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Environmental Governance in China: Challenges and Solutions at Local and Regional Levels

This document explores the complexities of environmental governance in China, particularly at local and regional levels. It highlights the tension between development policies and environmental protection, resulting in widespread non-compliance. Case studies, like the Yancheng acid leak incident, illustrate institutional failures and inadequate supervision. The report suggests urgent reforms, including the establishment of Regional Supervision Centers to enhance oversight of local governments and enforcement agencies while addressing corruption, resource limitations, and information asymmetry.

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Environmental Governance in China: Challenges and Solutions at Local and Regional Levels

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  1. Where the rubber meets the road (Some thoughts on) Local and regional environmental governance in China Scott Moore

  2. David versus Goliath

  3. Loose- Loose Situation State Council Environmental policy pressure Development policy pressure Ministry of Environmental Protection “The general [environmental] policy framework favoring development over the environment compromises the work of enforcement bodies at the sub-national level and results in widespread non-compliance with environmental requirements”– Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2006 Provincial EPB Local EPB Enterprises

  4. Institutional Failure: the Yancheng acid leak • 2004: People’s Political Consultative Committee raises concern at water contamination in Yancheng • 2005: Biaoxin Chemical Company fined for pollution discharge • 2008: Yancheng city government says all chemical plants to be relocated away from river, all sewage drain outlets blocked • 2009: Water supplies to 200,000 disrupted after Baoxin dumps carbolic acid into Mangshe River • 2009: Investigation reveals that water quality detection in Yancheng relies on “sniffing and tasting” • “守法成本高，违法成本低”: Compliance is expensive, evasion is cheap

  5. The fix: the Regional Supervision Centers "The six [Regional Supervision] centers will…take on the task of supervision of local government and local departments of environmental protection, to prevent administrative inaction, corruption or dereliction of duty in the process of environmental management“ – Zhang Lijun, Vice-Minister, MEP

  6. Ummm….some problems with that • Uncertain legal basis (No official law or State Council regulation, only SEPA notice) • Confusing relationship with MEP • Information asymmetry (“At present, local environmental protection authorities seal off or conceal information of key pollution sources”– Wang Canfa) • Focus on supervision of enterprises, not local government enforcement (Wang Canfa) • Insufficient resources (RSCs should have 200 staff– Gunaratnam)

  7. Towards a regional approach MEP NGOs Regional Planning Organization Other civil society actors Local EPB Local EPB Local EPB Enterprises and regulated entities

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