Turning Policy Promises into Blue Skies: Mixed-Method Assessment of China's Past and Future Air Pollution-Reduction Efforts

........................................................................................................................................... i Figures........................................................................................................................................... vii Tables ............................................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... xi Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... xiii 1. Motivation and Research Question ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objective ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Air Pollution Is Hurting China’s Population Health and Economy ................................................... 2 1.3 Causes of High Pollution Levels in China ......................................................................................... 4 1.4 Political Pressures to More Vigorously Address Air Pollution ......................................................... 8 1.5 China Is Reforming Its Environmental Regulations .......................................................................... 8 1.6 China Faces Problems in Enforcing Air Pollution Regulations ....................................................... 10 1.7 Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 12 Theories of Environmental Regulation ................................................................................... 14 2 2.1 The Challenge: Reducing Negative Externalities ............................................................................ 14 2.2 Policy Instrument Choices ............................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Command and Control Regulations ...................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Market-based Instruments (MBIs) ........................................................................................ 18 2.3 Economic Model for Enforcement ................................................................................................... 21 2.4 Why There Might Be Implementation Gaps in Developing Countries ............................................ 22 China’s Air Pollution Problem................................................................................................ 24 3 3.1 Current Conditions ........................................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Historical Situation .......................................................................................................................... 25 China’s Air Pollution Regulatory System .............................................................................. 31 4 4.1 Overview of China’s Environmental Regulatory System ................................................................ 31 4.1.1 Policy Framework ................................................................................................................. 32 4.1.2 System of Administrative Implementation ........................................................................... 34 4.1.3 A Holistic Picture .................................................................................................................. 37 4.2 Legislation, Regulation, and National Plans .................................................................................... 39 4.2.1 Environmental Laws ............................................................................................................. 39 4.2.2 National Air Pollution Standards .......................................................................................... 44 4.2.3 Five-Year Plans ..................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 51 National Environmental Policies to Attain Standards ............................................................ 53 5 5.1 Environmental Impact Assessment .................................................................................................. 55 5.2 Three Synchronizations ................................................................................................................... 59 5.3 Pollution Discharge Fee System ...................................................................................................... 60