Environmental information disclosure in China: in the era of informatization and big data

• Author: ZHANG Lei, Arthur P. J. Mol,YANG Shuai
• Pages: 57-75

FRONTIERS OF LAW IN CHINA

VOL. 12 MARCH 2017 NO. 1

DOI 10.3868/s050-006-017-0004-3

FOCUS

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE IN CHINA: IN THE ERA OF

INFORMATIZATION AND BIG DATA

ZHANG Lei*, Arthur P. J. Mol**, YANG Shuai***

Abstract The past decade has seen remarkable progress made in the field of

environmental information disclosure in China. While the overall institutional changes and

the motivation/willingness of the government to open up information are important

conditions, China’s encounter with revolutionary Information and Communication

Technological (ICT) advancement and rapidly emerging big data quickly changed China

from an “information poor environment” to an “information complex environment.” While

most previous studies centered on those drives/constraints that were recognized in

established informational governance framework, recent advancement in ICTs and

emerging big data posed new challenges, opportunities and research questions. When

increasing information disclosure became a new game changer in environmental

governance, China has had to cope with risks and pitfalls in a new technology-empowered

information environment as well. This article updated previous studies on legislation/

regulations/policies regarding environmental information disclosure in China and their

implementation effectiveness, and paid special attention to China’s recent informatization

progress and emerging big data. Information disclosure was treated as a process that

includes data/information generation/collection, disclosure, functional pathways of

communication, and direct/indirect impacts. Changes in environmental information

disclosure should be understood in a broader context of overall changing environmental

governance and informatization in China. It is important to understand ICTs and

information disclosure as a double-edged sword. Normative, substantive, and instrumental

benefits of disclosure as well as collection and reporting costs, the issue of targeted

transparency, and the risk of unintended use should be strategically considered. Principles

* (张磊) Ph.D. in Environmental Management, Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University &

Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Associate Professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources,

Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China. Contact: leizhang66@ruc.edu.cn

** Arthur P. J. Mol, Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Professor,

Environmental Policy Group; Rector Magnificus and Vice-President, Wageningen University & Research,

Wageningen, The Netherlands. Contact: arthur.mol@wur.nl

*** (杨帅) Master Student in Environmental Policy and Management Program, School of Environment and

Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China. Contact: Charles930504@163.com

58 FRONTIERS OF LAW IN CHINA [Vol. 12: 57

and guidelines need to be developed to avoid pitfalls while maximizing benefits.

Keywords environmental information disclosure, informatization, big data, China

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 58

I. INFORMATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN CHINA.................................... 58

II. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE IN INFORMATIZATION AND BIG DATA

ERA .......................................................................................................................... 67

CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................... 74

INTRODUCTION

Since enacting the Open Government Information Regulations (OGIR) and the

Environmental Information Disclosure Measures (EIDM) in 2008, China has made

remarkable progress pertaining to the actual amount of environmental information

disclosed to civil society actors, the diversification and pluralism of environmental

information suppliers and users, and diversification in the methods of transparency and

disclosure.1 This has significantly changed environmental governance in China. While

most previous studies centered on those drives/constraints recognized in established

informational governance framework, recent advancement in Information and

Communication Technologies (ICTs) and emerging big data posed new challenges,

opportunities and research questions. China’s informatization strategy and rapidly

mounting demand/supply of environmental (big) data have already changed China from

an “information-poor environment” to an “information-complex environment.” This

phenominon requires new analytical framework to capture opportunities and risks facing

China’s environmental governance in an era of informatization and big data. This article

built on previous studies of environmental information disclosure in China with updates

especially on ongoing informatization/big data development and implications for

informational environmental governance. To this end, Part I first gives a brief review of

the progress achieved thus far regarding legislation, policies, measures and

implementations. Part II starts with a modified analytical framework and then applies it to

understand the implications of informatization and big data on environmental information

disclosure. The conclusion part reflects on the research framework and presents a future

outlook.

I. INFORMATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN CHINA

Although Articles 11 and 31 of the 1989 Environmental Protection Law (EPL) was

the first piece of legislation in China that provided a legal basis for the production and

public release of environmental quality and pollution reports, environmental accidents

1 ZHANG Lei, Arthur P. J. Mol & HE Guizhen, Transparency and Information Disclosure in China’s

Environmental Governance, 18 Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 17, 17 (2016).