farmers in planning and decision making at Area and District levels are not operating. Farmers are able to use village committees to raise their concerns and in that way some of their needs are somehow addressed. However, there are challenges in the Agriculture Department, which are affecting implementation of participatory structures.

Presented dissertation is devoted to the participation of lay element in the environmental matters within the public administration. In these matters it is necessary to find the compromises that should reflect the private plans (of investors and the owners), exercising of the public participation and the public interests too. The cooperation among the administrative authorities, public subjects and private subjects shall be constructive, based on a real legal ground. The target of this thesis is to make an overview of the ways that Czech legal system (based on the international and European law) gives to the public in order to participate on the public administrative in the environmental matters. The important finding of the thesis is evaluation of efficiency of partial tools and also of risks connected with their application. The main terms, motives, preconditions and the importance of public participation in the environmental matters are defined in the introduction. Apart from that the main principles of the public participation are defined. The most important document for public participation, the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), is analyzed in this dissertation. Even though the...

Esta tese parte da problemática das mudanças climáticas como reflexão da relação homem-natureza. Desde final do século passado, transformações, rupturas e evoluções significativas são testemunhadas, assim como tensões entre biológico e social. Diante do crescimento exponencial das atividades humanas e suas pressões sobre os sistemas da Terra, alguns autores reconhecem que o planeta entrou em nova Era Antropoceno. Nesse sentido, impõe-se à humanidade novos padrões de relacionamento com a natureza e seus recursos, que repercute sobre os estilos de vida e de consumo, a ética e a cultura, a dinâmica política social e a organização do espaço. Portanto, a problemática das mudanças climáticas, assim como as questões socioambientais, clama pela mudança da relação homem-natureza. Para além da interpretação geológica, o Antropoceno é uma oportunidade para repensar o comportamento humano e estabelecer as bases de um futuro sustentável. Tais questões estão presentes no cotidiano da cidade de São Paulo. Tomou-se, então, para a análise o grupo Quinta Ambiental, formado, em sua maioria, por residentes e servidores públicos dos Distritos de Jaçanã e de Tremembé, Zona Norte do muncípio de São Paulo, onde localiza-se o Parque Estadual da Cantareira, importante remanescente da Mata Altântica. O objetivo é analisar como um grupo como a Quinta Ambiental possibilita o aprendizado e a mudança dos indivíduos em suas percepções e valores para uma transformação da relação homem-natureza. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo com perspectiva etnográfica. Foram utilizados dados secundários, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e dados primários por meio da observação participativa, utilizando o diário de campo e registros fotográficosno como principais ferramentas, no período de fevereiro de 2015 a junho de 2016. Observou-se que a forma transversal o qual foi construída as relações dos participantes, envolvendo diferentes secretarias municipais e estaduais, instituições de ensino e a comunidade, e a convivência semanal proporcionaram maior cooperação entre estes atores, na na administração do bem público o que motiva a continuação das reuniões mesmo frente às diversidades de mudanças políticas e de gestão. Notou-se alterações positivas em relação à participação política e comunitária, na medida que, os participantes do grupo assumem uma postura politizada para as questões ambientais levando a discussão à diversos foruns administrativos. Conclui-se, então, que espaços coletivos, como o da Quinta Ambiental são importantes para possibilitar a convivência e a aprendizagem social e é nessa dinâmica que ocorre a troca de saberes e transformação de valores, sendo o papel do gestor público fundamental para o desenvolvimento de tais espaços / This thesis is based on the problem of climate change as a reflection of the relationship between man and nature. Since the end of the last century, transformations, ruptures and significant evolutions have been witnessed, as well as tensions between biological and social. Against with the exponential growth of human activities and their pressures on Earth systems, some authors acknowledge that the planet has entered a new Age - Anthropocene. Thus, new standards of relationship with nature are imposed on humanity, which has repercussions on lifestyles and consumption, ethics and culture, dynamic social policy and the organization of space. Therefore, the problem of climate change, as well as socio-environmental issues, calls for a change in the relationship between man and nature. In addition to the geological interpretation, the Anthropocene is an opportunity to rethink human behavior and stablish a sustainable future. These issues are present in the city of São Paulo/Brazil. It was taken for analysis the Quinta Ambiental (Environmental Thursday) group, formed, for the most part, by residents and public managers of the Jaçanã and Tremembé Districts, Northern zone of the São Paulo City, where it is located the Parque Estadual da Cantareira, important remnant of the Atlantic Forest. The aim of this study is to analyze how a group like the Quinta Ambiental makes possible the social learning and the