Controlling chemical industrial pollution with regulatory tools: The case of Yichang, Hubei, China

Abstract

Chemical industries may pollute the air, water, and soil as well as jeopardize the ecological system and human health. China has established a relatively comprehensive regulatory regime to control industrial pollution, including pollution from chemical industries. This paper evaluates various regulatory tools to find their efficacy and appropriateness, and uses Yichang, a city rich in phosphate ore and phosphate industries, as an example. This paper integrates qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods. The analysis indicates that regulatory tools can be effective in controlling environmental pollution and restoring the jeopardized ecology. It also indicates that the Chinese government can enforce the environmental law effectively. However, these regulatory tools are also costly, insufficiently clear, and may not be effective for each place.