<p>To avoid inevitable decline in public support caused by a failure in environmental governance and pollution control, it is imperative for China’s central government to find a suitable and effective system. For now, China has emerged as an exemplary case for strict environmental governance. Nevertheless, here I argue that a change is currently needed because I find environmental authoritarianism in China has been increasingly inefficient, or even scientifically flawed, and will eventually undermine China’s long-term environmental governance. As a key element of environmental democracy, the participation of public and nongovernmental organizations in the decision-making process can effectively circumvent the shortcomings of environmental authoritarianism. Here, I demonstrate the feasibility of realizing environmental democracy in China’s current stage by showing that the country has harbored social and political conditions for transformation. Finally, I provide a theoretically feasible framework for environmental deliberative democracy in China.</p>