Public perceptions of environmental risks and willingness to pay for environmental protection: evidence from Uzbekistan and Central Asia

Abstract

This study examines public perceptions of environmental risks and willingness to pay for environmental protection in Uzbekistan, with comparative evidence from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. The analysis uses the 2016 Life in Transition Survey (LiTS III). Descriptive statistics for 1,006 respondents in Uzbekistan show consistently high concern across six environmental issues. The mean concern scores range from 4.5 to 4.7 on a five-point scale, and the modal response is 5 for every indicator. The spread of diseases records the highest mean concern (4.7), while air pollution, rising temperatures and natural disasters each average 4.6. Cross-country density plots indicate that responses in Uzbekistan are strongly concentrated at the highest concern level for both air pollution and rising temperatures. Willingness-to-pay responses are more cautious: neutral answers form the largest single group, although positive responses exceed negative responses for pollution prevention, climate mitigation and biodiversity protection. The results suggest that high environmental awareness does not automatically translate into a firm financial commitment. Effective climate policy should therefore combine transparent financing, visible local benefits and targeted communication that links environmental protection with health, livelihoods and service quality.