change of the individuals in their perceptions and values for a transformation of the relationship between man and nature. It is a qualitative study with an ethnographic perspective. Secondary data were used, through bibliographic and documentary research and primary data through participant observation, using the field diary and photographic records as tools, from february 2015 to june 2016. It was observed that the transversal form, which built the relations of the participants, involving different municipal and state secretariats, educational institutions and the community, and the weekly coexistence provided greater cooperation between these actors, in the governing of a comms, which motivates the continuation of meetings even in the face of diversities of political and management change. There were positive changes in relation to political and community participation, as the group\'s participants took a politicized stance on environmental issues leading to discussion in various administrative forums. It is concluded, then, that collective spaces such as the \"Quinta Ambiental\" are important to enable coexistence and social learning, and it is in this dynamic that the exchange of knowledge and transformation of values takes place, and the role of the public manager is fundamental to development of such spaces

A partir da Política Nacional de Meio Ambiente que instituiu a Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental e o Licenciamento Ambiental, e posteriormente, com os regulamentos das Resoluções CONAMA, a participação pública torna-se obrigatória na análise e tomada de decisão sobre a viabilidade ambiental de empreendimentos potencialmente poluidores ou de significativo impacto ambiental. O presente estudo problematiza o papel das Audiências Públicas no processo democrático de tomada de decisão, e como instrumento de proteção dos diferentes interesses envolvidos na construção de grandes empreendimentos de infraestrutura. O objetivo foi identificar e analisar os conflitos socioambientais evidenciados nas Audiências Públicas do projeto de ampliação do Porto de São Sebastião, localizado no litoral norte do Estado de São Paulo. Também buscou-se identificar os principais temas discutidos, os atores sociais envolvidos e a formação dos diferentes grupos de interesse. Utilizando o referencial teórico da ecologia política, pode-se definir a hipótese de que as Audiências Públicas não cumprem seu papel de proporcionar aos diversos segmentos sociais que atuam naquele território, com suas diferentes lógicas culturais, o acesso aos recursos naturais para a manutenção de seu modo de vida, e garantindo a sua sustentabilidade. A partir dos dados obtidos foi possível averiguar que embora as Audiências Públicas se configurem instrumentos democráticos, que se propõem ouvir as partes envolvidas, com seus anseios e preocupações, resultam apenas em um protocolo administrativo no processo de licenciamento ambiental, a serviço única e exclusivamente dos programas de desenvolvimento econômico em curso. Nesse sentido, se faz necessário repensar a instituição Audiência Pública, pois da forma como se evidencia, esta apenas legitima uma decisão já tomada a priori. Do contrário, cabe à sociedade civil organizada estar atenta e atuar de forma participativa, trazendo a si o protagonismo da história. Observou-se também que, para o caso do projeto de ampliação do porto de São Sebastião, os grupos em conflito se mostraram organizados, instruídos e capazes de ser articular politicamente para impedir, até o presente momento, que o processo de licenciamento ambiental seja conduzido sem observadas e legitimadas suas demandas. / After the Brazilian´s National Environmental Policy establishing the Environmental Impact Assessment and the Environmental Licensing, and later with the regulations of the CONAMA Resolutions\', public participation becomes mandatory in the analysis and decision-making on environmental viability of potentially polluting or significant environmental impact projects. This study discusses the role of public hearings in the democratic process of decision-making, and as an instrument of protection of the various interests involved in the construction of large infrastructure projects. The objective was to identify and analyze environmental conflicts evidenced in the hearings expansion project of the Public Port of San Sebastian, located on the northern coast of São Paulo. It also sought to identify the main topics discussed, the actors involved and the formation of different groups of interest. Using the theoretical framework of political ecology, one can define the hypothesis that public hearings do not fulfill their role of providing various social groups that operate in that territory with its different cultural logic, access to natural resources to maintain its way of life, and ensuring their sustainability. From the data obtained it was possible to ascertain that although public hearings to configure democratic instruments, that purport hear the parties involved, with their anxieties and concerns, results only in an administrative arrangement in the environmental licensing process, the only service exclusively of ongoing economic development programs. In this sense, it is necessary to rethink the institution Public Hearing because the way is evident, this only legitimizes a decision already taken a priori. Otherwise, it is up to civil society to be attentive and act in a participatory way, bringing them the role of history. It was also observed that, in the case of São Sebastião, the conflicting groups were organized, educated and able to be articulate politically to prevent, so far, that the licensing process is conducted without observed and legitimized their demands.

