04 September 2025|News
On September 3, 2025, UNEP-IEMP visited to the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (hereinafter referred to as the "SKLGP") of Chengdu University of Technology. The purpose of this visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the SKLGP’s progress in scientific research innovation and international cooperation, and to explore future cooperation opportunities in the fields of environmental management and sustainable development.
During the visit, accompanied by relevant leaders of the SKLGP, Director Zhang Linxiu listened to a detailed introduction by the laboratory on its achievements in international cooperation and future plans. As a national-level scientific research hub in China’s field of geohazard research, SKLGP has not only played a key technical support role in major domestic geohazard prevention and control projects, but also shared its advanced monitoring and early warning, ecological restoration, and engineering governance technologies and experience with countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" and other parts of the world threatened by geohazards through a number of international cooperation projects, demonstrating a high sense of international responsibility and technological influence.
After listening to the report, Director Zhang praised the State Key Laboratory for its outstanding achievements in the fields of geohazard prevention and environmental protection, especially its contributions to promoting technology internationalization and knowledge sharing. She stated, "The scientific research work of the State Key Laboratory not only has important theoretical value, but also exerts significant practical impact, providing valuable Chinese solutions and technical support for global disaster risk reduction and the building of resilient and sustainable communities."
At the same time, from the perspective of global ecosystem management, Director Zhang also put forward forward-looking suggestions for the laboratory’s future development. She emphasized that in the face of increasingly complex global environmental challenges—such as the frequent occurrence of disaster risks amid worsening climate change—cross-field and interdisciplinary collaborative cooperation is crucial. She encouraged the State Key Laboratory to further strengthen interdisciplinary integration and exchange cooperation with fields such as ecology, sociology, economics, and climatology, and integrate multi-dimensional perspectives including social, economic, and environmental aspects. This will help form more comprehensive, systematic, and efficient solutions, and promote the upgrading of research achievements from the technical level to the level of global sustainable development policies and practices.
This exchange visiting not only enhanced mutual understanding between UNEP-IEMP and SKLGP, but also laid a solid foundation for potential future cooperation between the two parties in areas such as joint research, capacity building, and knowledge innovation.
04 September 2025|News
Chengdu, September 2, 2025 —Director Linxiu Zhang, visited the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) for the seminar, focusing on the theme of duckweed technology innovation. This visit aimed to deepen cooperation in the fields of ecological protection and bioeconomy, and jointly explore innovative solutions to address global environmental and food security challenges.
At the seminar, Professor Hai Zhao from the Research Center for Biological Resources and Ecological Environment of CIB, CAS, delivered a keynote report on behalf of his research team. He elaborated on the team's two-decade-long systematic research achievements centered on the development and utilization of duckweed resources. The team has successfully built an innovative R&D system integrating biodiversity conservation, ecological environment restoration, and food security assurance, demonstrating the great potential of duckweed in addressing multiple global challenges.
Director Zhang pointed out that the work of Professor Zhao’s team is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially providing comprehensive solutions for eradicating hunger (SDG 2), ensuring clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), taking climate action (SDG 13), and protecting terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). She emphasized in particular that promoting the transformation towards a bio-based economy based on biological resources is becoming a key path to enhance global environmental governance and development resilience. The team's research is an outstanding practice in this field and has global promotion value. She expressed the hope that UNEP-IEMP and CIB will further strengthen their partnership in the future, jointly promote the application and demonstration of these innovative technologies in Global South countries, and enable China's technological innovation to contribute more to global sustainable development.
04 September 2025|News
Chengdu, September 2, 2025 — At the invitation of Chengdu University of Technology, Ms. Linxiu Zhang, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme—International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), delivered a keynote speech at the university’s 74th "Mount Everest Lecture". The theme of her lecture was "Climate, Ecology, Livelihoods Synergy: Advancing Sustainable Development."
