Conflict or cooperation: the patterns of interaction between state and non-state actors in China’s environmental governance

After nearly four decades of rapid economic development, China has positioned itself as the second largest economy in the world. On the downside, the country is now facing a veritable environmental challenge, which particularly manifests in a pervasive degradation of China’s environment and a deterioration of its citizens’ health. This special issue of the Journal of Chinese Governance investigates the patterns of governance, which have emerged in response to China’s environmental challenges. The analytical focus is set on the interactive dynamic between state and non-state actors in the light of deteriorating natural resources and environments. Based on a conference about China’s climate and environmental challenges, this edition has selected a set of articles that highlight the various governance modes resulting from state and non-state actor interactions. Herein, the central questions focus on how both sides interact with each other, and whether the resulting dynamic is one of conflict or cooperation. The aim of this special issue is to contribute to the broader discussion on how both state and non-state actors shape the modes of environmental governance in China. It concludes by discussing China’s experience in environmental governance, the advantages as well as shortcomings and the possibilities for replication.