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Full Implementation of the River Chief System in China: Outcome and Weakness

Author

Listed:
  • Yinghong Li

    (School of Marxism, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Jiaxin Tong

    (Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Longfei Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

Abstract

Despite having explored various modes of water management over the past three decades, the water crisis persists and the Chinese government has been required to revolutionize river management from the top down. The River Chief System (RCS), which evolved from small scale, local efforts to manage rivers starting in 2007, is an innovative system that coordinates between existing ‘fragmented’ river/lake management and pollution control systems, to clearly define the responsibilities of all concerned departments. The system was promoted from an emergent policy to nationwide action in 2016, and ever since, has undergone steady development. We have analyzed recent developments in the system from the perspectives of functional expansion, implementation strategies, legislative processes, and public outreach after the full implementation of the RCS. By collecting data over the past several years, the changes in the water quality of representative watersheds in China were evaluated to assess the outcomes of RCS implementation. Finally, a summary of the weaknesses and outstanding problems of the system is presented, putting forward a multi-channel strategy for the long-term stability and effectiveness of river/lake chiefs, and promoting the RCS as a suitable solution to the collaborative and jurisdictional issues in water management in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Yinghong Li & Jiaxin Tong & Longfei Wang, 2020. "Full Implementation of the River Chief System in China: Outcome and Weakness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3754-:d:354333
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qidong Huang & Jiajun Xu, 2019. "Rethinking Environmental Bureaucracies in River Chiefs System (RCS) in China: A Critical Literature Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. François Molle, 2009. "River basin planning and management," Post-Print hal-03061694, HAL.
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    1. Huijie Li & Ru Jia & Ortwin Renn & Tianjiao Xu, 2022. "Managing Risks Arising from Conservation Complexities of Forests: Insights from China’s “Chief Scheme” Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Yunxiang Zhang & Shichen Wang, 2021. "How does policy innovation diffuse among Chinese local governments? A qualitative comparative analysis of River Chief Innovation," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 34-47, February.
    3. Yufeng Wang & Tao Wu & Mengke Huang, 2022. "China’s River Chief Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals: Prefecture-Level Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Xiaomeng Zhang & Wei Wang & Wenmeng Yu & Dajun Shen & Tingting Zhang, 2023. "River Chief Information-Sharing System as a River Information Governance Approach in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Da Gao & Chang Liu & Xinyan Wei & Yang Liu, 2023. "Can River Chief System Policy Improve Enterprises’ Energy Efficiency? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Zihao Zhang & Chao Xiong & Yu Yang & Chunyan Liang & Shaoping Jiang, 2022. "What Makes the River Chief System in China Viable? Examples from the Huaihe River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.

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