Issue #4 (Volume 16 2025)

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Many countries face the need for structural transformation of their economies, particularly in terms of environmental and climate aspects. Global decarbonization initiatives have forced Kazakhstan to revise its economic policy priorities as well as legal regulation in several spheres. The objective of this study was to identify the existing legal challenges confronting Kazakhstan in fulfilling its international commitments to achieve carbon neutrality. The methodological basis is presented by political and legal analysis. Persistent issues in Kazakhstan’s pursuit of carbon neutrality include the absence of clear and transparent mechanisms for allocating CO₂ emissions quotas, insufficient harmonization with international law, poor institutional coordination, and a lack of legal instruments to incentivize businesses and ensure public participation. Some decarbonization decisions conflict with other government programs and priorities, such as plans to increase hydrocarbon production. From a formal legal perspective, the key challenges for Kazakhstan include unclear mechanisms for implementing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the absence of legal tools for abandoning fossil fuels, insufficient transparency of the NDC, and weak formalization of the consultation mechanism with stakeholders (including NGOs and the private sector). Among the challenges identified, there are an absence of an institutional basis for the functioning of a single center for managing climate policy, problems of law enforcement, as well as a lack of generalized judicial practice.

Acknowledgment
This research has been/was/is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP23490668). Project IRN AP23490668 “Legal aspects of processing and disposal of solid municipal waste in the Republic of Kazakhstan: problems and prospects”.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Food SMEs in emerging markets face increasing environmental pressures and regulatory demands, requiring them to achieve sustainable business performance within the circular economy. This paper aims to investigate the influence of green entrepreneurial orientation toward sustainable business performance as mediated by green innovation and green marketing strategies, and environmental regulation and environmental consciousness as moderators, using food industry SMEs in Riau, Indonesia, as the context of analysis. Quantitative explanatory research design was employed wherein a structured questionnaire was administered to 225 SMEs practicing circular economy in urban, mainland, and coastal regions. Data were collected in April–June 2024, and SEM-PLS were employed for analysis. Results indicate that green entrepreneurial orientation directly (β = 0.209; p < 0.001) and indirectly through green innovation (β = 0.416; p < 0.001) increases sustainable business performance significantly, while green marketing strategies have no significant impact. The effect of green entrepreneurial orientation on sustainable business performance is positively moderated by environmental regulation (β = 0.136; p < 0.001) and negatively by environmental consciousness (β = −0.042; p < 0.05). The implications of the results suggest that innovation plays a pivotal role in transforming green entrepreneurial orientation into sustainability outcomes, and regulatory support is crucial.