Improving quality of environmental information:

social media in Ukraine

Tamara Malkova, ICO “Green Dossier"

Information Center “Green Dossier”

General trends E-democracy is among the main priorities in Ukraine: • e-petitions on the websites of the President of Ukraine

(https://petition.president.gov.ua) and Kyiv City Council • e- appeals • e-map of elections frauds • open data portal (http://data.gov.ua/) • pilot projects in regions • mobile applications (messages of emergencies for Kyiv

citizens) • open budget, etc.

General trends • Open Government Partnership • State Agency on e-governance established • Well developed IT sector, big IT companies, high level

professionals • Parallel services created by CSOs to follow gov.services • 4,5 millions of Ukrainians use Facebook; the number of

FB users has increased during last 6 years by 64 times; it is increasing by 25-30% annually during last 3 years (Watcher).

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Expert networking

• Initiated and lead by CSOs and/or activists. • Discussing important issues and difficult

problems, present urgent events and calls for action, disseminating professional information and announcements, consulting and education, advocacy and policy discussions.

• Monitor information resources, quality of available information, information needs.

• Assist gov sources by necessary information

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Expert networking E-expert supervisory board at the Ministry of Environment,

299 members, created in February 2014, FB Networking of energy experts (11 thematic groups/pages in

FB with different focus and specialization

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Non-professional groups Run by CSOs and activists Citizen platform Nova Kraina (New

Country) • started in January 2014, about 2 000

participants from all regions, thematic groups and initiatives, virtual communication and face-to-face meeting, events, conferences; driving to lobby the governmental and President structures

• 5 FB groups on environment issues • At the beginning – no experts, just

enthusiastic people • Now – collaboration with experts,

influence to environmental policy

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Links between experts and public • Collaboration of FB groups – virtual and real • Engagement into policy issues, direct actions, education • Creating a common space - information and coordination eco-portal

conсept (119 people participate) • Advocacy at the highest level

Обзор кадастров, которые функционируют в Украине Кадастры являются разновидностью информационных систем, которые должны использоваться в процессе осуществления государственного…

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Key conclusions Ukraine started to implement E-Democracy, improves

transparency and open data Open Data services are established by the state structures

and regularly watching by CSOs Civil society is the main driving force of the process CSOs and experts assist gov structures by necessary

information CSOs follow and push responsible institutions to update

information required

Information Center “Green Dossier”

Key conclusions

Environmental issues are still not in the mainstream of the state policy. Civil society put the screws on decision makers via social media.

Social media play an important role • as the most effective communication channel between

public and experts • as educational tools for public and decision makers • in access to adequate environmental information • in monitoring quality of available information • in evaluation of government action

Thank you!

Information Center «Green Dossier»

http://www.dossier.org.ua/ https://www.facebook.com/GreenDossier

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