Future Directions for Implementing Local Environmental Policies in China: A Case Study of Stone Production in Yunfu

Abstract

Architectural stone is used for structural and decorative purposes in the modern built environment. While it offers substantial sustainability advantages over other construction materials, particularly reduction in carbon emissions, it produces large amounts of air, water and waste pollution. China is one of the largest global producers and consumers of architectural stone, with production concentrated in several localities. This industry and its production circumstances offer an excellent opportunity to understand how local and national governance are evolved to reduce the environmental impacts of specific localized industries in China.

This study focuses on Yunfu, Guangdong and analyzes the development of regulations and the compliance of stone producers. The Yunfu City Stone Production and Processing Pollution Policy is China’s first and only local legislation on pollution prevention in stone production. The research identifies key sustainability challenges across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, understand the multifaceted challenges and opportunities for producers under the new regulatory framework, and inform more effective policy implementation by comparing China’s regulatory approaches with international benchmarks like ANSI/NSC 373. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, including semi-structured interviews and surveys, the study employed stakeholder analysis through a power-interest matrix and the Salient Stakeholder Model.

The research findings indicate the policy was ineffective due to lax enforcement mechanisms, with compliance driven primarily by penalty avoidance rather than genuine environmental commitment. Additionally, there was a significant gap in market-driven incentives for environmental compliance, as consumer pressure was insufficient to drive substantial improvements. That failure may be due to the lack of stakeholders involved in drafting the policy. The study augments the understanding of sustainability issues within China’s stone industry, offering a model for other sectors facing similar challenges. It concludes that by integrating voluntary measures with mandatory regulations and engaging diverse stakeholders, the industry could achieve significant advancements in environmental sustainability.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Supervisor	Benjamin STEUER (Supervisor) & Gerald Roe PATCHELL (Supervisor)