ECO-AWARENESS POLICY INSTRUMENTS: DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING A TAXONOMY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52123/1994-2370-2025-1420Keywords:
polivy instruments, polivy taxonomy, assessment indicators, eco-awareness policies, KazakhstanAbstract
Policy instruments are used to cause societal change and achieve specific policy goals. Within eco-awareness policy context, they serve as tools to effectively address eco-education matters. While ample policy taxonomies exist for environmental concerns as air pollution or eco-education, no comprehensive eco-awareness-related taxonomy exist for Kazakhstan’s context. Therefore, in line with this research gap, this paper attempts to construct the first eco-awareness-based policy taxonomy. For that, 20 eco-awareness-based academic papers are analysed and 30 Kazakhstani eco-experts invited to assess thoroughly each policy instrument’s compatibility as an eco-awareness-raising tool. Finally, each PI is then assessed according to nine assessment indicators ranging from legitimacy and transparency to equity and effectiveness. According to the expert’s analysis results, public awareness campaign and direct state provision policy types topped the list among all nine indicators. Here, nationwide public cleaning quests and training of eco-experts and eco-journalists were considered as the most effective, well-enforced, and socio-politically legitimate. The results obtained are extremely valuable for local environmental policy makers, who could further refine and extend the taxonomy.
References
1. Vedung, E., Rist, R. C., & Bemelmans-Videc, M. L. Carrots, sticks, and sermons: Policy instruments and their evaluation. // Transaction Publishers. - 1998. - Vol. 5. - pp. 1-280. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315081748.
2. Huppes, G., & Simonis, U. E. Environmental Policy Instruments. // Principles of Environmental Sciences. – 2009. - pp. 239-280. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9158-2_13.
3. Knill, C., Tosun, J., & Schulze, K. Measuring environmental policy change: Conceptual alternatives and research implications. // Institute for Advanced Studies. – 2011. - pp. 1-38. URL: https://irihs.ihs.ac.at/id/eprint/2092/1/pw_125.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
4. UNEP. Approach to Assessment of Policy Effectiveness – Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6): Healthy Planet, Healthy People Chapter 10. // UNEP. – 2019. pp. 1-292. URL: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/27663;jsessionid=AEBD5853AE98522E719160EAEF789424 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
5. Van Nispen, F. K. M. Policy instruments. // Department of Public Administration. – 2011. – pp. 1928-1933. URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1765/33101 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
6. Acciai, C., & Capano, G. Climbing down the ladder: a meta-analysis of policy instruments applications. // IPPA International Workshops on Public Policy. – 2018. - pp. 26-28. URL: https://www.ippapublicpolicy.org/file/paper/5b2926cf8c098.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
7. Mickwitz, P. Environmental policy evaluation: Concepts and practice. // The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters. – 2006. - pp. 1-165. URL: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/250110612.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
8. Liang, Z., Zhang, M., Mao, Q., Yu, B., & Ma, B. Improvement of eco-efficiency in China: A comparison of mandatory and hybrid environmental policy instruments. // International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. – 2018. – Vol. 15. – No. 7. - pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph15071473.
9. Hamilton, K., Dixon, J., Xie, J., & Kunte, A. Five years after Rio: Innovations in environmental policy. // The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. – 1997. - pp. 1-64. URL: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/209081468739294734/pdf/multi-page.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
10. Böcher, M., & Töller, A. E. Instrument Selection and Instrument Change in Environmental Policy: A Theoretical Explanatory Framework. // PVS: German Political Science Quarterly. – 2007. - No. 39. - pp. 299-322. URL: https://www.pollux-fid.de/r/sw-685f5592eededbde (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
11. Coria, J., & Sterner, T. Natural resource management: Challenges and policy options. // Annual Review of Resource Economics. - 2011. - Vol. 3. - No. 1. - pp. 203-230. URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-083110-120131.
12. MENR. Ecological Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. // Online.zakon.kz. – 2025. URL: https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=39768520 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
13. OECD. Policy Instruments for the Environment – Database 2017. // OECD. – 2017. - pp. 1-15. URL: https://www.oecd.org/environment/tools-evaluation/PINE_database_brochure.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
14. Partanen-Hertell, M., Harju-Autti, P., Kreft-Burman, K., & Pemberton, D. Raising environmental awareness in the Baltic Sea area. // The Finnish Environment Institute. – 1999. - pp. 1-109. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESD.2002.000720.
15. Persson, A. Choosing environmental policy instruments: case studies of municipal waste policy in Sweden and England. // London School of Economics and Political Science. - 2007. - pp. 1-337. URL: https://etheses.lse.ac.uk/909/ (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
16. Bragadottir, H., von Utfall Danielsson, C., Magnusson, R., Seppänen, S., Stefansdotter, A., & Sunden, D. The Use of Economic Instruments: In Nordic Environmental Policy 2010-2013. // Nordic Council of Ministers. – 2014. - pp. 1-210. URL: https://copenhageneconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Use-of-Economics-Instruments-in-Nordic-Environmental-Policy-2010-2013.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
17. Salafsky, N., Margoluis, R., Redford, K. H., & Robinson, J. G. Improving the practice of conservation: a conceptual framework and research agenda for conservation science. // Conservation Biology. – 2002. – Vol. 16. – No. 6. - pp. 1469-1479. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01232.x.
