States’ Commitment to the Right of Access to Information in the Anthropocene Era: Preventing Greenwashing

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of International Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

2 PhD Candidate, Department of Public International Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction
The relationship between human rights and environmental protection has long attracted legal and scholarly attention. In the era of accelerating climate change, these two domains can no longer be considered separately, as environmental degradation directly threatens fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life. International instruments such as the Stockholm Declaration (1972) and the Rio Declaration (1992) recognize the environment as a common concern of humankind and emphasize the close interdependence between environmental protection and human well‑being. Climate change, as one of the most serious global challenges, has profound impacts on public health, natural resources, and overall quality of life. In the Anthropocene, transparency in environmental information has become increasingly important in preventing deceptive practices such as greenwashing, which often involves misleading claims or selective disclosure by governments and corporations and undermines effective climate policy. The Aarhus Convention (1998) recognizes access to environmental information as a fundamental right and obliges public authorities to provide accurate data on pollution, development impacts, and natural resources. However, the effective implementation of these obligations remains challenging due to weak monitoring mechanisms and structural limitations in environmental reporting systems. Theoretical perspectives—including information transparency, climate justice, and institutional oversight—highlight the importance of reliable information disclosure and effective supervision in strengthening accountability and preventing the distortion of environmental data.
 
Methodology
This study examines states’ obligations in the Anthropocene with respect to the dissemination of environmental information and the disclosure of pollution levels arising from economic activities, grounded in the established interrelationship between human rights and environmental rights. Adopting a descriptive–analytical approach, the research draws on library-based sources and relevant legal and policy materials concerning states’ duties to provide information necessary for controlling the consequences of pollution and preventing greenwashing. The collected data are then analyzed to clarify the scope of these obligations and to contribute to the effective realization of the right of access to environmental information.
 
Findings
The findings of this study indicate that insufficient transparency has contributed to the widening of climate inequalities and the misleading of consumers. Many companies, despite lacking a genuine commitment to reducing environmental impacts or limiting harmful pollution, portray themselves as environmentally responsible or sustainable. In Iran, weak information infrastructure, the absence of binding standards, and the lack of independent monitoring mechanisms have further reduced transparency in the disclosure of climate‑related data. The inadequate implementation of environmental transparency laws, together with the failure to publish accurate information on pollution levels and the environmental impacts of industrial development, has facilitated the emergence of institutional greenwashing. These findings suggest that effectively addressing greenwashing requires stronger public oversight, active participation by civil society, and more robust legal mechanisms to compel governments and corporations to disclose accurate and reliable information. In the Iranian context, reforming legislation related to free access to environmental information and developing comprehensive national environmental reporting systems are essential steps toward advancing climate justice.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this research demonstrate that the right of access to information, as a core principle of environmental justice, must be institutionalized within states’ public policies in order to function as an effective instrument for combating greenwashing and enhancing the accountability of both governments and corporations. This right should not only be recognized in national constitutions as a fundamental civic right, but also embedded in trade law, advertising regulation, and environmental legislation so as to prevent the misuse of information and the dissemination of misleading claims. In the specific context of environmental advertising and marketing, the adoption of stringent regulatory standards is essential to curb false or deceptive environmental claims. Companies should be required to provide precise, verifiable, and scientifically grounded information regarding the environmental impacts of their products and services, and selective disclosure or misleading representation should give rise to appropriate legal and financial sanctions. Similarly, within the framework of trade law and the green economy, clear requirements for transparency in both financial and operational environmental reporting must be established to enable consumers, investors, and regulatory authorities to make informed decisions. Oversight bodies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and relevant European Union regulatory and anti-fraud institutions can play a significant role in reducing institutional greenwashing and strengthening accountability by developing international standards, monitoring compliance with climate commitments, and requiring companies to disclose accurate environmental information. Accordingly, the right of access to information must be treated as a binding and enforceable principle in both national and international policymaking. Legal instruments such as the Aarhus Convention, along with regulatory guidelines and transparency frameworks, can contribute meaningfully to the institutionalization of this right. In addition, international cooperation and the use of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence and open-access databases—can significantly improve the quality, accessibility, and verifiability of environmental information while strengthening public oversight. States should therefore adopt comprehensive and binding legislation, establish independent supervisory institutions, and develop digital platforms for the disclosure of environmental information in order to ensure the effective implementation of the right of access to information and to prevent the misuse of data and greenwashing in environmental governance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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  • Receive Date: 05 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 24 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 October 2025

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