| This study aims to conceptualize transboundary environmental cooperation (TEC) and examine how TEC helps solve environmental problems in the Greater Pearl River Delta region (GPRD) where the unique "One Country, Two Systems" framework is in place. With two different socio-political systems under the Chinese Government, the GPRD region has witnessed rapid economic growth driven mainly by industrialization and urbanization over the past two decades and has experienced a variety of environmental problems. By conducting a critical analysis of environmental governance in the region, the study offers unique insights into the environmental management problems in the Chinese context and hence the research findings are useful for devising alternative ways for more effective management of the environment.Drawing from an extensive literature review and international experiences, it is found that TEC is a dynamic process of environmental governance to manage environmental conflicts and achieve mutually agreed goals. It is also a political process involving complex mechanisms, processes, relationships and institutions in which stakeholders can articulate their interests, exercise their rights and obligations, and mediate their differences. Transforming theory into a pragmatic research holism, this study constructs an analytical framework which stresses the great importance of a few key aspects of TEC. These key aspects include the nature and characteristics of environmental issue of concern, sociopolitical situations where TEC appears, co-operation regime, determinants of cooperation formation and persistence, and elements of environmental governance. In this study, knowledge, interests and power are identified as the three key determinants and the eight elements involved are participation, compatibility, benefit to all participants, communication, transparency, adaptability, certainty, and expertise.In order to critically examine the involvement of stakeholders, processes, and mechanisms of TEC in GPRD, a case study approach was employed. An in-depth analysis of two milestone cases, i.e., regional air quality management and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, illustrates how TEC plays a vital role in managing the environmental challenges resulting from economic growth, building of infrastructure and disparity in the level of regional development. Findings of the case studies reveal that joint efforts of the various jurisdictions have significantly promoted the regional environmental governance over the past two decades. There are mechanisms for knowledge building and conflict resolution. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of TEC needs to be further improved because several key elements are still not in place, including mutually agreed goals, effective negotiation among government bodies at different levels, symmetric distribution of benefits as perceived by the parties involved, and transparency as a result of free flow of information. The findings of this study also show that the absence or inadequacy of these key elements is deeply rooted in the "One Country, Two Systems" framework under which differences between both sides exist in political culture, mindset, environmental regulations and standards, as well as conflicting interests and priorities. These differences coupled with complex administrative hierarchy and pro-economic growth ethos point to a long drawn-out battle for consensus building and regional collaboration. |
