Abstract
This chapter reviews a public protest against the construction of a waste incineration power plant during April and May 2014 in Yuhang, Hangzhou. Based on the theory of green justice, the article analyses the core reasons of the protest and discusses the absence of justice between the residents and the local government from the perspectives of procedural justice and spatial justice with a special focus on the NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) phenomenon. It suggests that the significant cause of such conflicts lies in the dominance of spatial justice of a private nature combined with the closed governmental decision-making process, which lacks procedural justice. To build a waste incineration power plant, it is argued, is not only a precise measure of environmental governance but also meant to protect the quality of civic lives. This is a dominant requirement of citizens during urbanization. Therefore, all the parties, i.e. the government, residents, and interest groups, should adhere to green justice as a holistic approach to deal with public bads like municipal waste, in this case based on common and long-term interests, and subsequently share the environmental public goods equally.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Environmental justice was first discussed in the works of some US scholars and activists (e.g. Wenz 1988; Hofrichter 1993; Bryant 1995), who focused on issues of environmental rights among different ethnic groups in different regions within the USA. Environmental justice in this sense concerns the extension of ethnic and regional equality, in terms of both content and range (Hayden 2005: 133–134; Wenz 1988; Dobson 1999; Bullard 1999; Sandler and Pezzullo 2007; Zeng 2007). In our view, the concept of environmental justice is based on the attributes of human beings as social beings, and it is focused on the realization of social justice. The concept of ecological justice is often equated with that of environmental justice; however, ecological justice is based on the biological attributes of human beings. It therefore puts more emphasis on the preservation of natural habitats, the rights of non-human species, and the relationship of other species to our own (Baxter 2004; Wulfhorst and Haugestad 2004; Pepper 2005; Li 2005, 2007; Huang 2006; Li 2008; Li 2002).
- 2.
Based on an interview survey of 20 residents at Zhongtai Sub-district on 10 July 2014
- 3.
Based on an interview survey at Zhongtai Sub-district
- 4.
As of the day that this chapter is finished, the JEEP has been completed and put into use. The local government is developing tourism and enhancing the infrastructures in nearby villages as compensation.
References
Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.
Baxter, B. (2004). A theory of ecological justice. New York: Routledge.
Bryant, B. (1995). Environmental justice: Issues, policies, and solutions. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Bullard, R. D. (1999). Environmental justice challenges at home and abroad. In N. Low (Ed.), Global ethics and environment. New York: Routledge.
Bureau of Urban Planning of Hangzhou. (2014). The revised draft of professional environmental sanitation planning of Hangzhou (2008–2020). Retrieved May 20, 2014, from http://www.hzplanning.gov.cn/DesktopModules/GHJ.PlanningNotice/PublicityInfoGH.aspx?GUID=20140328143144609
Chen, Z. J., & Bao, Z. M. (2013). Zhidu bianqian, liyi fenhua yu nongmin huanjing kangzheng—yi hunansheng X shi Z diqu wei ge’an [Institutional change, interest differentiation and farmers’ environmental resistance—A case in Z district, X city of Hunan Province]. Zhongyang Minzu Daxue Xuebao (Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban) [Journal of Minzu University of China (Philosophy and Social Science)], (4), 50–61.
Cui, Z.(2011). Linbi Yundong Zai Zhongguo[NIMBY in China]. Xinshiji Zhoukan(Century Weekly). (43), 97–101.
Dobson, A. (1999). Justice and the environment: conceptions of environmental sustainability and theories of distributive justice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Feng, J. J. (2011). Gonmin jiaoyu mubiao de dangdai jiangou [The contemporary construction of civic education goals]. Jiaoyu Xuebao [Journal of Educational Studies], 07(3), 34–40.
