ABSTRACT

During the last few decades, China has accomplished unprecedented economic growth and has emerged as the second largest economy in the world. This ‘economic miracle’ has led hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, but has also come at a high cost. Environmental degradation and the impact of environmental pollution on health are nowadays issues of the greatest concern for the Chinese public and the government.

The Routledge Handbook of Environmental Policy in China focuses on the environmental challenges of China’s rapidly growing economy and provides a comprehensive overview of the policies developed to address the environmental crisis. Leading international scholars and practitioners examine China’s environmental governance efforts from an interdisciplinary perspective. Divided into five parts, the handbook covers the following key issues:

  • Part I: Development of Environmental Policy in China - Actors and Institutions
  • Part II: Key issues and Strategies for Solution
  • Part III: Policy Instruments and Enforcement
  • Part IV: Related Policy Fields – Conflicts and Synergies
  • Part V: China’s Environmental Policy in the International Context

This comprehensive handbook will be an invaluable resource to students and scholars of environmental policy and politics, development studies, Chinese studies, geography and international relations.

chapter 1|14 pages

Introduction

part I|54 pages

Development of environmental policy in China – actors and institutions

part II|122 pages

Key issues and strategies for solution

chapter 7|14 pages

Air Pollution

How will China win its self-declared war against it? 1

chapter 9|14 pages

Environmental Policy and Agriculture in China

From regulation through model emulation to regulatory pluralism

chapter 10|17 pages

Conserving China's Biological Diversity

National plans, transnational projects, local and regional challenges

chapter 11|17 pages

Land Degradation and Land-Use Strategies in China's Northern Regions

Soil conservation, afforestation, water resource management

chapter 12|14 pages

Balancing Environment, Health and Development

Evolving policy interactions

part III|72 pages

Policy instruments and enforcement

chapter 14|15 pages

Pollution Law Enforcement in China

Understanding national and regional variation

chapter 15|15 pages

China's Policies on Greening Financial Institutions

Assessment and outlook

chapter 17|11 pages

Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment in China

From regulation to practice 1

chapter 18|15 pages

Access to Environmental Information in China

Transparency, participation and the role of media

part IV|66 pages

Related policy fields – conflicts and synergies

chapter 19|15 pages

Environment and Energy Policy

Background and main challenges

chapter 20|11 pages

Green Energy Innovation in China

chapter 21|11 pages

Low-Carbon Urban Development in China

Policy and practices

part V|47 pages

China's environmental policy in the international context