‘Eco-Nuclear’ Energy Transformation? Authoritarian Environmentalism and Regulatory Policy in China

Abstract

In light of China’s rapid growth and increasing engagement in the global climate regime, the authoritarian regulatory model has attracted attention from researchers and policymakers alike. This paper examines the question of to what extent and in what way state authoritarianism leads to (un)successful environmental policy implementation in China, with particular attention to energy transformation. This study inter-connects macro and micro inquiries through a case study of nuclear energy policy in China. An examination of the extended policy cycle as a comprehensive process that brings a policy to fruition shows that authoritarian regulatory environmental policy intervenes in each stage, resulting in a particular path of the evolution of environmental policy in nuclearising energy transformation in China. Adding to commonly accepted tenets of authoritarian environmentalism in general, the explanations of Chinese distinctiveness in materialising environmental policy enhances the understanding of the merits and challenges of authoritarian mechanisms of environmental policy.

Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors

“…As can be noted in the bibliometric analysis, which deals with research published from 1996 to 2022, according to the nationality of the authors (Table 4), several countries are positioned as references in PWR-SMR research (Table 6): (i) the United States [67]; (ii) the Republic of Korea [68]; (iii) China [69]; and (iv) the United Kingdom. Considering that the growth of research results occurs globally from 2010 onwards (Figure 6), if the results obtained cumulatively between 2010 and 2022 are analyzed, it is obtained that the United States has increased its research results in this area by more than 5.3 times, while China and the Republic of Korea have increased them by more than 12 times.…”

The resolution of the transition conflict from tourism to mining in Pangkal Niur Village through the strengthening of social capital

“…The potential environmental damage caused by illegal mining has prompted a community movement to resist(Balarabe & Sahin 2020, Park & Chung 2022, Parth & Singh 2023. The burning of the Ponton ship in 2019 marked the beginning of the Pangkal Niur community's resistance to illegal mining activities, with support from other villages, such as Pusuk Village, Berbura Village, and Jebus Village, which also experienced similar impacts.…”