中国水环境治理机制创新探索--河湖长制研究

Institutional Innovation of Water Environmental Governance: A Study on China’s River and Lake Chief System

河湖治理是典型的公共事务顽疾问题。河湖长制是我国当下水环境治理机制的创新探索。运用制度理论和自然资源管理理论,对河湖长制的运行实践,从体制、机制与技术三个层面的匹配程度进行系统研究。在制度设计层面,河湖长制具有四个方面的特征:以流域的自然属性(流域空间)为基本管理单位、一体化管理、动态管理以及党政主要领导干部的责任制。在运行机制层面,河湖长制具有发现、反应、督查和责任四类机制。在技术层面,现代信息技术、数据技术和图像技术的发展,为河湖长制的运行提供了技术支撑。本文研究结论是河湖长制在实践运行中体制、机制与技术三者匹配程度较低,导致治理效能不高及治理效果难以持续。建议以河湖长制为平台,将体制、机制与技术进行连接与匹配,以实现河流湖泊的长效治理。

The management of rivers and lakes has always been a wicked problem of governing the commons. Based on the institutional theory and theory of natural resources management, this paper tries to analyze the practice of China’s river and lake chief system with a trilogy framework of institutional design, mechanism and technology. China’s river and lake chief system is an institutional innovation in water environmental governance. As for institutional design, it has four principles: river basin as the basic management unit, integration, dynamic management, and the responsibility and accountability of party and government leaders. As for mechanism, it includes finding a problem, taking action, supervising, and tracing accountability. In addition, the advance of information technology provides technical support for the river and lake chief system. This paper finds that the dis-match between institutional design, mechanism and technology leads to the low efficiency and unsustainability of this new system. It is suggested that the mechanism be used as a medium to connect and match the institutional design and technology to make the system more efficient and sustainable.