ABSTRACT
Since their emergence in the mid-1990s, Chinese environmental advocacy groups have creatively and courageously expanded their range of political tools and techniques. The maturation of Chinese environmental activism has been spurred by modern factors such as the globalization of environmental civil society, Chinese non-governmental organizations' mastery of sophisticated international tools and relationships, and the proliferation of social media. China's environmental challenges may be the single most powerful determinant of whether the government can maintain its fragile legitimacy and stability. Some cities have pushed innovations such as bicycle sharing and green building standards. China has become a world leader in the production and use of solar and wind technologies, albeit not without international trade controversies. However, China's greatest prospect for change may lie in its environmental civil society. In recent years, Chinese citizens' groups have started to adopt the street theatre 'actions' and shock advertising techniques pioneered by Greenpeace International, with powerful effect.
