The Study On Participatory Approach In Environmental Governance

Participatory approach plays a critical role in environmental governance. Whether the approaches are accessible, manageable or sustainable have determined the effectiveness and sustainability of public participation in environmental affairs. Almost all developed countries have set up a sound participation mechanism with a series of participatory approaches. Through tracing back the history of participatory approaches in developed countries, especially in the U.S. and Japan, this paper aims at exploring a methodology that can be applied to the practice of participation in environmental governance. This methodology combines the specific purposes of the public with the characteristic and function of different approaches that are available in China. In order to evaluate the function and practical value of this methodology, the paper uses the PX event in Xiamen as a case study.Mainly, four parts are included in this paper. The first part goes through basic theory of participation as well as environmental governance. The second part focuses on participatory approach history in developed countries and finds the valuable experiences that can be learnt. The third part holds the view that the key to effective participation lays on how to choose different approaches based on different participation purposes. Then, according to the characteristic of each participatory approach and different appealings of the public, it comes out with a methodology that can be effectively involved in environmental governance. The fourth part engages in the case study of PX event in Xiamen, analyzing the role of participatory approach in this far-reaching event. This paper examines participatory approach from the perspective of theory and practice and the methodology it proposes could be served as a tool for public participation in environmental governance.