Feng, S. Z. (2007). Kuaisu zhuanxing shiqi de gonggong canyu yu shehui maodun [Public participation and social conflicts in the rapid transformation period]. In Zheng, H. S. (Ed.) Zhongguo shehui fazhan yanjiu baogao [Research reports on the development of Chinese society] (pp. 181–203). Beijing: Zhongguo Renmin Daxue Chubanshe [China Renmin University Press].
Government of Yuhang District. (2014). Guanyu jiufeng huanjing nengyuan xiangmu de tonggao [The announcement on jiufeng environmental energy project]. Retrieved May 14, 2014, from http://www.yuhang.gov.cn/xxgk/gggs/qt/201405/t20140511_931367.html
Hall, P. (2009). Cities of tomorrow: An intellectual history of urban planning and design in the Twentieth Century (3rd Edn., Trans. Tong Ming), Shanghai: Tongji University Press.
Hang, Z. F., & Zhou, M. L. (2011). Riben laji fenshao changsuo de quwei jueding yu zhengce boyi [Geographical determination and policy game-playing of waste incineration location in Japan]. Diyu Yanjiu Yu Kaifa [Areal Research and Development], 30(4), 11–15.
Harvey, D. (2009). Social justice and the city. Athens: University of Georgia Press.
Hayden, P. (2005). Cosmopolitan global politics (Vol. 79). Aldershot: Ashgate.
He, M. J. (2013). Urban planning in the spatial constitutionalism. Nanjing: Southeast University Press.
Hofrichter, R. (Ed.). (1993). Toxic struggles: The theory and practice of environmental justice. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers.
Huang, M. J. (2006). Lun zuowei zhengti gongping de shengtai zhengyi [Ecological justice as overall fairness]. Dongnan Xueshu [Southeast Academic Research], (5), 131–137.
Hunter, S., & Leyden, K. M. (1995). Beyond NIMBY: Explaining opposition to hazardous waste facilities. Policy Studies Journal, 23(4), 601–619.
Jamieson, D. (2003). A companion to environmental philosophy. Malden: Blackwell Publishing Ltd..
Johnson, T. (2010). Environmentalism and NIMBYism in China: Promoting a rules-based approach to public participation. Environmental Politics, 19(3), 430–448.
Lang, Y. X.and Xue, X. J. (2015). ‘Simin Shehui’: Jieshi Zhongguoshi ‘Linbi’ Yundong De Xinkuangjia[‘Private Society’: A New Framework to Explain NIMBY in China], Tansuo Yu Zhengming(Exploration and Free Views)(12), 37–42.
Li, B. R. (2008, January 22). Huanjing lunli guanzhao shengtai zhengyi [Environmental ethic concerns of ecological justice]. Zhongguo Jiaoyubao [China Education Newspaper], p. 3.
Li, H. R. (2002) Shengtai zhengyi lun [A theory of ecological justice]. Taiyuan Shifan Xueyuan Xuebao [Journal of Taiyuan Normal University], (2), 11–13.
Li, P. C. (2005, March 15). Lun shengtai zhengyi [A theory of environmental justice]. Guangming Daily, p. 10.
Li, P. C. (2007). Duowei shijiao xia de shengtai zhengyi [Ecological justice in multi-dimensional perspective]. Daode yu Wenming [Morals and Civilization], 2, 10–14.
Li, Q., & Reuveny, R. (2006). Democracy and environmental degradation. International Studies Quarterly, 50(4), 935–956.
Ma, Y. (2014). Hangzhou huiying xinjian laji fenshaochang xuanzhi Yuhang Jiufeng: Biewu taxuan [Response to the siting of the waste incineration power plant in Yuhang Jiufeng: There is no other choice]. Zhejiang Daily, April 28, p. 2.
Pepper, D. (2005). Eco-socialism: from deep ecology to social justice (Trans. Liu, Y.). Jinan: Shandong University Press.
Rawls, J. (1999). A theory of justice (Rev. Edn.). Cambridge, MA: Belknap.
Roussau, J. J. (1985). The social contract. (He, Z. W., Trans.). Shanghai: The Commercial Press.
