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The Local Environmental Regulatory Regime in China: Changes in Pro-Environment Orientation, Institutional Capacity, and External Political Support in Guangzhou

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Francesch-Huidobro

    (Department of Public and Social Administration, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong)

  • Carlos Wing-Hung Lo

    (Department of Management and Marketing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

  • Shui-Yan Tang

    (Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626, USA)

Abstract

In the first decade of this millennium China has demonstrated a stronger commitment to environmental protection. Yet, there remains a significant gap between environmental laws and regulations and the quality of the environment. In this paper, we propose an integrated framework for analysis that we apply to investigate the factors that account for this gap in implementation. We analyse the results of surveys conducted in 2000 and 2006 and interviews carried out in 2006 and 2007 in eleven jurisdictions of Guangzhou municipality on three factors: pro-environment orientation, institutional capacity, and external political support for environmental units. The results show that, after several decades of environmental protection regulations, the pro-environment orientation of environmental officials in Guangzhou has been strengthened, whereas the institutional capacity of environmental agencies, although often beefed up in real terms, remains inadequate due to the heightened expectations of state and society actors. It is the external political support received by environmental agencies that drives the success or failure of environmental protection enforcement. More often than not, the strength or weakness of political support is embedded in the policy design and implementation structure and is associated with the policy orientation of political leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Francesch-Huidobro & Carlos Wing-Hung Lo & Shui-Yan Tang, 2012. "The Local Environmental Regulatory Regime in China: Changes in Pro-Environment Orientation, Institutional Capacity, and External Political Support in Guangzhou," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(10), pages 2493-2511, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:44:y:2012:i:10:p:2493-2511
    DOI: 10.1068/a44504
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shui-Yan Tang & Xueyong Zhan, 2008. "Civic Environmental NGOs, Civil Society, and Democratisation in China," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 425-448.
    2. Carlos Wing‐Hung Lo & Jack Man‐Keung Lo & Kai‐Chee Cheung, 2001. "INSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Service Organizations as an Alternative for Administrative Enhancement," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 18(1), pages 36-57, March.
    3. Nancy Shulock, 1999. "The paradox of policy analysis: If it is not used, why do we produce so much of it?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(2), pages 226-244.
    4. Jeremy Firestone, 2002. "Agency governance and enforcement: the influence of mission on environmental decisionmaking," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(3), pages 409-426.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. Wang, Ailun & Hu, Shuo & Lin, Boqiang, 2021. "Can environmental regulation solve pollution problems? Theoretical model and empirical research based on the skill premium," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Chaofan Chen & Jing Han & Peilei Fan, 2016. "Measuring the Level of Industrial Green Development and Exploring Its Influencing Factors: Empirical Evidence from China’s 30 Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Xie, Li & Li, Zexin & Ye, Xiuhua & Jiang, Yanru, 2021. "Environmental regulation and energy investment structure: Empirical evidence from China's power industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Qi Wang & Mengdi Liu & Jintao Xu & Bing Zhang, 2023. "Blow the Lid Off: Public Complaints, Bargaining Power, and Government Responsiveness on Social Media," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 85(1), pages 133-166, May.
    6. Fu, Tong & Jian, Ze, 2021. "Corruption pays off: How environmental regulations promote corporate innovation in a developing country," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Guanghui Tian & Jianming Miao & Changhong Miao & Yehua Dennis Wei & Dongyang Yang, 2022. "Interplay of Environmental Regulation and Local Protectionism in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Dong Guo & Satyajit Bose & Kristina Alnes, 2017. "Employment implications of stricter pollution regulation in China: theories and lessons from the USA," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 549-569, April.
    9. May Chu, 2020. "Horses for courses: China's accommodative approach to food standard‐setting in response to the internationalization of regulation," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(3), pages 514-530, July.
    10. Ruiqian Li & Ramakrishnan Ramanathan, 2018. "Impacts of Industrial Heterogeneity and Technical Innovation on the Relationship between Environmental Performance and Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-25, May.
    11. Kent Walker & Na Ni & Weidong Huo, 2014. "Is the Red Dragon Green? An Examination of the Antecedents and Consequences of Environmental Proactivity in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 27-43, November.
    12. Wang, Qi & Liu, Mengdi & Xu, Jintao & Zhang, Bing, 2023. "Blow the Lid Off: Public Complaints, Bargaining Power, and Government Responsiveness on Social Media," EfD Discussion Paper 23-5, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.

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