public participation

Participation rights play a major role in environmental protection. The public can add weight to environmental protection and nature conservation as subjects of public interest and serve as a counterweight to economic interests. This brings more balance to government decision-making.

In accordance with the German Constitution (Basic Law – Grundgesetz, GG) anyone asserting that their rights are being infringed by public authority may have recourse to the courts (Section 42 (2) Code of Administrative Court Procedure – Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung, VwGO).