18. Ballard, H. L., Evans, E., Sturtevant, V. E., & Jakes, P. The Evolution of Smokey Bear: Environmental Education About Wildfire for Youth. // The Journal of Environmental Education. – 2012. – Vol. 43. – No. 4. - pp. 227-240. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2011.644352.
19. Nugumanova, L., Frey, M., Yemelina, N., & Yugay, S. Environmental problems and policies in Kazakhstan: Air pollution, waste and water. // Econstor. – 2017. - pp. 1-40. URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162150/1/889804818.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
20. Soltys, D., & Orynbassarova, D. Delivering environmental education in Kazakhstan through civic action: second-wave values and governmental responses. // Environmental Values. – 2013. – Vol. 22. – No. 1. - pp. 101-122. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23460964
21. Tynybekov, S., & Roza, E. The right of the public to obtain ecological information in the Republic of Kazakhstan. // Studia Orientalne. – 2013. – Vol. 2. – No. 4. - pp. 167-182. https://doi.org/10.15804/so2013207.
22. Yerkinbayeva, L., Nurmukhankyzy, D., Kalymbek, B., Ozenbayeva, A., & Kalymbekova, Z. Digitalization of environmental information in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Issues of legal regulation. // Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism. – 2022. – Vol. 13. – No. 1 - pp. 115-27. https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v13.1(57).10.
23. Zambrana-Tevar, N. Some transnational aspects of environmental disputes in Kazakhstan and its New Environmental Code. // Journal of Law. – 2022. – Vol. 3. – No. 99. - pp. 65-73. https://doi.org/10.26577/IRIJ.2022.v99.i3.06.
24. Litvishko, V., Akhmetova, A., Kodasheva, G., Zhussupova, A., Malikova, R., & Kuralova, A. Formation of ecological education of the population. // E3S Web of Conferences. – 2020. - pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202015901009.
25. UNDP. Environment and Development Nexus in Kazakhstan. // UNDP. – 2004. - pp. 1-185. URL: https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/ncsa-documents/2147-22347.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
26. Uedraogo, A. Basic concepts of environmental journalism. // Journal of Journalism. – 2016. – Vol. 42. – No. 4. - pp. 230-234. URL: https://bulletin-journalism.kaznu.kz/index.php/1-journal/article/view/1006 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
27. Kumar, Y. Environmental Journalism as a tool for raising awareness about environmental problems in Kazakhstan. // 20th KIMEP International Research Conference. – 2023. - pp. 530-544. URL: https://www.kimep.kz/about/files/2024/10/KIRC-2023-Proceedings-Final-Aug-29.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
28. Kozlova, M., & Varavin, Y. Applicability of ‘green’ financing instruments in Kazakhstan while reforming ‘green’ clusters at the regional level. // 54th International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development. – 2020. - pp. 351-359. URL: https://www.proquest.com/openview/350ff14c3ea67760c55ec77d6400d561/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2033472 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
29. Roshandel, A. T., Labafi, S., & Robati, M. Effects of social media on the environmental protection behaviour of the public (Case study: Protecting Zayandeh-rood river environment). // International Journal of Environmental Research. – 2016. – Vol. 10. – No. 2. - pp. 237-244. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijer.2016.57718.
30. Youth and Environment Europe. Discover Nature – Tools for Environmental Education. // YEENET EU. – 2011. – pp. 1-31. URL: https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/YEE_DISCOVER_NATURE.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
31. Oz, E., & Esgunoglu, M. Taxes in the Prevention of Environmental Pollution Are a Means? or Aim? Alternative Methods. // Proceedings of the 17th Eurasia Business and Economics Society Conference. – 2017. – pp. 267-280. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46319-3_16.
32. Thorsen, B. J., Mavsar, R., Tyrväinen, L., Prokofieva, I., & Stenger, A. The Provision of Forest Ecosystem Services. Volume II: Assessing cost of provision and designing economic instruments for ecosystem services. // European Forest Institute. – 2014. – pp. 1-88. URL: https://jukuri.luke.fi/handle/10024/504515 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
33. Monroe, M. C., Andrews, E., & Biedenweg, K. A framework for environmental education strategies. // Applied Environmental Education & Communication. – 2008. – Vol. 6. – No. (3-4). - pp. 205-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/15330150801944416.
