Sharpening Environmental Policy: From the Lens of Non-Government Organization

This study aims to scrutinize non-governmental organizations’ perspectives on policy implementation, evaluate the participants’ challenges, and emphasize the importance of environmental protection. Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 16 are highlighted in this study, wherein SDG 12 encourages the efficient use of resources. At the same time, SDG 16 ensures that these policies are supported by transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, making environmental policy more effective, fair, and enforceable. This study uses a qualitative approach and employs a descriptive research design. One-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted with the seven chosen participants through phone calls and online platforms. The researchers provided informed consent to make this study transparent and accountable. The participants’ responses were recorded with their permission and consent. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the gathered data and identify themes. This study highlighted the vital themes in each research question provided by the data analyst. Research question number 1 has six themes: Ineffective Implementation and Enforcement of Policies, Preference for Watershed Protection Policies, Financial Constraints as a Barrier to Implementation, Challenges in Policy Accessibility, Communication, and Awareness, Importance of Sufficient Staffing and Support, and Strengthening the Enforcement Mechanism. Research question 2 has identified five essential themes: Policy Enhancement, Monitoring and Updating, Inclusive Policymaking with Strong Enforcement, Effective Communication and Awareness Campaigns, Cultural Sensitivity and Indigenous Engagement, and Multi-Sector Collaboration and Partnerships. Lastly, the findings indicate how important it is for non-government organizations, governments, and other stakeholders to shape environmental policy collectively. This collaboration will be a strong foundation for promoting environmental policy protection advocacy.