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A comparison of the water management systems in France and China

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Abstract

This paper compares legal systems for water management in France and China, with a focus on integrated water resources management and regarding in particular the formulation of policies and their implementation. The research shows that China has committed itself to the efficient management of water resources through the development of various policy tools during the current period. This commitment, however, has often been interrupted and distorted by politics, resulting in the neglect of socioeconomic and environmental priorities. France has developed a legislative framework and practical instruments to apply integrated water resources management at the river basin level since the 1960s. This experience and the current implementation of the European Water Framework Directive brings elements that can contribute to Chinese society meeting its water challenges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Xiaoliu Yang & Jian Xu

  2. Asia-Pacific Centre for Water Security of Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Xiaoliu Yang

  3. International Office for Water and Permanent Technical Secretary of the International Network of Basin Organizations, Paris, 75008, France

    Jean-François Donzier & Coralie Noel

Authors
  1. Xiaoliu Yang
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  2. Jian Xu
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  3. Jean-François Donzier
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  4. Coralie Noel
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Correspondence to Xiaoliu Yang.

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Yang, X., Xu, J., Donzier, JF. et al. A comparison of the water management systems in France and China. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 7, 721–734 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0550-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0550-z

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