34. Moore, S. A. Social and economic influences on restructuring rural landscapes for biodiversity conservation: Remnant vegetation in the West Australian wheatbelt as a case study. // Conference on Restructuring Rural Landscapes in the WA Wheatbelt and Austria. – 2001. - pp. 1-24. URL: https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/Social-and-economic-influences-on-restructuring/991005545288207891#file-0 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
35. Kumar, Y., & Makhmudova, G. Analysis of Kazakhstan’s New Environmental Code: Focus on environmental awareness aspects. // 19th KIMEP International Research Conference 8-9 April. – 2022. - pp. 450-467. URL: https://www.kimep.kz/about/files/2018/02/KIRC-2022-Proceedings-final-1.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
36. UNECE. Proposal for a capacity-building workshop for journalists at the Astana Ministerial Conference. // Economic Commission for Europe. – 2011. - pp. 1-4. URL: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/cep/CEP-ss_May2011/InformalDocs/AstanaWorkshopJournalists_IP.8.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
37. OSCE. OSCE Centre trains environmental journalists in Kazakhstan. // Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. – 2012. URL: https://www.osce.org/astana/93933 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
38. CAREC. Training on a Climate Change for Journalists of Central Asia was held in Almaty. // Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program. – 2018. URL: https://carececo.org/en/main/news/news/CAMP4ASB-media-training/ (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
39. Myssayeva, K. Environmental problems are not constrained by national borders. // Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. – 2018. URL: https://www.kaznu.kz/ru/18932/news/one/13524/ (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
40. Adamdar CA. Environmental Activists saved Kok-Zhailau. // Adamdar CA. – 2019. URL: https://adamdar.ca/en/post/environmental-activists-saved-kok-zhailau (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
41. CABAR. The status of media and the role of social media in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. // Central Asia Bureau for Analytical Reporting. – 2018. - pp. 1-58. URL: https://cabar.asia/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Status_of_media.pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
42. Green Salvation Ecological Society. What prevents compliance with the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan? // Green Salvation Ecological Society Organization. – 2021. URL: http://esgrs.org/?p=30712 (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
43. Kumenov, A. Kazakhstan: Almaty turning into a pedestrian haven in a concrete jungle. // Eurasianet. – 2023. URL: https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-almaty-turning-into-a-pedestrian-haven-in-a-concrete-jungle (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
44. UNDP. Fight plastic! // UNDP. – 2023a. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/stories/fight-plastic (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
45. UNDP. Pilot environmental school project make schoolchildren stewards of forests and the environment. // UNDP. – 2023b. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/stories/pilot-environmental-school-project-make-schoolchildren-stewards-forests-and-environment (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
46. UNDP. Environmental event to plan ash trees held in Almaty region. // UNDP. – 2023c. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/news/environmental-event-plan-ash-trees-held-almaty-region (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
47. UNDP. An upgraded tourist route in Katon-Karagay National Park opened with UNDP support. // UNDP. – 2023d. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/press-releases/upgraded-tourist-route-katon-karagay-national-park-opened-undp-support (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
48. UNDP. Tackling the vagaries of climate change – UNDP extends helping hand to local farmers. // UNDP. – 2023e. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/stories/tackling-vagaries-climate-change-undp-extends-helping-hand-local-farmers (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
49. Dudinova, E., & Talgat, S. Environmental Discourse in the Social Networks of Kazakhstan: The construction of an imperative. // Journal of Journalism. – 2020. – Vol. 56. – No. 2. - pp. 56-65. https://doi.org/10.26577/HJ.2020.v56.i2.05.
50. Sehring, J. Forests in the context of climate change in Kazakhstan. // CLINCA Program. – 2012. - pp. 1-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.22029/jlupub-5822.
51. UNDP. Reforestation in Kazakhstan – a prime solution for protecting nature. // UNDP. – 2022. URL: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/stories/reforestation-kazakhstan-prime-solution-protecting-nature (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
52. Semenyuk, O., & Kuc, S. Development of eco-architecture in Kazakhstan is gaining ground. // World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education. – 2019. – Vol. 17. – No. 3. - pp. 379-384. URL: http://www.wiete.com.au/journals/WTE&TE/Pages/Vol.17,%20No.3%20(2019)/28-Semenyuk-O(2).pdf (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
53. Kumar, Y. Local eco-activist’s perspectives on environmental awareness issues in Kazakhstan. // Kazakhstan Spectrum Journal KISI. – 2022. – Vol. 4. – No. 104. - pp. 54-82. https://doi.org/10.52536/2415-8216.2022-4.04.
54. Mogiluk, S. Justice out of sight – Alternative report on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention. // Arnika Organization. – 2017. - pp. 1-48. URL: https://arnika.org/en/publications/download/1188_32bc9f132b81b1be2e40b0f7ebbc5d8e (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
55. Arystanbek A. Nationwide Environmental Campaign Kicks Off in Kazakhstan. // The Astana Times. - 2021. URL: https://astanatimes.com/2021/04/nationwide-environmental-campaign-kicks-off-in-kazakhstan/ (accessed date: 18.06.2025).
56. Yessenamanova, M. S., Tlepbergenova, A. E., Yessenamanova, Z. S., & Gilmanov, E. R. Analysis of studying ecological education in Kazakhstan. // Journal of Physics: Conference Series. – 2020. – No. 1691. - pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1691/1/012036.
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