In her address, Director Zhang emphasized that in the face of global environmental challenges, effective ecosystem management is essential to fostering the common development of humankind. She noted that fragmented actions by individual sectors are often insufficient to address complex global issues, and that only by transforming them into multi-dimensional, shared collaborative goals can genuine sustainable progress be achieved. In this process, she stressed, multilateral cooperation is more effective than bilateral approaches.
Director Zhang highlighted that the world is currently facing a "triple environmental crisis" of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and that the interlinkage of these crises is driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seriously off track. She called on the international community to adopt a systemic approach that fosters cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary cooperation to safeguard the health of both humanity and the planet.
She further emphasized that diversified agricultural and non-agricultural income activities can significantly improve household livelihoods and enhance adaptive capacity in the face of environmental change. At the same time, community participation, inclusiveness, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders are critical to the success of conservation and livelihood improvement interventions. Ensuring the participation of women, men, and socially and economically disadvantaged groups is vital. Empowering women is not only a matter of gender equality, but also a key pathway to achieving multiple SDGs.
Director Linxiu Zhang delivered a lecture
27 August 2025|News
Beijing, August 25, 2025 –Ms Siriporn Reangjit, President of Kasikorn Bank (China) Co., Ltd., and Ms Yuki Yin, Deputy Branch Manager (Beijing), visited UNEP-IEMP to explore potential areas of collaboration.
DrLinxiu Zhang, Director of UNEP-IEMP, warmly welcomed the delegation and presented brief introduction of UNEP-IEMP, highlighting its unique role as an extended arm of UNEP on the ground and in partnership with others on South-South Cooperation around the Climate, Ecosystems, and Livelihoods nexus.Ms Siriporn Reangjit then introduced the Kasikorn Bank (K Bank), as one of the biggest commercial banks in Thailand with presence in many international locations, including China. The K Bank also supports reforestation efforts and livelihood enhancement initiatives in Thailand, partly through its KasikornFoundation.
The meeting saw a number of common interests and then discussed potential areas of cooperation. Importantly, since China has tremendous success in the areas of ecosystem restoration and poverty reduction, technology transfer and knowledge exchange from China to Thailand to address the issues can be facilitated to bring success.
26 August 2025|News
From August 2nd to 3rd, 2025, the " Three foci for food to leverage SDGs and beyond " workshop was held at the School of Environmental Ecology and Resources of Guangzhou University of Technology. More than 60 scholars from over 20 institutions worldwide participated in the forum. Dr Sun Mingxing and Dr Xu Xiangbo, UNEP-IEMP senior researchers, attended the workshop and participated in discussions and speeches.
The workshop was divided into 5 sections, discussing issues such as the environmental and health impacts, trends in data modeling, and resilience of the agrifood system. During the workshop, experts expressed their viewpoints on multiple aspects of agrifood system, extensively discussing research progress and gaps in the areas of environment, health, and resilience, and pooling different perspectives to effectively promote the research process in the field of food system modeling. Dr Sun Mingxing and Dr Xu Xiangbo made a summary speech on the resilience dimension of the food system, stressing that improving the resilience of the food system requires firstly building an assessment framework for the food system, and secondly, conducting systematic and dynamic evaluations of the food system's nutrition, health, and environment dimensions. They also emphasized the relationship between food system transformation and residents' livelihoods and inequality. Finally, they stressed the impact of policy and market measures on the resilience of the food system.
The participants also raised many issues that were rarely addressed or ignored in previous studies, such as the impact of personal or family dietary habits outside of main meals on health, the potential impact of increasingly sweet fruits, and the applicability of current measures to future problems. The discussion results provided new research inspiration and cooperation opportunities for the participants.
