By Chen Jianpeng & Liu Changyu, Research Team on “The Turning Point of China’s Environmental Quality and Adjustment of Environmental Regulations”, Research Institute of Resources and Environment Policies, DRC

Research Report, No. 68, 2020 (Total 5812) 2020-3-31

Abstract: This report analyzes 578 national policy documents on rural environmental treatment issued from 2000 to 2019 through both text analysis and quantitative method. The documents are examined from a range of angles including the number of documents, the participant institutions, the distribution of involved sectors, the tool types and the capital input. The findings on the progress and features of China’s rural environmental governance policies show that the number of such documents has increased remarkably throughout three stages: the initial period before 2004, the fluctuating phase between 2005 and 2014, and the fast development from 2015 to 2019. More governmental departments and institutions have been involved in closer cooperation regarding the policy-making on rural environmental treatment. An array of enriched types of policy tools have improved the policy system. The policies now accommodate both nonpoint-source pollution treatment and a livable environment for rural residents. With steadily increased central fiscal inputs, investment has been made to meet a wider scope of treatment needs. The report also makes predictions on the mid-to-long-term trends in rural environmental policies in terms of policy intension, cross-department cooperation and policy tools.

Key words: rural areas, environmental treatment, environmental policies, policy documents, text analysis