Analysis of Elites’ Characteristics and the Environmental Performance in the People’s Republic of China: A Focus on the New Environmental Protection Law

In 2014, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) strengthened local government responsibilities for environmental protection by amending the Environmental Protection Law and strengthening its associated performance management system. Considering the limitations and inefficiencies of the PRC’s performance management system, this study explores how local elites’ traits influence environmental performance, both before and after the amendment to the Environmental Protection Law. The study found that the effects of local elites’ characteristics on environmental performance changed after the amendment of the Environmental Protection Law, particularly with regard to the administrative leader’s (i) birth year and (ii) year of joining the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, there were discrepancies in the results between administrative leaders and party secretaries, highlighting the distinctions in their respective roles. This study emphasizes the importance of appointing administrative leaders to enhance environmental performance at the local level in the PRC.