26 August 2025|News
On August 11th, the 3rd Huzhou Forum on the Concept of Clear Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets was held at Huzhou Normal University. With over 120 participants from relevant national departments, international organizations, universities, research institutes, and industry associations, the forum focused on how to effectively promote ecological civilization construction and conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as Beautiful China, Rural Revitalization, and Common Prosperity. Dr Sun Mingxing and Dr Xu Xiangbo, UNEP-IEMP senior researchers, participated in the forum and delivered speeches in parallel session. Dr Xu Xiangbo gave the speech titled "Progress and Characteristics of Ecological Farm Construction in China" and Dr Sun Mingxing gave the speech titled "Improvement of Rural Food Consumption Quality and Sustainable Transformation in China". They elaborated on the implementation of the "Two Mountains" concept from the perspectives of sustainable agricultural production and sustainable food consumption, and exchanged views with the attendees.
During the forum, the "Two Mountains" Concept Research Institute of Huzhou Normal University held achievements release event. On the 20th anniversary of the proposal of the concept that "Clear Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets", the director of the "Two Mountains" Concept Research Institute of Huzhou Normal University published several academic works, contributing "Huzhou wisdom" to practicing the concept that " Clear Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets" and building a beautiful China.
18 August 2025|News
Darwin, July 2025 — The UNEP-IEMP took an active role at the 11th Ecosystem Services Partnership World Conference (ESP11), in July 2025 in Darwin, Australia, where more than 200 researchers, policy makers, Indigenous peoples, local community leaders, and private sector innovators gathered to advance nature-based solutions.
The team from UNEP-IEMP delivered two monetary-valuation case studies: Heilongjiang’s soybean-expansion scenarios, and the landscape management in Yunnan. All sessions mapped the nature-inclusive externalities and demonstrated how rigorous accounting can reconcile food security, rural livelihoods, and biodiversity goals.
ESP11 placed particular focus on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) as co-designers of sustainable practices. Throughout the conference, vibrant discussions carried on among IPLC representatives, national planning officials, and impact-investment managers to explore joint pilots on ecological-compensation credits, gender-inclusive training programmes, and resilience metrics for agri-food systems. The conference’s blend of scientific evidence, IPLC-driven narratives, and private sector innovation reinforced a common message: translating ecosystem services into fiscal language is vital for scaling nature-based solutions while respecting community stewardship.
18 August 2025|News
In a significant push to advance sustainable bamboo agroforestry in Kenya, the UNEP-IEMP team, alongside Chinese investors and media representatives, conducted a series of high-level policy consultations and field visits across Kenya in late July and early August. The mission, part of the "China-Kenya Bamboo Technology Transfer" project, aimed to accelerate bamboo adoption for environmental restoration, economic growth, and climate resilience building.
During a pivotal meeting with Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, discussions centered on leveraging Chinese expertise to boost Kenya’s bamboo sector. Dr. Barasa emphasized bamboo’s multifaceted benefits, including land restoration in degraded areas, carbon sequestration to combat climate change, job creation particularly for women and youth, and industrial applications for sustainable product development. She welcomed deeper China-Kenya collaboration, citing the upcoming launch of the Kenya National Bamboo Development Strategy and Action Plan (2025-2035) as a game-changer for the sector.
Chinese delegation meeting at the Kenya Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry
In talks with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), stakeholders explored how bamboo could support the KWS Strategic Plan (2024-2028) by reducing human-wildlife conflicts through buffer zones and food supply, restoring fragile ecosystems in national parks, engaging local communities in conservation efforts, and supporting Kenya’s 15 Billion Tree Initiative.
During the field mission in Busia County, local bamboo farmers and stakeholders gathered at the project site to meet with Chinese business delegation in exploring on mature bamboo resources availability and issues for potential business investment. Farmers highlighted challenges in scaling production but expressed optimism about partnerships that could unlock the development potential. Local bamboo farmers and the Chinese business delegation also assessed bamboo-based riverbank restoration along the Nzoia River Basin, a model that could be replicated nationwide to combat soil erosion and flooding.
To explore the potential of coastal bamboo plantation, field visit to Earthlungs` bamboo agroforestry pilot in hilly coastline was made. It showcased fast-growing bamboo species are stabilizing coastal hillsides, preventing soil erosion, and protecting mangrove ecosystems from sedimentation. The initiative demonstrates how bamboo can bolster climate resilience in vulnerable coastal regions.
