How We Work in China

Before, Green Stone was really a student group, and it was very hard for us to scale up our impact on the environment; through Pacific Environment’s support we were able to hire our first full time staff, and gradually transform from a student group to a community based group with our own position in society.
-Li Chunhua, Director, Green Stone

Since the 1990s, Pacific Environment has been supporting the growth of China's environmental movement -- comprised of grassroots community leaders, journalists, students, scientists, and others who are raising awareness about their country's environmental problems and encouraging their fellow citizens to take action.

The movement faces challenges, among them a society that has prioritized rapid economic growth over environmental protection and a government wary of conflict.

Nonetheless, the Chinese government has carefully encouraged public participation as a way to help address the country's environmental problems. In 1994, the government passed a law allowing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to officially operate in China; environmental groups were among the first to register.

Today, NGOs are an important component of China's environmental movement.

Chinese NGOs are engaging community members in a variety of ways, from bird watching and clean-up brigades to internet-based consumer awareness campaigns.

By providing small grants, capacity-building support, and networking opportunities to dozens of grassroots NGOs in China, Pacific Environment is working to strengthen China's homegrown environmental management. We partner with small NGOs across China to work on two critical environmental issues- water pollution and marine conservation and wildlife trade.

China Program Activities:

• Subgranting - our small grants provides our NGO partners with the resources to operate professionally, such as office space and sustainable wages for  qualified staff, and to develop environmental projects with measurable goals and results.
• Annual Water Pollution Meeting - Every year, since 2005, we have teamed up with an NGO to host a Water Pollution Meeting for our network of partners and other allies, building effective relationships and shared strategies.
• Strategic Guidance - During field visits, we provide on-site training and guidance to our partners on organizational issues ranging from strategic planning and project evaluation to individual staff development.
• International Exchanges - We organize people-to-people exchanges for emerging leaders of Chinese NGOs and meet with foreign NGOs, foundations, and government agencies.