IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i7p2547-d159036.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Challenges and Current Practices in China—A Thorough Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mehran Idris Khan

    (School of Law, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Yen-Chiang Chang

    (School of Law, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China)

Abstract

This study presents a critical analysis of the environmental challenges regarding global environmental policies and current practices in China. The study provides imperative evidence about the current emission control strategies, environmental planning, legislation, policy instruments, and measures to provide a sustainable environment for the present and future generations. The study followed a well-defined analytical methodology to analyse the measures adopted to control emissions as a trade-balancing tool for the environment. The findings indicated that domestic as well as the international collaborations were effective in controlling the present problem of environmental pollution, and suggested a need for collaborative agreements to amend the Environmental Protection Law (EPL). The analytical findings determined that the proposed EPL considered SO 2 or NO 2 emissions while neglecting an important source of environmental pollution, i.e., CO 2 emissions. The research findings also suggested a need for to accelerate efforts in a more professional, practical, and result-oriented manner to analyse the diverse nature of environmental issues. The research highlighted some of the obstacles to the successful implementation of EPL for current and future environmental challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehran Idris Khan & Yen-Chiang Chang, 2018. "Environmental Challenges and Current Practices in China—A Thorough Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2547-:d:159036
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2547/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2547/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniel M. Bodansky & Seth A. Hoedl & Gilbert E. Metcalf & Robert N. Stavins, 2016. "Facilitating linkage of climate policies through the Paris outcome," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(8), pages 956-972, November.
    2. Daniele Brombal, 2017. "Accuracy of Environmental Monitoring in China: Exploring the Influence of Institutional, Political and Ideological Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Price, Lynn & Levine, Mark D. & Zhou, Nan & Fridley, David & Aden, Nathaniel & Lu, Hongyou & McNeil, Michael & Zheng, Nina & Qin, Yining & Yowargana, Ping, 2011. "Assessment of China's energy-saving and emission-reduction accomplishments and opportunities during the 11th Five Year Plan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 2165-2178, April.
    4. Chang, Yen-Chiang & Wang, Nannan, 2010. "Environmental regulations and emissions trading in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3356-3364, July.
    5. Steckel, Jan Christoph & Jakob, Michael & Marschinski, Robert & Luderer, Gunnar, 2011. "From carbonization to decarbonization?--Past trends and future scenarios for China's CO2 emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3443-3455, June.
    6. Zhilin Mu & Shuchun Bu & Bing Xue, 2014. "Environmental Legislation in China: Achievements, Challenges and Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Jane Qiu, 2014. "Fight against smog ramps up," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7488), pages 273-274, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nadia Mansour, 2023. "Green Technology Innovation and Financial Services System: Evidence from China," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Chen, Q., 2019. "Sino-Russian Environmental Cooperation: Past, Present, and Future," R-Economy, Ural Federal University, Graduate School of Economics and Management, vol. 5(2), pages 61-70.
    3. Tiantian Zhai & Yen-Chiang Chang, 2019. "The Contribution of China’s Civil Law to Sustainable Development: Progress and Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Dong Yan & Paolo Davide Farah & Ivana Gaskova & Carlo Vittorio Giabardo, 2020. "Evaluating China’s Environmental Management and Risks Avoidance Policies and Regulations on Offshore Methane Hydrate Extraction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Yen-Chiang Chang & Mehran Idris Khan, 2021. "May China Fish in the Arctic Ocean?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Changrong Wang & Lufeng Gou & Xuemei Li, 2022. "Is Education Beneficial to Environmentally Friendly Behaviors? Evidence from CEOs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Yuchen Guo & Wei Song, 2019. "Spatial Distribution and Simulation of Cropland Abandonment in Wushan County, Chongqing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-25, March.
