The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of accountability in the context of civilization change in China. Using a Foucaultian epistemic framework and archaeological method, data has been gathered from four sources: textual, interviews, case studies and surveys. Each source has been considered in terms of the viability of the modern episteme and the possibility of episteme change to ecological civilization taking place in China. Also the actors in the sustainability accountability network have been identified along with the key contingencies that could lead to changes in accountability in China. Based on the data collected there is strong evidence that the existing industrial civilization in China is seen to be unsustainable. Also that there are particular contingencies in place in China that make episteme change both likely and perhaps already taking place. The key contingency in this research is the metaphysical continuum based on harmony ideas in ancient Chinese philosophy. As a result there are strong grounds for predicting that new forms of accountability will be based around groupings of organizations in provinces, geographical areas (river basins) and regions, feeding up to accountability for sustainability at national and supra-national levels. Practically this research has opened up the possibility of accountability in China that could seriously address sustainability issues rather than the typical Western approaches based on empty rhetoric to improve reputation and legitimacy. This research has operationalized Foucault’s ideas on episteme change empirically in China. As such it represents an original contribution to research on sustainability and accountability responses thereto.

[pt] Questões relacionadas ao meio ambiente e sustentabilidade estão se tornando, a cada vez mais, temas de preocupação no comércio internacional, com movimentos de países ou blocos como União Europeia, Estados Unidos e Reino Unido. A China, um dos maiores atores no comércio internacional e o principal parceiro comercial do Brasil, ainda não deu indicações de restrições ou imposição de tarifas para produtos não sustentáveis. Mas o país passa por mudanças em direção a uma atuação mais sustentável e a busca pela construção de uma Civilização Ecológica, o que pode ter impactos para a sua política comercial. Essa dissertação tem como objetivo analisar as políticas de uma China mais verde e os movimentos do setor privado chinês em direção a uma atuação mais sustentável, de modo a entender os possíveis impactos para o comércio sino-brasileiro. / [en] Issues related to environment and sustainability are increasingly becoming topics of concern in international trade, with movements by countries or blocs such as the European Union, United States and the United Kingdom. China, one of the biggest players in international trade and Brazil s main trading partner, has not yet given indications of restrictions or imposition of tariffs on unsustainable products. But the country is undergoing changes towards more sustainable actions and the search for the construction of an Ecological Civilization, which may have impacts on its commercial policy. This dissertation aims to analyze the policies of a greener China and the movements of the Chinese private sector towards more sustainable operations, in order to understand the possible impacts on Sino-Brazilian trade.