Mombasa bamboo agroforestry pilot for coastal mangrove rehabilitation
A Chinese CGTN film crew documented the project’s achievements, with footage set to debut during the upcoming UNFCCC CoP.
With strong policy backing, field-tested models, and growing investor interest, Kenya’s bamboo sector is poised for expansion—offering a triple win for the environment, economy, and local communities.
Shooting for project documentary film
04 August 2025|News
The 2025 Annual Meeting of theAgricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA)was held inDenver, Colorado, USA, fromJuly 27 to 29, 2025. As one of thepremier international conferencesin agricultural and applied economics, the AAEA Annual Meeting attracts over1,000 participantsfrom research institutions, universities, and international organizations worldwide. It features a variety of events, includingcommittee and journal meetings, section meetings, business meetings, track sessions, pre-/post-conference workshops, and employment services. The AAEA consists of29 sections, including theChina Section. At the annual meeting, the China Section holds itsBusiness Meetingto introduce its leadership team, discuss membership growth, and provide financial updates, as well as to elect new Member-at-Large for the next term. The section also offersrecruitment servicesfor universities and graduates.
Dr. Yunli Bai from the United Nations Environment Programme - International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), currently serving as the Chair of the AAEA China Section, attended the annual meeting upon invitation. Representing the China Section leadership team, she participated in the Section Chairs’ Meeting, where the AAEA President Timothy Beatty presented updates on the AAEA’s developments. Dr. Bai organized the China Section Business Meeting, which attracted participation from over 80 scholars, and presented awards to authors who received the Best Paper Award of the China Section. Additionally, she organized and moderated a track session titled "Inclusive Development and Effective Governance in Rural China". The session featured seven presentations and engaged more than 50 scholars with vibrant discussions.
Dr. Yunli Bai moderated the track session
14 July 2025|News
On July 10, 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme – International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) successfully hosted the 16th CEL Seminar. Professor Holly Wang, Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, and a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), and the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Food Policy, delivered a presentation titled "Consumer Preferences for Cell-Cultivated Salmon: An Application of Clock-Proxy Auction using Real Products". The seminar was moderated by UNEP-IEMP Director Linxiu Zhang. Over 20 faculty members and students from UNEP-IEMP and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) participated in this seminar.
The presentation focuses on consumer’s willingness to pay (WTP) for cell-cultivated meat using salmon as an example. Professor Wang pointed out that excessive consumption of animal protein leads to issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and animal welfare concerns, driving the development of cell-cultivated meat technology. However, it faces challenges of high production costs and low market acceptance. By reviewing existing literature on consumer WTP using auction methods, Professor Wang summarized the innovation and contribution of using the Clock-Proxy auction method to evaluate consumer WTP for real cell-cultivated salmon products in this study. In the experimental design phase, Professor Wang showed the design details of the two stages of the Clock-Proxy auction, sample selection, cell-cultivated meat information interventions, and data collection methods. Preliminary research results showed that the cell-cultivated meat information interventions significantly increase consumer WTP for cell-cultivated salmon (such as a $15-20 increase in WTP for upscale dishes), but the WTP derived from auctions based on real products is lower than that derived from auctions based on hypothetical products, indicating a "hypothetical bias" in existing studies. In addition, the information interventions have a greater impact on the WTP for the combinations of multiple products. These results highlight the value of auction experiments based on real products in policy-making.
During the discussion session, the attendances engaged in lively exchanges with Professor Wang from multidisciplinary perspectives (e.g. economics, food science, and consumer behavior). The topics included the robustness test, sample representativeness, limitations of the auction mechanism application, and the policy implications of the findings.
As a critical area for sustainable transformation of food system, cell-cultivated meat is a significant topic for reducing carbon emissions and improving animal welfare. This successfully held seminar enhances the knowledge regarding advanced food technologies and consumer preferences, while also sharing insights from the collaboration between academic research and the food industry.
