General

Wei-Qiang Chen

Professor of Sustainability Science

Email: wqchen@iue.ac.cn

Education

2004/08–2010/07 Ph.D., Environmental Science & Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing

2006/09–2006/12 Exchange Student, Venice International University, Venice, Italy

2000/09–2004/07 B.S., Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing

Experience

   
Work Experience

2015/08–Present Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2013/03–2015/07 Associate Research Scientist, Yale University

2010/06–2013/02 Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University

Publications

   
Papers
  1. Chen, W.-Q.* and Graedel, T.E.* In-Use Product Stocks Link Manufactured Capital to Natural Capital. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2015, 112 (20), 6265-6270.
  2. Wang, R. R.*; Hertwich, E. G.*; Fishman, T.; Deetman, S.; Behrens, P.; Chen, W.-Q.; De Koning, A.; Xu, M.; Matus, K.; Ward, H.; Tukker, A. and Zimmerman, J. B. The legacy environmental footprints of manufactured capital. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2023, 120 (24), e2218828120.
  3. Wang, H. M.; Wang, P.; Zhang, X.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Tzachor, A.*; Fishman, T.; Schandl, H; Acuto, M.; Yang, Y.; Lu, Y. Y.; Böcher, C.; Ma, F. M. Zhang, C.; Yue, Q.; Du, T.; Liu, J. G.* and Zhu, Y.-G. Substantial increase in China’s manufactured sand supply since 2010. Nature Geoscience. 2024, 17, 833–836.
  4. Wang, P.; Yang, Y.-Y.; Heidrich, O.; Chen, L.-Y.; Chen, L.-H.*; Fishman, T. and Chen, W.-Q.* Regional rare-earth element supply and demand balanced with circular economy strategies. Nature Geoscience. 2024, 17: 94-102.
  5. Ma, F. M.; Wang, H.-M.*; Tzachor, A.*; Hidalgo, C. A.; Schandl, H.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, J. L.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Zhao, Y. Z.; Zhu, Y.-G. and Fu, B. J. The disparities and development trajectories of nations in achieving the sustainable development goals. Nature Communications. 2025, 16, 1107.
  6. Wang, H. T.; Feng, K. S; Wang, P.*; Yang, Y. Y.; Sun, L. X.*; Yang, F.; Chen, W.-Q.; Zhang, Y. Y. and Li, J. S.* China’s Electric Vehicle and Climate Ambitions Jeopardized by Surging Critical Material Prices. Nature Communications. 2023, 14, 1246.
  7. Wang, P.; Ryberg, M.*; Yang, Y.; Feng, K.-S.; Kara, S.*; Hauschild, M. and Chen, W.-Q.* Efficiency stagnation in global steel production urges joint supply- and demand-side mitigation efforts. Nature Communications. 2021, 12: 2066.
  8. Song, L.-L.; Ewijk, S.; Masanet, E.; Watari, T.; Meng, F.; Cullen, J. M.; Cao, Z.* and Chen, W.-Q.* China’s bulk material loops can be closed but deep decarbonization requires demand reduction. Nature Climate Change. 2023, 13: 1136-1143.
  9. Wang, P.*; Zang, L.-Y.; Tzachor, A.* and Chen, W.-Q.* E-waste challenges of generative artificial intelligence. Nature Computational Science. 2024, 4, 818–823.
  10. Chen, W.-Q.* Eckelman, M. J.; Sprecher, B.; Chen, W.; and Wang, P.* Interdependence in rare earth element supply between China and the United States helps stabilize global supply chains. One Earth. 2024, 7(2), 242-252.
  11. Chan, F. K.S.*; Chen, W. Y.*; Sang, Y.-F.; Chen, Y. D.; Huang, W.; Chen, W.-Q.; Griffiths, J.; Li, J.-F.; Peng, Y.; Cai, X.-F.; He, J.; Gu, X.-B.; Qi, Y.-F.; Lu, X.-H.; Xu, Y.-Y.; Wang, Z.-L.; Chau, P. Y. K.; Tan-Mullins, M.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Build in Prevention and Preparedness to Improve Climate Resilience in Coastal Cities: Lessons from China’s GBA. One Earth. 2021, 4 (10), 1356-1360.
  12. Yang, Y.*; Hobbie, S.E.; Hernandez, R.R.; Fargione, J.; Grodsky, S.M.; Tilman, D.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Luo, Y.; Smith, T.M.; Jungers, J.M; Yang, M.; and Chen, W.-Q. Restoring Abandoned Farmland to Mitigate Climate Change on a Full Earth. One Earth. 2020, 3(2), 176-186.
