Title: The feasibility of environmental negotiated agreements in China

Authors: Hans T.A. Bressers, Yanyan Xue

Addresses: Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy CSTM, University of Twente, The Netherlands. ' Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy CSTM, University of Twente, The Netherlands

Abstract: Environmental negotiated agreements have been practiced in some industrialised countries for decades, but still appear a new option to Chinese policymakers and implementers. To answer the question whether their introduction into China|s environmental management regime is feasible, this paper develops a three-layer analysis scheme based on previous research and applies it to China. We theoretically argue that a country|s background context influences the formation of network relationships and institutions, which shape the relevant individual actor|s motivation, perceptions and resource availability in many aspects. Empirically, we find China has some rather favourable environmental, political, economical and cultural backgrounds to accept NA. Three institutional mechanisms affect the governments| motivation at the network level: the environmental responsibility target system, municipal environmental committees and the Green GDP index system. In a case analysis, we find that the local government is still not fully motivated to mobilise their resources due to the experimental features of the agreement.

Keywords: China; environmental negotiated agreements; contextual interaction theory; environmental management; environmental responsibility targets; municipal environmental committees; Green GDP index; local government.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2007.015303

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.6 No.3, pp.221 - 241

Published online: 03 Oct 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article