Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

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ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
 11.5.4.  Types of action to accomplish environmental policy 
objectives
If priorities are clear, types of action should be determined with 
the purpose of accomplishing the objectives stated. The types of 
action can be carried out as special projects, which also stipulate 
some policy compliance and maintenance. Economic methods 
and the use of the mass media can also be suitable and may have 
a  positive  effect  on  the  behaviour  and  attitudes  of  officials  and 
citizens. For the purpose of implementing a common strategy, 
influence on the behaviour of certain social groups should sometimes 
be exerted. For example, it is necessary to guarantee that the land 
use would not be detrimental to nature protection objectives. The 
land owner, obtaining a permit from the environ mental authority for 
performing a desirable activity, at the same time commits himself 
or herself to participate in an environ mental protection measure. In 
this way, private land owners or users can also contribute towards 
the accomplishment of the objectives set.
Administration staff do not necessarily have to be green-minded, 
but their attitude may have serious effects on solving the environ-
mental problems. For example, the municipal employee who is in 
charge of procurement for local needs can greatly affect the state of 
the environ ment if he or she truly understands the situation.
This applies to both state administration or local government 
leaders and the officials lower in the hierarchy, who may come up 
with good ideas – for example, to hold regular discussions with local 
residents and hear their views. So, this is an opportunity to engage 
in the environ mental protection process and timely prevent problems 
that might arise, for instance, due to a mistake in the environ mental 
action plan or because of dissatisfaction of the population.
Social implications of all the proposals should always be taken 
into consideration. Shut-down of a company caused by its failure to 
comply  with  environ mental  requirements  would  have  significant 
con sequences, such as job loss. In such a case, it would be difficult 
to take a political decision on the suspension of operations of the 
company, and, most likely, such a decision would not be taken 
after all. A better solution would be to start cooperation with the 
company’s management in order to make improvements and move 
towards the compliance with environ mental requirements gradually.
Moreover, jobs are not the only social problem. Requiring people 
to change their daily patterns, habits or traditions is always quite 
difficult.  Besides,  such  factors  as  the  cultural  level  and  religious 
beliefs need to be taken into account. At the global level, the extent 
of these kinds of difficulties can be seen, for example, in the debates 
associated with birth control.

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11. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: LEGISLATION, POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS
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Initiator
Initiator’s 
proposal
 Initial evaluation of a 
Regional Environmental Board
Decision of the Environmental
Impact Assessment State Bureau
Informing the public
Initial public discussion
Proposals of the public
Informing the public
Informing the public
Public discussion
of the progress report
Proposals of the public
Preparation of the environmental
impact assessment programme
Research and 
preparation of the 
progress report
Research and 
preparation of the 
final report
Assessment of the progress report 
and preparation of a statement
Assessment of the final report 
and preparation of a statement
Approval of the activity
Project
implementation
Changes that may be disadvantageous to population’s standards 
of living or family budget will always be perceived as unacceptable – 
as long as people’s thinking is changed by way of education or 
information.