Design and implementation of a governance system for the protection of the environment and public health in China: international models, best practices, and implications for contemporary China

Abstract

China’s economic miracle has been achieved at high environmental costs, including substantial air and water pollution, which are detrimental to the health of China’s citizens. A lack of strong environmental governance is part of the explanation for this state of affairs. Courts and regulatory agencies have not adequately performed their duties. Although China’s administrative system, which historically tended to prefer economic growth over environmental quality and citizens’ rights, is at the root of its environmental problems, the Chinese government has begun to show more enthusiasm for environmental and health protection. In this article, a series of principles and practices for good environmental governance are discussed. Because these principles and practices contribute to establishing rational and effective environmental policies and governance, the Chinese government should consider them in rethinking its current system. The models and practices discussed in this article work best if they form a part of an integrated system. For environmental governance to be able to realize its full potential, however, China should also adopt political reforms and shift power from the various levels of government to ordinary citizens. Chinese society knows a number of strategies to collect and include people’s opinions into administrative decision making, these mechanisms could be strengthened.