Government and the society

Alex Y. Lo () and Chen Xiang ()

Chapter 3 in China's Climate Policy, 2025, pp 39-59 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter describes the broader practices and institutional transition of China's climate governance. The discussion involves the shifting role of different ministries, central–local relations, and the roles of civil society and experts. It highlights the formation of small leading groups that centralize decision-making, the ongoing power dynamic between the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission, and the growing influence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alongside the special envoy for climate change. The analysis further explores how the Energy Conservation Target Responsibility System shapes central–local coordination, with top-down mandates driving enforcement. Attention is also given to how civil society organizations, expert communities, and climate diplomacy fit into this predominantly hierarchical system. Finally, the chapter considers how an economic slowdown and a renewed emphasis on traditional industries complicate China's broader climate commitments, raising questions about the balance between economic priorities and climate ambitions.

Keywords: Climate leading small groups; Ministerial coordination; International climate engagement; Energy conservation; Target responsibility system; Civil society (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035341252
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