Public Participation and the Effect of Environmental Governance in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The public plays a key role in environmental governance systems. Many studies have discussed the effects of public participation on environmental governance in China from different perspectives. However, there has been no systematic integrated analysis of the effects of public participation on environmental governance and the causes of its heterogeneity. To help fill this gap, we developed a comprehensive analysis framework of the regional differences–participation method–pollution type, and 85 effect sizes were tested by the meta-analysis method. The results showed that there was a weak positive correlation between public environmental participation and the environmental governance effect (ES = 0.044, p < 0.001). The correlation between the two was regulated by regional space and pollution type. The promotion effect of public participation on waste and noise was significantly higher than that of central and western areas. However, there was no significant difference between the different participation methods. Taken together, these results have important significance for increasing public participation and optimizing the effect of environmental governance.

"Improving public sector performance: the power of implementing corporate governance "

“…Previous literature (Dong, Wang & Zhou, 2023) confirms that the public has a significant role to play in many long-term goals which cannot be accomplished individually, for instance, environmental governance. There are a number of studies that discuss the impact of public participation on environmental governance.…”

“…Even though the public involvement in governance has been increasing, researchers have no common ground, when it comes to, its impact on the quality of governance. Furthermore, there are contradictory results and conclusions that do not clearly indicate whether the relationship between public participation and environmental governance is positive or negative (Dong, Wang and Zhou, 2023). According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), public participation has several benefits.…”

How to Enhance Public Participation in Environmental Governance? Evidence from China

“…Public feedback on environmental issues can lead local governments to introduce more administrative regulations on environmental governance, underscoring the importance of public participation [20]. Studies have also found that public engagement in environmental governance can significantly enhance local regional environmental quality [28] and have a significant negative impact on pollution emissions, contributing to the effectiveness of environmental governance [29]. However, challenges persist.…”

“…Conversely, if the government's response to public messages is perceived as inadequate or dismissive, it diminishes the perceived value of public participation efforts, thereby dampening public motivation to engage. Prior research has also highlighted the pivotal role of local governments in facilitating effective public participation [29]. Positive government responsiveness enhances the perceived significance of public engagement, encouraging greater citizen involvement in environmental governance.…”