This paper on the Chinese concept and policy experience of ‘ecological civilisation’ (shentai wenming) advocates increasing international engagement with China on environmental discourses and policymaking. Some consider the concept, with historically charged references to Chinese philosophy, to be a challenge to liberal environmentalism.

However, China’s environmental policies are much more multi-faceted than orthodox views on policymaking in China may suggest. Policy design and implementation involves a range of stakeholders and includes market-based mechanisms. 

Ecological civilisation was written into the Chinese constitution in 2018. It serves as a vision of sustainable development with Chinese characteristics and refers to Chinese …