Sandler, R., & Pezzullo, P. C. (2007). Environmental justice and environmentalism: The social justice challenge to the environmental movement. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Schlosberg, D. (2007). Defining environmental justice: Theories, movements, and nature. New York: Oxford University Press.
Tan, A. Q. (2007). Siren, gongmin, zhexuejia: Zhengzhi zhexue zhong de sanzhong siwei fangshi [Private person, civics and philosopher: Three modes of thinking in political philosophy]. Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao (Shehui Kexue Ban) [Journal of Sun Yat-sen University (Social Science)], 47(5), 71–76.
Vogt, W.(1981). Shengcun zhilu [Road to survival]. (Zhang, Z. M, Trans.). Beijing: Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].
Wang, L. L. (2012). Jingji zhengyi yu huanjing zhengyi—zhuanxingqi woguo chengxiang guanxi de lunli zhiwei [Economic justice and environmental justice—The ethical dimension of the urban-rural relationship in the transition period]. Lunlixue Yanjiu[Studies in Ethics], (6):37–41.
Wei, H. F. (2014, September 13). Jiufeng laji fenshao fadian gongcheng guihua xuanzhi gonggao [The announcement on planning and siting of Jiufeng waste incineration power plant]. Today Morning Express, p. 2.
Wenz, P. S. (1988). Environmental justice. New York: State University of New York Press.
Wong, N. W. M. (2016). Environmental protests and NIMBY activism: Local politics and waste management in Beijing and Guangzhou. China Information, 30(2), 143–164.
Wu, C. H. (2013). Huanjing quntixing shijian de guonei yanjiu zongshu. [A review of studies on environmental public protests in china]. Qingchun Suiyue[Youth], (6), 447–449.
Wulfhorst, J. D., & Haugestad, A. K. (Eds.). (2004). Future as fairness: Ecological justice and global citizenship (p. 10). Amsterdam/New York: Rodopi.
Yu, F. (2014, July 1). Hangzhou Yuhang laji fenshao kunju [The predicament of waste incineration in Yuhang, Hangzhou]. Beijixing Dianliwang [Polaris Power Web]. Retrieved April 10, 2015, from http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20140701/523250.shtml
Yu, X. F., & Wang. J. L. (2009). Lvse zhengyi: shengtaianquan yu shengtaiwenming de jiazhi zhiwei [Green justice: ethical dimensions of ecological security and ecological civilization]. In S. Liang & L. Y (Eds.), Quanqiu dabiange yu zhongguo duiwai dazhanlue [Global transformation and strategies in Chinese foreign relations] (74–86). Beijing: Shijie Zhishi Chubanshe [World Affairs Press].
Yu, Y. H., & Zhang, Y. L. (2014). Woguo huanjing ‘linbi yundong’ kunjing neiyin yu huajie. [Internal causes and solutions to environment ‘NIMBY movement’ in China]. Huangjing Baohu [Environment Protection], (18), 49–51.
Zeng, J. P. (2007). Huanjing zhengyi—fazhanzhong guojia huanjing lunli wenti yanjiu [Environmental justice: a research on environmental ethics in developing countries]. Jinan: Shandong Renmin Chubanshe [People’s Press of Shandong].
Zhang, A. (2014). Rational Resistance: Homeowner contention against waste incineration in Guangzhou. China Perspectives, 2, 45–52.
Zhongjie linbi yundong [To End NIMBY movements]. (2013). Wanxia [Sunset Glow], (2), 41.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, J., Lang, Y., Huang, F., Wei, B. (2019). Green Justice Approach to the Environmental Governance Dilemma: A Case Study of Jiufeng Environmental Energy Project in Yuhang District, Hangzhou. In: Delman, J., Ren, Y., Luova, O., Burell, M., Almén, O. (eds) Greening China’s Urban Governance. ARI - Springer Asia Series, vol 7. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0740-9_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0740-9_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0739-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0740-9
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)