China’s Water Renaissance: Conflict Resolution, Environmental Reform, and the Clean-Energy Transition in Contemporary China (2020–2025)

Paul F Davis Jr 

Between 2020 and 2025, China accelerated a sweeping transformation of its water governance, environmental law, and clean-energy infrastructure. Anchored in the doctrine of ecological civilization, the country strengthened basin-scale legislation—including the landmark Yangtze River Protection Law—restored degraded river systems, expanded monitoring networks, and advanced nature-based solutions. Simultaneously, China’s transition away from hydropower dependence toward large-scale solar, wind, and nuclear energy reduced hydrological stress and reshaped water-energy–ecosystem interactions. Drawing on authoritative governmental reports, international organizations, and conflict-resolution theory, this article examines China’s “water renaissance” as a form of environmental peacebuilding that mitigates structural water conflicts, rebalances stakeholder incentives, and enhances climate resilience. The analysis highlights legal clarity, ecological redlines, incentive alignment, restoration practices, and citizen participation as core elements of an emerging governance model. The paper concludes by outlining a transferable toolkit for countries seeking to strengthen water security while navigating energy transition, population density, and climate-related pressures.