Multilateral Environmental Agreements
China and UN environmental policy: institutional growth, learning and implementation
How have the UNEP, CSD and GEF contributed to environmental awareness and institution building in China
Authors:
G. Heggelund; E. B. Backer
Publisher:
Fridtjof Nansen Institute , 2007
The focus of this article is on whether, and to what extent, the major UN bodies for environmental issues – the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) – have contributed to increased environmental awareness and institution building in China and whether they have ultimately contributed to a reduction of environmental problems.
After a brief review of economic and environmental aspects of today’s China, and its historical relation to the UN, the article discusses the impact of the global environmental conferences, primarily in terms of agenda setting and institutional growth on China’s environmental policies.
The article explains that the UN bodies seem to have had some degree of day-to-day influence in a range of fields. UNEP has provided assistance in terms of policy formulation, technical assistance, training of personnel, public awareness and networking. The CSD however, seems to have made fewer practical and concrete contributions to China’s environmental policies. It serves as an arena for learning and discussion of environmental issues, rather than as a body for policy implementation.
Furthermore the article reflects the Chinese attitudes in dealing with China’s experiences and perceptions of the GEF in terms of implementation of climate change and biodiversity projects. According to the article the GEF has been an important source for the implementation of environmental policies in China. As to China’s contribution to environmental issues on the global arena, China does not seem to give priority to the international level of environmental policies. It is an active participant and stakeholder in international bodies such as UNEP and the CSD, but it is currently not providing any leadership.
In the concluding section, the article briefly evaluates and summarises the significance that these UN fora combined have had for China’s environmental policies. Overall the article concludes that should this trend consolidate, establishing the management of the environment and natural resources as major issues in Chinese politics, it is reasonable to expect that China will in the future aim to play a leading role in environmental politics at the international level.
