How Has China Structured Its Ecological Governance Policy System?—A Case from Fujian Province

Xiaojun Zhang, Weiqiao Wang, Yunan Bai and Yong Ye
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Xiaojun Zhang: School of Economic and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Weiqiao Wang: School of Economic and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Yunan Bai: School of Economic and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Yong Ye: School of Economic and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Ecological civilization (EC) has been seen as the final goal of social and environmental reform within a given society. Much attention has been paid to the national governmental level in previous studies, and district- and local-level government actions have been a lower priority, which may have led to overlooking key details of management institutions and policy systems in relation to EC. In this research, we aimed to make a significant contribution to the literature by tracing the EC trajectory and policy transitions. Through bibliometric analysis of policy documents, we reviewed the EC construction system for Fujian Province from 2004 to 2020. The policy priorities, organization-functional network, and contributing factors to policy changes in each of the three phases are discussed in depth. Target setting, actors’ functions, and institutional guarantees are the core elements of EC construction. This research provides a quantitative foundation for understanding policy reform and transition with regards to Chinese local governments’ EC actions. The experience of Fujian Province shows trends toward legalization, multi-actor linkage, and issue refinement that may serve as a basis for other countries and regions in order to explore the promotion of sustainable development and environmental governance as pathways to EC.

Keywords: ecological civilization; bibliometric analysis; environmental governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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