American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences ISSN (E): 2832-1766 Volume 26, July - 2024 P a g e | 4 www.americanjournal.org PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES Buzrukhoja Khairullaevich Mamadaliev Researcher of UzMU A B S T R A C T K E Y W O R D S This article discusses the ecological rights of citizens, ecological interests, the basis and importance of their participation in environmental decision-making, as well as the solutions and foundations of ensuring the rational use of natural resources. State bodies, citizen, public associations, decision, right, interest. Introduction "Executive authorities of the Republic: develop a unified state policy in the relevant field and ensure its implementation, and in this regard methodically ensure the activities of local executive authorities; considers the appeals of individuals and legal entities, provides them with state services, and coordinates and summarizes the activities of territorial units in the direction of establishing open communication with the people1". It is known that the dictionary meaning of the word "democracy" refers to the concept of "government of the people", that is, the participation of the people in relations related to the state and society is the main principle of democracy. At a time when today's environmental problems are becoming global, democratic principles, that is, people's awareness of the environmental situation in the country and their participation in solving these environmental problems, are one of the most urgent issues today. The relevance of citizens' participation in the decision-making process on environmental issues can be understood from the content of the decision of the President of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev on December 21, 2022 "On measures to effectively organize the activities of the executive authorities of the republic within the framework of the administrative reforms of the new Uzbekistan." That is, it is necessary to develop the mechanisms of citizens' participation in environmental issues. As a result of this, it creates a basis for ensuring the constitutional right of citizens to have information in the field of environment and further improving the decisions made by the state in this field. In our opinion, the main meaning of the introduction of such a mechanism should be the openness of decision-making by state authorities and the participation of citizens in these processes. In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the constitutional and legal foundations of citizens' participation in state management, in solving important issues of state and community life have been established. After all, in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "The people are the only source of state power. State 1PQ-447.21.12.2022 on measures to effectively organize the activities of the executive authorities of the republic within the framework of the administrative reforms of the new Uzbekistan. American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences Volume 26, July - 2024 P a g e | 5 www.americanjournal.org power in the Republic of Uzbekistan is exercised only by the authorities authorized by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the laws adopted on the basis of the interests of the people.2, defined as Satisfying the "interests of the people" given in the Constitution cannot be imagined without a quality environment for living. The fact that environmental rights are at the center of people's interests is becoming the main criterion of people's way of life. This, in turn, implies taking into account the ecological interest when we mean the people's interest. The Constitution of Uzbekistan does not provide for the ecological interests of the people (citizens). However, one can find several norms aimed at reflecting and protecting environmental interests. The most basic governing rule of citizens' participation in decision-making processes regarding their rights and interests is defined in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In particular, in Article 34 of the Constitution, "State bodies and organizations, self-government bodies of citizens, and their officials must provide everyone with the opportunity to get acquainted with documents, decisions and other materials related to their rights and legal interests."3, it is said. It is necessary to highlight two situations that characterize this provision of the Constitution. First of all, as we can see, this article of the Constitution does not specify the participation of citizens in decision-making processes related to their rights and interests. Nevertheless, there is a reason to believe that the content of this article reflects exactly this right of citizens. Here, such a right of citizens comes from the fact that all state bodies and officials should create an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their decisions, that is, their obligation. This obligation of state bodies and other systems gives citizens such an opportunity (right). The obligation of one party gives rise to the rights of the other party, that is, citizens. Secondly, this right of the citizens, arising from the content of Article 34 of the Constitution, has a general description, that is, the decisions to be submitted for review are intended to affect all their rights and interests. It should be noted that the concept of "everyone has his rights and legal interests" is very broad. Their main system is given in the Constitution and developed in more detail in other laws. At this point, it should be mentioned that in addition to the political, economic, social, cultural rights and freedoms of people and citizens, environmental rights are also defined in legal documents.4. For example, according to Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Nature Protection", the fact that people have the right to live in a natural environment favorable for their health and the health of the future generation, to protect their health from the harmful effects of the environment, the state of the natural environment and its protection the right to request and receive information on the measures taken in connection with it was determined. Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Protection of Atmospheric Air" states "Citizens' right to have atmospheric air comfortable for life and their obligations in the field of its preservation." In it, "Citizens have the right to have air that is comfortable for life and health, receive timely and reliable information about the state of the air and the measures taken to protect it, the release 2Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Article 7. - Tashkent: Uzbekistan, 2023. 3Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Article 34. - Tashkent: Uzbekistan, 2023. 4Article 12 of the Law "On Nature Protection"// Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, No. 754-XII dated 09.12.1992, Article 4 of the Law "On Protection of Atmospheric Air"// Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, No. 353 dated 27.12.1996 Number I. American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences Volume 26, July - 2024 P a g e | 6 www.americanjournal.org of pollutants and biological organisms into the air, and the harmful effects of physical factors on the atmosphere." have the right to recover damages in case of damage to health and property. These environmental rights of citizens, established in the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, serve as the basis for the right of citizens to participate in environmental decision-making processes. Human environmental rights are currently being actively researched by some specialists as a topical issue5. Although the right of citizens to participate in environmental decision-making processes in Uzbekistan is defined in Article 34 of the Constitution, our laws regulating environmental issues do not provide sufficient grounds for these rights of citizens. Therefore, it would be expedient if the present laws and the laws to be adopted in the future include the methods and forms of participation of citizens in decision-making processes related to these rights and the environment. 5Mamayusupov M.; Ikramov I. and others.