Public participation impact on environment NIMBY conflict and environmental conflict management: Comparative analysis in Shanghai and Hong Kong

Abstract

Public participation is vital for conflict management. Although much practice and best experience of environmental conflict and NIMBY conflict management come from the Western countries, the effectiveness of public participation has seldom been examined in China. Comparative studies in Shanghai and Hong Kong were conducted to examine public participation impact on environment NIMBY conflict and environmental conflict management. The results show that involved stakeholders, the degree of participation, participation approach and timing has impact. There is no public participation during the planning/project decision-making stage in both cases. In Mainland China, manipulation and therapy participation, few participation approach and late participation led negative impacts on public acceptance to NIMBY facilities. Based on the findings in the case studies, involving key stakeholders, enhancing the degree of participation, purposely participation approach and timing participation in the project lifecycle process are suggested for environment NIMBY conflict and environmental conflict management.