從環境傳播探討政府、民眾與媒體角色─以環境影響評估制度為例

Abstract

本研究從「環境傳播」的概念，檢視環境影響評估制度中媒體的角色、資訊公開的透明程度以及民眾參與機制的落實，觀察民眾、媒體和政府間的三角關係。同時採取深度採訪報導的方式，淺顯易懂而有脈絡的陳述，讓一個學術課題也可供一般大眾閱讀，促進大眾更了解環評，更關心、更主動參與環境決策。 本研究以兩個案為報導主軸，分別是政府發公文禁止採訪的記者─周富美事件與台塑想在雲林縣台西鄉興建大煉鋼廠之環評事件。 探討這兩個案，本研究發現媒體在環評審查會議中的重要角色包括：監督環評制度的運作並維持環評審查的獨立性、揭露環評決策的辯論過程與過程中的少數反對聲音、確保環評資訊的公開、透明、流通，以提高民眾親自參與環境決策的過程，媒體與環保署之間應重建互信關係。 為了促使環境資訊更公開，減少地方政治角力，增加民眾親身參與環評，政府應速擬訂「環境資訊公開法」，並加速「政策環評」的落實，重大開發案應進入環境影響評估報告書製作審查，讓重大開發對環境環境衝擊的資訊能有完整揭露，增加民眾對環境資訊的認知，鼓勵當地民眾舉辦「公民對話」做出當地的環境決策。而媒體也應給予更多版面與時間報導環境議題。

From the point of view of environmental communication, this thesis will study among the media’s role, freedom of environmental information, and public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment of Taiwan. This study supports the presence of environmental journalists in Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee as a guarantee that maintains independent assessment and exposure of rare opposite voices to the public. This way could educate, alert and help people to protect environment. In order to enhance the opportunities for public participation in environmental decision-making, the freedom of environmental information is necessary. The government should establish Taiwan’s Freedom of Environmental Information System and accelerate the implementation of strategic environmental assessment as soon as possible. Also, if one development is crucial to our nature, the developer should conduct a phase II impact assessment and prepare an draft environmental impact report directly, rather than starting from a phase I impact assessment. With in-depth reporting, this paper is not only an academic study but also news reporting that is clear and easy to understand for the public.