Pollution Enforcement in China: Understanding National and Regional Variation

Chapter IN: The Routledge Handbook of China’s Environmental Policies, Eva Sternfeld and Arthur Mol, eds., Routledge, London, 2016, Forthcoming

UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2015-76

FIRN Research Paper No. 2646289

31 Pages Posted: 18 Aug 2015 Last revised: 20 Aug 2015

See all articles by Benjamin van Rooij

Benjamin van Rooij

University of California, Irvine School of Law; University of Amsterdam - Faculty of Law

Qiaoqiao Zhu

Australian National University (ANU) - College of Business and Economics; Financial Research Network (FIRN)

Li Na

University of Amsterdam, Netherlands China Law Centre

Wang Qiliang

Yunnan University

Zhang Xuehua

Sichuan University

Date Written: August 17, 2015

Abstract

This chapter describes temporal and regional variation in pollution law enforcement in China. It shows that over time there has been an absolute growth in the frequency and stringency of sanctions. However, most importantly, we find that enforcement does not match pollution or industrial growth. And as such, the increasingly stringent national policies and extra investment have not sufficiently lifted enforcement to meet China’s environmental challenges. Moreover, central level influences have not yet been able to overcome the immense regional enforcement disparities. Instead we see a split is occurring, with stronger enforcement the richer coastal and municipal level provinces and weak enforcement in less developed regions. Potentially, this can create an institutionalized system of domestic environmental injustice where the rich can benefit from a better environment while outsourcing pollution to the poor.

Suggested Citation

van Rooij, Benjamin and van Rooij, Benjamin and Zhu, Qiaoqiao and Na, Li and Qiliang, Wang and Xuehua, Zhang, Pollution Enforcement in China: Understanding National and Regional Variation (August 17, 2015). Chapter IN: The Routledge Handbook of China’s Environmental Policies, Eva Sternfeld and Arthur Mol, eds., Routledge, London, 2016, Forthcoming, UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2015-76, FIRN Research Paper No. 2646289, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2646289

Benjamin Van Rooij (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Faculty of Law ( email )

Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands
+3120525 3843 (Phone)

University of California, Irvine School of Law ( email )

401 E. Peltason Dr.
Ste. 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-1000
United States

Qiaoqiao Zhu

Australian National University (ANU) - College of Business and Economics ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

Financial Research Network (FIRN)

C/- University of Queensland Business School
St Lucia, 4071 Brisbane
Queensland
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://www.firn.org.au

Li Na

University of Amsterdam, Netherlands China Law Centre ( email )

Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

Wang Qiliang

Yunnan University ( email )

Kunming, 650091
China

Zhang Xuehua

Sichuan University ( email )

No. 24 South Section1, Yihuan Road,
Chengdu, Sichuan 610064
China

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