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<p>Against the macro backdrop of the global economic growth shift and the transformation of consumption patterns towards low-carbon and circular models, green and clean production has become a strategically irreplaceable approach to sustainable development. In this context, energy-oriented projects such as waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration projects have significant market prospects but have long been constrained by the “NIMBY (not in my backyard) dilemma.” Social risk assessment is regarded as a key pathway for overcoming this challenge. Taking the “Jiangnan” WTE incineration project as an example, this study analyzed the entire process of its social risk assessment based on actor-network theory (ANT) and systematically examined the practical adaptability of ANT in the field of social risk assessment. The findings reveal that in the social risk assessment for WTE projects, both human and non-human actors possess equal status. Through the “problematization–obligatory passage point (OPP)–interessement–enrolment–mobilization–obviate dissidence” dynamic translation process, a stable actor-network is constructed based on interest connection and consensus aggregation. The integration of actor-network theory with social risk assessment facilitates a shift in assessment paradigms from traditional static “empirical judgement” to dynamic “scientific assessment,” providing theoretical references and practical insights for optimizing risk governance practices in NIMBY projects.</p>

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Unpacking social risk assessment with actor-network theory: insights from the “Jiangnan” waste-to-energy incineration project in China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月13日

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  • Huicong Liu,
  • Guoqing Shi,
  • Wei Feng

摘要

Against the macro backdrop of the global economic growth shift and the transformation of consumption patterns towards low-carbon and circular models, green and clean production has become a strategically irreplaceable approach to sustainable development. In this context, energy-oriented projects such as waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration projects have significant market prospects but have long been constrained by the “NIMBY (not in my backyard) dilemma.” Social risk assessment is regarded as a key pathway for overcoming this challenge. Taking the “Jiangnan” WTE incineration project as an example, this study analyzed the entire process of its social risk assessment based on actor-network theory (ANT) and systematically examined the practical adaptability of ANT in the field of social risk assessment. The findings reveal that in the social risk assessment for WTE projects, both human and non-human actors possess equal status. Through the “problematization–obligatory passage point (OPP)–interessement–enrolment–mobilization–obviate dissidence” dynamic translation process, a stable actor-network is constructed based on interest connection and consensus aggregation. The integration of actor-network theory with social risk assessment facilitates a shift in assessment paradigms from traditional static “empirical judgement” to dynamic “scientific assessment,” providing theoretical references and practical insights for optimizing risk governance practices in NIMBY projects.