Knowledge and climate change policy coordination in China

This article aims to explore knowledge-based processes influenced by international regimes on policy coordination in China. Here, knowledge-based has two meanings: one is the scientific factor of inducing specialization in the policy coordination process; the second is international normative factors. This article argues that the UNFCCC facilitates the development of policy coordination in China based upon knowledge-based aspects. It discusses the role of the UNFCCC from two aspects: (1) the issues negotiated at the conference of parties (COP) which lead to the specialization in policy coordination process and (2) some normative factors in the UNFCCC, which means the standards of behavior defined in terms of the rights and obligations within the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. The author combines documentary research and especially a manageable number of focused interviews (around 40) as the primary sources of information to arrive at his findings. The in-depth interviews focus on diplomatic agents, professionals and decision-makers in Beijing who participate in the activities related to climate change policy coordination. Each of the interviews includes a preparatory interview to be followed by a full-interview. These interviews were crucial in determining the beliefs and discursive orientations of the participants, and so document the correlation between knowledge and climate change policy coordination in China.