    8. Safa Baccour & Gerwin Goelema & Taher Kahil & Jose Albiac & Michelle T. H. Vliet & Xueqin Zhu & Maryna Strokal, 2024. "Water quality management could halve future water scarcity cost-effectively in the Pearl River Basin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Chang, Yen-Chiang & Wang, Chuanliang & Khan, Mehran Idris & Wang, Nannan, 2020. "The legal system for environmental protection during exploration and exploitation of marine mineral resources in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    10. Thi H.H. Nguyen & Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Yue Wu, 2021. "Environmental performance, sustainability, governance and financial performance: Evidence from heavily polluting industries in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2313-2331, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yuan, Jiahai & Xu, Yan & Zhang, Xingping & Hu, Zheng & Xu, Ming, 2014. "China's 2020 clean energy target: Consistency, pathways and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 692-700.
    2. Yuan, Jiahai & Hou, Yong & Xu, Ming, 2012. "China's 2020 carbon intensity target: Consistency, implementations, and policy implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4970-4981.
    3. Flavio Menezes & Xuemei Zhang, 2016. "Regulatory Incentives for a Low-Carbon Electricity Sector in China," Discussion Papers Series 562, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    4. Liu, Xingjian & Wang, Mingshu & Qiang, Wei & Wu, Kang & Wang, Xiaomi, 2020. "Urban form, shrinking cities, and residential carbon emissions: Evidence from Chinese city-regions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    5. Zhang, Zibin & Yang, Wenxin & Ye, Jianliang, 2021. "Why sulfur dioxide emissions decline significantly from coal-fired power plants in China? Evidence from the desulfurated electricity pricing premium program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    6. Zhou, X. & Fan, L.W. & Zhou, P., 2015. "Marginal CO2 abatement costs: Findings from alternative shadow price estimates for Shanghai industrial sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 109-117.
    7. Ren, Shenggang & Hu, Yucai & Zheng, Jingjing & Wang, Yangjie, 2020. "Emissions trading and firm innovation: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Liu, Beibei & He, Pan & Zhang, Bing & Bi, Jun, 2012. "Impacts of alternative allowance allocation methods under a cap-and-trade program in power sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 405-415.
    9. Ma, Ben & Zheng, Xinye, 2018. "Biased data revisions: Unintended consequences of China's energy-saving mandates," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 102-113.
    10. Ang, B.W. & Goh, Tian, 2019. "Index decomposition analysis for comparing emission scenarios: Applications and challenges," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 74-87.
    11. Shang, Hua & Jiang, Li & Pan, Xianyou & Pan, Xiongfeng, 2022. "Green technology innovation spillover effect and urban eco-efficiency convergence: Evidence from Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    12. Holtsmark, Katinka & Midttømme, Kristoffer, 2021. "The dynamics of linking permit markets," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    13. Jiang, Jingjing & Xie, Dejun & Ye, Bin & Shen, Bo & Chen, Zhanming, 2016. "Research on China’s cap-and-trade carbon emission trading scheme: Overview and outlook," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 902-917.
    14. Qi, Xiulin & Wu, Zhifang & Xu, Jinqing & Shan, Biaoan, 2023. "Environmental justice and green innovation: A quasi-natural experiment based on the establishment of environmental courts in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    15. Kahrl, Fredrich & Roland-Holst, David & Zilberman, David, 2013. "Past as Prologue? Understanding energy use in post-2002 China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 759-771.
    16. Bing Xue & Mario Tobias, 2015. "Sustainability in China: Bridging Global Knowledge with Local Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-7, March.
    17. Yang, Tian-Jian & Zhang, Yue-Jun & Huang, Jin & Peng, Ruo-Hong, 2013. "Estimating the energy saving potential of telecom operators in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 448-459.
    18. Haoran He & Yefeng Chen, 2021. "Auction mechanisms for allocating subsidies for carbon emissions reduction: an experimental investigation," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 57(2), pages 387-430, August.
    19. Goopy, J.P. & Onyango, A.A. & Dickhoefer, U. & Butterbach-Bahl, K., 2018. "A new approach for improving emission factors for enteric methane emissions of cattle in smallholder systems of East Africa – Results for Nyando, Western Kenya," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 72-80.
    20. Zhao, Xueting & Wesley Burnett, J. & Lacombe, Donald J., 2015. "Province-level convergence of China’s carbon dioxide emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 286-295.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2547-:d:159036. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.