Governing Climate Language

What happens when the state not only regulates climate action but also defines the very language of climate change?

Dr Zoe Wang's newly co-authored publication with Fengshi Wu (University of New South Wales) and Dr Natalie Wong (National Chengchi University) on China’s environmental Non Government Organisations (NGOs) suggests that, while Chinese eNGOs could be key players in helping communities adapt to climate change, they are constrained by an authoritarian system that heavily shapes both governance and knowledge. The state’s dominance limits NGOs’ ability to access, contribute to, or influence climate knowledge, leaving them on the margins of decision-making—even when they hold valuable on-the-ground experience.

Their research also shows that NGOs in China’s rural, remote, and minority regions often play a more vital role in climate adaptation than their urban counterparts, because they are deeply rooted in local communities where state support does not always reach. Yet, despite their strong connections, these NGOs must carefully navigate political sensitivities—avoiding issues like exploitative development (such as dams).
This research confirms that climate change is not just a technical or scientific challenge; it is deeply political. If NGOs are sidelined, communities may lose crucial support in resilience-building.

For China, this means adaptation efforts remain state-driven and less responsive to local realities. For the broader global community, the lesson is that inclusive knowledge production and genuine participation matter. Empowering NGOs can unlock practical, community-based solutions for more effective climate adaptation.

The chapter titled “NGO responses to climate change vulnerability in China” is part of the “ The Handbook on Climate Change Vulnerability, Environments and Communities”, an interdisciplinary book chapters largely informed by field-based research from around the world.

November 2025