Public participation with Chinese characteristics: Citizen consumers in China's environmental management

Abstract

Up to now China's environmental reform has been mainly a state-led process. Yet, to enable further environmental improvements increased involvement of citizens and consumers is inevitable. This article explores existing, newly developing and future forms and channels of public participation in China's environmental management. Opportunities for public participation are analysed against the background of actual environmental parameters and in relation to China's specific political and socio-cultural dynamics. This contextual analysis of the (potential) roles for civil actors is framed around five environmental issues, which are central to the contemporary Chinese environmental debate: (1) protection of nature and bio-diversity; (2) local control of environmental pollution; (3) construction of green company images; (4) establishment of sustainable household practices; and (5) participation in international conventions and treaties.

Notes

1. This research was carried out within the project ‘Strengthening Environmental NGOs in China’ and enabled by financial support from Senter International, The Hague.

2. Throughout Chinese history there always existed various types of formal and informal social organisations and networks, such as professional associations, friendship associations and communist mass movements (Ma, 2002).

3. Several international NGOs, also in the field of environment, were already active in China before that time.

4. A survey among Chinese universities and colleges provides evidence of more than 100 environmental student associations in 2001, located in 26 provinces (www.greensos.org).

5. The selection of the frames is based on the following criteria: (1) one frame taken from each of the five dominant domains in China's environmental debate (see also Martens, 2004); (2) regional variation in China's environmental management situation is taken into account; (3) the selection allows respondents to give an informed opinion on the related potential for public participation; (4) the selection includes – at face value – frames that encourage different forms of civil involvement.

6. Interviews conducted in December 2003.

7. Respondents have been guaranteed anonymity; therefore no references to persons will be made. The author would like to thank all respondents for their kind co-operation and their willingness to share opinions and information.

8. In China referred to as system of Xin Fang.

9. See also Brettel (2004).

10. The Ministry of Agriculture operates the ‘green food label’ classified into grade A and AA, while SEPA implemented the ‘organic food label’. For information on different labels refer to China Environment and Sustainable Development Reference and Research Centre (CESDRRC) (2003).

11. Interview 12 December 2003.

12. Other NGO initiatives include seminars on green consumption by ‘Friends of Nature’ and a special programme for consumer and producer activities surrounding the 2008 Olympics staged by ‘Global Village of Beijing’.

13. Interviews 12 April 2002, 5 and 12 December 2003.

14. The NGO ‘South North Institute for Sustainable Development’ conducts research into the marketing potential for green energy.

15. Interview 9 December 2003.

16. Interview Chongqing Inward Investment Project Office, 18 December 2003.

17. Survey Chongqing University Environment and Resources College, 2003

18. Interview 15 December 2003.

19. See, among others, China Environment News, 10 April 2003; People's Daily, 7 February 2001; Far Eastern Economic Review, 5 July 2001.

20. The Organic Food Development Center in Nanjing (a certification agency of SEPA), has since 1994 issued certificates for the production or trading of organic food to more than 100 enterprises.