Skip to main content

Distributed for University of British Columbia Press

Blue Skies over Wuhan

The Evolution of Environmental Protection Policy in Hubei, 1970s–80s

Explores the history of the emergence of environmental protections in China through the case study of Wuhan in the 1970’s.

Balancing the environmental concerns of citizens, the demands of industry, and the interest of the nation is a complex challenge for China, one of the world’s largest industrial polluters. Blue Skies over Wuhan uses Hubei Province—particularly its sprawling industrial capital, Wuhan City—as a case study of growing environmental awareness in China in the 1970s and ’80s. Yun Liu painstakingly sifts through a wealth of incident records to explore the evolution of environmental protection policy. Reports document repeated sectoral conflicts in this early system of crisis management when measures to contain industrial emissions largely failed because of inadequate policy implementation.

Nonetheless, the attention that Blue Skies over Wuhan brings to newly uncovered evidence reveals a symbiotic relationship between communities and state actors that shaped the trajectory of environmental governance, from an agenda dominated by economic growth priorities to a more mature, state-led approach.

210 pages | 15 halftones, 5 maps, 2 tables | 6 x 9 | © 2025

Contemporary Chinese Studies

History: Asian History, Environmental History

Political Science: Public Policy

Sociology: Social Change, Social Movements, Political Sociology


Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press