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Environmental Justice and Sustainability Impact Assessment: In Search of Solutions to Ethnic Conflicts Caused by Coal Mining in Inner Mongolia, China

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  • Lee Liu

    (Geography Program, School of Environmental, Physical & Applied Sciences, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093, USA)

  • Jie Liu

    (Jilin Province Environmental Monitoring Center, 2063 Tailai St, Changchun 130011, China)

  • Zhenguo Zhang

    (College of Economics and Management, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian 130011, China)

Abstract

The Chinese government adopted more specific and stringent environmental impact assessment (EIA) guidelines in 2011, soon after the widespread ethnic protests against coal mining in Inner Mongolia. However, our research suggests that the root of the ethnic tension is a sustainability problem, in addition to environmental issues. In particular, the Mongolians do not feel they have benefited from the mining of their resources. Existing environmental assessment tools are inadequate to address sustainability, which is concerned with environmental protection, social justice and economic equity. Thus, it is necessary to develop a sustainability impact assessment (SIA) to fill in the gap. SIA would be in theory and practice a better tool than EIA for assessing sustainability impact. However, China’s political system presents a major challenge to promoting social and economic equity. Another practical challenge for SIA is corruption which has been also responsible for the failing of EIA in assessing environmental impacts of coal mining in Inner Mongolia. Under the current political system, China should adopt the SIA while continuing its fight against corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee Liu & Jie Liu & Zhenguo Zhang, 2014. "Environmental Justice and Sustainability Impact Assessment: In Search of Solutions to Ethnic Conflicts Caused by Coal Mining in Inner Mongolia, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:12:p:8756-8774:d:42963
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Qi He & Ran Wang & Han Ji & Gaoyang Wei & Jincheng Wang & Jingwen Liu, 2019. "Theoretical Model of Environmental Justice and Environmental Inequality in China’s Four Major Economic Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Xianwei Liu & Yang Zou & Jianping Wu, 2018. "Factors Influencing Public-Sphere Pro-Environmental Behavior among Mongolian College Students: A Test of Value–Belief–Norm Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Jian Peng & Minli Zong & Yi'na Hu & Yanxu Liu & Jiansheng Wu, 2015. "Assessing Landscape Ecological Risk in a Mining City: A Case Study in Liaoyuan City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-23, June.
    5. Bing Xue & Mario Tobias, 2015. "Sustainability in China: Bridging Global Knowledge with Local Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-7, March.
    6. Ruxue Shi & Pingtao Yi & Weiwei Li & Lu Wang, 2021. "Sustainability Assessment of Autonomous Regions in China Using GRA-SPA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Jiu Huang & Chuyuan Tian & Longfei Xing & Zhengfu Bian & Xiexing Miao, 2017. "Green and Sustainable Mining: Underground Coal Mine Fully Mechanized Solid Dense Stowing-Mining Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Xiaoji Zeng & Zhifeng Liu & Chunyang He & Qun Ma & Jianguo Wu, 2018. "Quantifying Surface Coal-Mining Patterns to Promote Regional Sustainability in Ordos, Inner Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Okhumode H. Yakubu, 2018. "Delivering Environmental Justice through Environmental Impact Assessment in the United States: The Challenge of Public Participation," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, February.

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