International Day for Universal Access to Information: Advancing environmental transparency in the digital age

Each year on 28 September, we mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information, a global observance led by UNESCO to promote the fundamental right of access to information. In 2025, the day marks a special milestone: the 10th anniversary of its designation by UNESCO, reflecting a decade of progress and challenges in ensuring access to information worldwide.  

This year’s theme, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age”, highlights the urgent need for timely, comprehensive, and cross-border access to environmental data. From climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and disaster risks, environmental challenges transcend national boundaries. Addressing them requires collaborative, transparent, and innovative sharing of information, powered by digital technologies and open data platforms.  

Access to information is a cornerstone of inclusive governance, sustainable development, and human rights. In Europe, this principle is embedded in legislation such as the Open Data Directive, which ensures that public sector information is freely available for reuse. Platforms like the European Data Portal play a key role in making this vision a reality, offering access to thousands of datasets from across the EU and beyond. 

Open data empowers citizens, journalists, researchers, and civil society organisations to hold institutions accountable, make informed decisions, and develop innovative solutions. From climate action to public health, data-driven insights are essential for tackling today’s complex challenges, and portals such as the European Data Portal are helping make this information more accessible than ever. 

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