Is fighting with data enough? Prospects for transformative citizen science in the Chinese Anthropocene

The practice of citizen science (CS) is emerging in China as an apparatus for environmental monitoring (EM). It complements the State’s EM system by ameliorating its coverage, continuity, and accuracy. It has achieved remarkable results in fostering public participation, information transparency, and accountability of State authorities. While acknowledging these achievements, we contend that such an instrumental use of CS cannot deliver the innovative solutions needed to cope with China’s socio-ecological crisis. In fact, it may reinforce the anthropocentric and technocratic vision of progress that lies at the roots of China’s – and the World’s – dramatic environmental emergency. We therefore propose a framework for transforming the practice of China’s CS beyond its current patterns. The framework is structured along three pathways: ecological awareness, emotional responsiveness, and institutional engagement. Emerging trends consistent with these pathways are introduced in the paper, and their scientific and institutional relevance discussed.