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

Figure 11.4. Stages 
of environmental 
policy-making 

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11. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: LEGISLATION, POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS
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lack of funding to control the compliance with the statutory 
requirements.
Solving of environ mental problems directly depends on the 
level of society’s knowledge on environ mental protection. Environ-
mental education and communication are the main tools of raising 
public awareness. Communication is an ongoing two-way exchange 
of information between decision-makers and the general public. 
It is an important policy tool, having a major role throughout 
the implementation process of the policy and environ 
mental 
management.  Although  communication  has  a  different  function 
at each policy and management Development and implementation 
stage, these stages are interrelated.
The most important communication functions are:
 
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to make information available to the public;
 
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to draw public attention to specific issues or problems;
 
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to  involve  the  public  in  discussing  and  solving  specific 
problems;
 
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to provide information on new Development s in various 
fields, promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge;
 
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to facilitate changes in public behaviour and attitudes.
Environmental education is one of the most important means of 
raising public environmental awareness in the progress towards a 
sustainable society. The role of environmental education is:
 
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to promote community Development in a way that would 
harmonise the spiritual and material needs and interests;
 
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to increase substantially the public sense of responsibility, 
in vol ving citizens and society in environmental conservation 
and rehabilitation;
 
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to educate the public about the environment and nature, 
raising the level of knowledge and self-education opportunities;
 
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to involve the responsible organisations, educational insti tu-
tions, experts and enthusiasts in the process of environmental 
education, thus supporting the national and local initiatives.
Environ mental education helps build environ mental awareness – 
to study the environ ment, identify its problems and obtain a careful 
and conscientious attitude towards it. Environ mental education of 
staff involved in environ mental management and protection should 
be considered a prerequisite for the environ mental protection system 
to exist. Environ mental education justifies the need for mobilising 
financial  resources  for  environ mental  policy  challenges.  Environ-
mental education, decision-making and practical activities are based 
on research and knowledge of environ mental science. Environ-
mental education and environ mental science are a foundation for 
setting environ mental policy and social sustainability goals and 
dealing with problems.

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250 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
Environ mental education is needed in order to make possible 
drafting  and  implementation  of  laws  and  regulations  –  not  only 
those on environ mental protection but also on economic sectors, 
addressing  internationally  significant  environ mental  protection 
problems at the local level, studying the environ mental quality 
and developing new environ mental technologies, and ensuring 
protection of the environ ment in general.
At  schools,  environ mental  education  and  education  for 
sustainable Development are generally integrated into various 
subjects according to their specific content, ensuring the continuity 
and coordination in various stages of education.
Research Development and the use of knowledge and environ-
mentally sound technologies is the principal economic Development 
path that can ensure sustained prosperity. Consequently, it is 
essential to develop exact principles for the content and objectives of 
environ mental education and science. Environ mental studies should 
focus not only on knowledge acquisition and research proficiency but 
also on the skills to identify and address environ mental protection 
problems significant for society.