China’s Environmental Crisis

"The authors cover a wide span of issues ranging from the analysis of current ecological conditions (such as desertification, biodiversity, and food security, all closely interlinked to global climate change) to the role of environmental NGOs and social change caused by environmental issues and governance. Going beyond a pure scientific description of environmental issues, the book provides valuable insights in their possible reasons and ways out and shows the interdependencies of economic growth, environmental degradation, and their repercussions on the Chinese society. Economic welfare - Environmental Kuznets Curve-like - provides for an increase of environmental consciousness in the Chinese society which, for example, is reflected in an increasing number of environmental NGOs with growing influence dealing with issues such as local pollution, safety standards, biodiversity, desertification, and other issues. Broad environmental goals such as a green Chinese society and environmental sustainability (or the Chinese equivalent: a harmonious society) are getting higher on the political agenda on the central level and even locally. On the side, China on an international climate negotiation level is willing to take greater responsibilities. Confucian values or a Chinese way might be the only way out for China to cope with the local, regional, and even global environmental issues in an appropriate way which also can be understood by the Chinese society. In this book many deep thoughts on many urgent questions can be found. Containing important insights into China s most challenging environmental issues, this book is a must for environmental policy analysts." - Andreas Oberheitmann, International Director, Research Center for International Environmental Policy, Tsinghua University