Esta tese parte da problemática das mudanças climáticas como reflexão da relação homem-natureza. Desde final do século passado, transformações, rupturas e evoluções significativas são testemunhadas, assim como tensões entre biológico e social. Diante do crescimento exponencial das atividades humanas e suas pressões sobre os sistemas da Terra, alguns autores reconhecem que o planeta entrou em nova Era Antropoceno. Nesse sentido, impõe-se à humanidade novos padrões de relacionamento com a natureza e seus recursos, que repercute sobre os estilos de vida e de consumo, a ética e a cultura, a dinâmica política social e a organização do espaço. Portanto, a problemática das mudanças climáticas, assim como as questões socioambientais, clama pela mudança da relação homem-natureza. Para além da interpretação geológica, o Antropoceno é uma oportunidade para repensar o comportamento humano e estabelecer as bases de um futuro sustentável. Tais questões estão presentes no cotidiano da cidade de São Paulo. Tomou-se, então, para a análise o grupo Quinta Ambiental, formado, em sua maioria, por residentes e servidores públicos dos Distritos de Jaçanã e de Tremembé, Zona Norte do muncípio de São Paulo, onde localiza-se o Parque Estadual da Cantareira, importante remanescente da Mata Altântica. O objetivo é analisar como um grupo como a Quinta Ambiental possibilita o aprendizado e a mudança dos indivíduos em suas percepções e valores para uma transformação da relação homem-natureza. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo com perspectiva etnográfica. Foram utilizados dados secundários, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e dados primários por meio da observação participativa, utilizando o diário de campo e registros fotográficosno como principais ferramentas, no período de fevereiro de 2015 a junho de 2016. Observou-se que a forma transversal o qual foi construída as relações dos participantes, envolvendo diferentes secretarias municipais e estaduais, instituições de ensino e a comunidade, e a convivência semanal proporcionaram maior cooperação entre estes atores, na na administração do bem público o que motiva a continuação das reuniões mesmo frente às diversidades de mudanças políticas e de gestão. Notou-se alterações positivas em relação à participação política e comunitária, na medida que, os participantes do grupo assumem uma postura politizada para as questões ambientais levando a discussão à diversos foruns administrativos. Conclui-se, então, que espaços coletivos, como o da Quinta Ambiental são importantes para possibilitar a convivência e a aprendizagem social e é nessa dinâmica que ocorre a troca de saberes e transformação de valores, sendo o papel do gestor público fundamental para o desenvolvimento de tais espaços / This thesis is based on the problem of climate change as a reflection of the relationship between man and nature. Since the end of the last century, transformations, ruptures and significant evolutions have been witnessed, as well as tensions between biological and social. Against with the exponential growth of human activities and their pressures on Earth systems, some authors acknowledge that the planet has entered a new Age - Anthropocene. Thus, new standards of relationship with nature are imposed on humanity, which has repercussions on lifestyles and consumption, ethics and culture, dynamic social policy and the organization of space. Therefore, the problem of climate change, as well as socio-environmental issues, calls for a change in the relationship between man and nature. In addition to the geological interpretation, the Anthropocene is an opportunity to rethink human behavior and stablish a sustainable future. These issues are present in the city of São Paulo/Brazil. It was taken for analysis the Quinta Ambiental (Environmental Thursday) group, formed, for the most part, by residents and public managers of the Jaçanã and Tremembé Districts, Northern zone of the São Paulo City, where it is located the Parque Estadual da Cantareira, important remnant of the Atlantic Forest. The aim of this study is to analyze how a group like the Quinta Ambiental makes possible the social learning and the change of the individuals in their perceptions and values for a transformation of the relationship between man and nature. It is a qualitative study with an ethnographic perspective. Secondary data were used, through bibliographic and documentary research and primary data through participant observation, using the field diary and photographic records as tools, from february 2015 to june 2016. It was observed that the transversal form, which built the relations of the participants, involving different municipal and state secretariats, educational institutions and the community, and the weekly coexistence provided greater cooperation between these actors, in the governing of a comms, which motivates the continuation of meetings even in the face of diversities of political and management change. There were positive changes in relation to political and community participation, as the group\'s participants took a politicized stance on environmental issues leading to discussion in various administrative forums. It is concluded, then, that collective spaces such as the \"Quinta Ambiental\" are important to enable coexistence and social learning, and it is in this dynamic that the exchange of knowledge and transformation of values takes place, and the role of the public manager is fundamental to development of such spaces