The 2000 EU water framework directive and Chinese water management: Experiences and perspectives

Abstract

This paper addresses Integrated River Basin Management as a solution to water stress through a comparative analysis of water management in Europe and China. It makes a preliminary assessment of the European experiences so far with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) on river basin management and investigates its potential value for other areas, focusing on China. Problems and possibilities of policy transfer in the process of initiating and stimulating sustainable water management are investigated. Could the WFD, which seems to have beneficial impact in Europe, be used to reach the same results in China? We will deal with this and other questions, discussing the differences in water management and context between China and the EU and the problems with adopting a WFD inspired approach in China. © 2009 WIT Press.