Predicament and Breakthroughs: Analysis on the Chinese Public Participation in Environmental Protection in the Era of Free Trade Zones

: Accelerating the implementation of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) strategy is a crucial element of China's latest phase of opening up to the world. With FTZs present in 70% of Chinese provinces, it can be said that China's economic development has entered an era driven by these zones. Faced with the dual pressures of economic growth and environmental challenges, balancing the relationship between economic development and environmental protection has become a pressing issue.This article asserts that there is substantial resistance and limited avenues for public engagement in environmental protection in China. To address this, it is suggested that legislative measures should affirm and judicial mechanisms should safeguard the public's right to participate. This would expand the channels through which the public can engage in environmental governance. Simultaneously, it is imperative to awaken a sense of agency within the public, enabling them to play a more substantial role in environmental conservation.