Environmental and Sustainability Governance: Theory and Practices in China

China’s rapid economic rise and industrialization have unleashed profound environmental challenges, including pervasive air and water pollution, resource depletion, and ecological degradation. These threats jeopardize public health and impede the nation’s pursuit of sustainable development. In response, the Chinese government has strengthened its environmental policies and governance frameworks, aligning them with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key targets—such as clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15)—anchor China’s sustainability ambitions. This chapter examines the evolving landscape of environmental and sustainability governance in China by focusing on three key aspects: regulatory enforcement, corporate environmental behavior, and community engagement. It analyzes enforcement mechanisms, which are crucial for policy success, and discusses the strengths and limitations of China’s campaign-style approaches. The chapter also explores how corporate environmental practices are shaped by regulatory efforts, political commitment, and managerial values, emphasizing the role of external and internal driving forces in promoting sustainability goals. Additionally, it investigates grassroots community involvement and discusses both the potential and limitations of public participation in environmental governance. By incorporating various scholarly perspectives, including research on enforcement disparities, political commitment, and participatory governance, the chapter provides a comprehensive synthesis of theory and practice. It illustrates how far effective and inclusive governance can help steer China toward sustainability and offers practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and academics. Given China’s growing global influence, the environmental governance strategies examined here also hold broader relevance for international sustainability efforts and the global implementation of the SDGs. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.