CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION AND LEGAL ANALYSIS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE

Abstract

This article analyzes the constitutional foundations of the right to access environmental information and the mechanisms of its implementation in administrative practice. The relevance of the topic is determined by the growing importance of environmental safety, public health protection, and the principles of transparent governance. The aim of the study is to identify the constitutional guarantees of the right to obtain environmental information and to assess the effectiveness of administrative procedures ensuring its implementation. The research applies a doctrinal legal approach, normative and systematic analysis, comparative method, and case analysis. The findings demonstrate that the right to access environmental information is grounded in the principles of freedom of information, transparency of public authorities, the right to petition, and legality. However, practical challenges were identified, including delays in responses, formal refusals, incomplete information, and the use of inconvenient publication formats. The study substantiates the need to improve administrative regulations, introduce mandatory standards for refusal justification, establish minimum content requirements, and implement open data publication formats.