Täzelikler

  Nature is a common home of all humanity, therefore the environmental protection is a universal concern, and people are now well aware of this issue. However, a fundamental solution to environmental problems is only possible at the international level. It is necessary to widely disseminate environmental awareness in every country and region, and to foster and consistently develop a deep environmental consciousness across all levels of society. This objective must be achieved through ecological education and upbringing of the entire population, especially the younger generation.

Environmental policy of the President of Turkmenistan, Hero Serdar Berdimuhamedov, is a priority area of the state policy. Its successful implementation is a key factor in socio-economic development and an integral part of the country’s sustainable development, as well as the gradual creation of the environmentally oriented national economy. Thereby, the importance of improving public administration of the representative and executive bodies, making decisions at the local level in implementing development programmes, is recognized taking into account environmental objectives in direct contact with the population, and the necessity to foster an environmental culture in the professional training of the public administrators.

  As the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, recommends in his book "State Regulation of the Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan", when implementing any activity, it is advisable to first theoretically justify it, study the experience of ancestors and advanced international practices, and analyze the current situation based on local conditions.

In the market economy, environmental awareness is an integral part of professional culture and plays a crucial role in improving the activities of the public employees, especially at the level of local representative and executive bodies. The environmental culture encompasses such concepts as environmental literacy, knowledge, environmental awareness, and competence.

  Important historical fact is that the ancestors of the Turkmens lived in harmony with nature and possessed extensive experience in careful attitude to it. In other words, since ancient times, culture of the Turkmens has possessed specific moral and ethical norms and a unique environmental consciousness. Maintaining a clean and pristine environment played a significant role in their lives and economy. However, due to the low rate of industrial growth in the past, there was no need to take special measures in this regard, to study these issues as a problem, and to solve them on the global scale. Since the mid-20th century, as human impact on nature has increased as a result of industrial development, this problem has become increasingly pressing, necessitating its recognition as a competence of the state authorities.

  In accordance with the domestic and foreign policy of the President of Turkmenistan, improving public administration is crucial for enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the market economy. Hence, as Turkmenistan’s economy integrates into the global economy, enhancing the environmental culture of the state employees in public administration is becoming increasingly important.

Currently, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015 with the support of the President of Turkmenistan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and other international organizations, more than 30 public administration projects are being implemented in the country.

  Innovative technologies are being introduced across all sectors of the national economy. This requires the training of highly qualified, environmentally conscious, and culturally developed specialists. The environmental awareness of the state employees is defined as their ability to apply acquired environmental knowledge and skills when making decisions in various areas of public administration and in their implementation. Without a strong environmental culture or at a low level, it is impossible to make and implement environmentally sound management decisions in various public administration systems. From this point of view, the environmental culture of public administrators plays a major role in improving public administration in line with the demands of the modern era and increasing the effectiveness of decision-making on socio-economic issues. Developing an environmental culture among public employees includes:

– restoring the heritage of the Turkmen people and harmonious coexistence with nature;

– widespread applying environmental thinking and ecological literacy in any work and projects related to environmental protection and nature conservation activities.

Successful implementation of these projects depends on the skills and competence of the specialists performing this work. In this context, environmental education of young people plays a vital role in ensuring a secure future for humanity. Improving the ecological culture of the younger generation of the Turkmen citizens and the entire Turkmen society is aimed at achieving harmony in the relationship between man and nature.

In the era of socio-economic development, industrialization, and the rapid exploitation of the natural resources of the Earth, when human impact on nature is increasing, preserving the fundamental principles of traditional ecological culture, following from the understanding of the unity of man with nature and the need to maintain harmony in this relationship, is becoming increasingly important.

Culture of interaction between man and nature, existing among many peoples of the world and becoming a generally accepted phenomenon, has its own characteristics, particularly in the areas of life and economic activity. For example, for the Turkmens and other peoples of the world living in arid and semi-arid climate, water is of paramount importance. The Turkmen people have a deeply ingrained notion of the value of this natural resource, comparable to gold "A Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold". The ancient, traditional ecological culture of the people emphasizes the need for careful management of water resources and their efficient use. The developing water and ecological diplomacy in our country is a clear example of this. The adherence to this principle facilitates the harmonious and sustainable development of each country and of humanity as a whole. It fosters in the minds of those enjoying all the benefits of modern civilization a sense of fundamental values of land, water, and air, which are linked to human life. Preserving nature in its integrity should become a criterion for the viability of any state.

Byashim Rakhmanov, 

The Academy of State Service under the President of Turkmenistan