  13. Wang, P.; Wang, C. Y.; Li, J. S.; Hubacek, K.; Sun, L. X.; Yang, F.*; Feng, K. S.* and Chen, W.-Q.* Incorporating platinum circular economy into China’s hydrogen pathways toward carbon neutrality. PNAS Nexus. 2024,3(5), 172.
  14. Wang, J. Y.; Chan, F. K. S.*; Johnson, M. F.*; Chan, H. K.; Cui, Y. H.*; Chen, J. W. and Chen, W.-Q.* Material Cycles, Environmental Emissions, and Ecological Risks of Bisphenol A (BPA) in China and Implications for Sustainable Plastic Management. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024, 59(3), 1631-1646.
  15. Yang, J. C.; Duan, L. L.; Peng, S. T.; Heijungs, R.; Geng, X. Y.; Wang, P.; Chen, W.-Q.* and Yang, Y.* Toward More Realistic Estimates of Product Displacement in Life Cycle Assessment. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024, 58(37), 16237-16247.
  16. Shi, Y.-L.*; Chen, W.-Q.*; and Zhu, Y.-G.* Direct, Embedded, and Embodied Trade of Arsenic: 1990–2019. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024, 58(27), 12008-12017.
  17. Wang J. Y.; Chan, F. K. S.*; Johnson, M. F.*; Chan, H. K.*; Cui, Y. H.; Chen, J. W.; Zhu, Y.-G. and Chen, W.-Q.* Material flow analysis of chemical additives in plastics: A critical review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 2024, 1-17.
  18. Chen, C. K.; Li, N.; Qi, J. C.; Wei, J. L. M., and Chen, W.-Q.* Material Flow Analysis of Dysprosium in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology. 2023, 57 (45), 17256-17265.
  19. Dai, T.; Liu, Y.-F.; Wang, P.*; Qiu Y.; Mancheri, N.; Chen W.; Liu, J.-X.; Chen, W.-Q.* Wang, H. M. and Wang, A-J.* Unlocking Dysprosium Constraints for China’s 1.5 °C Climate Target. Environmental Science & Technology. 2023, 57 (38), 14113-14126.
  20. Ma, Z.-J.; Yang, Y.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Wang, P.; Wang, C.; Zhang, C. and Gan, J.-B. Material Flow Patterns of the Global Waste Paper Trade and Potential Impacts of China’s Import Ban. Environmental Science & Technology. 2021, 55 (13), 8492-8501.
  21. Wang, W.-J.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Diao, Z.-W.; Ciacci, L.; Pourzahedi, L.; Eckelman, M.-J.; Yang, Y. and Shi, L.* Multidimensional Analyses Reveal Unequal Resource, Economic, and Environmental Gains and Losses among the Global Aluminum Trade Leaders. Environmental Science & Technology. 2021, 55 (10), 7102-7112.
  22. Wang, Q.-C.; Wang, P.; Qiu, Y.; Dai, T; and Chen, W.-Q.* Byproduct Surplus: Lighting the Depreciative Europium in China’s Rare Earth Boom. Environmental Science & Technology. 2020, 54(22), 14686–14693.
  23. Jiang, D.*; Chen, W.-Q.*; Zeng, X.-L.; and Tang, L. Dynamic Stocks and Flows Analysis of Bisphenol A (BPA) in China: 2000-2014. Environmental Science & Technology. 2018, 52 (6), 3706−3715.
  24. Shi, Y.-L.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Wu, S.-L.; and Zhu, Y.-G. Anthropogenic Cycles of Arsenic in Mainland China: 1990-2010. Environmental Science & Technology. 2017, 51 (3), 1670-1678.
  25. Nuss, P.*; Chen, W.-Q.*; Ohno, H.; and Graedel, T.E. Structural Investigation of Aluminum in the US Economy using Network Analysis. Environmental Science & Technology. 2016, 50 (7), 4091-4101.
  26. Ohno, H.*; Nuss, P.; Chen, W.-Q.*; and Graedel, T.E. Deriving the Metal and Alloy Networks of Modern Technology. Environmental Science & Technology. 2016, 50 (7), 4082-4090.
  27. Chen, W.-Q.*; Graedel, T.E.; Nuss, P.; and Ohno, H. Building the Material Flow Networks of Aluminum in the 2007 U.S. Economy. Environmental Science & Technology. 2016, 50 (7), 3905-3912.
  28. Chen, W.-Q.* and Graedel, T.E. Improved Alternatives for Estimating In-Use Material Stocks. Environmental Science & Technology. 2015, 49 (5), 3048–3055.
  29. Chen, W.-Q.* and Graedel, T.E. Anthropogenic Cycles of the Elements: A Critical Review. Environmental Science & Technology. 2012, 46 (16), 8674-8586.
  30. Zhao, S.; Wang, P. *and Chen, W.-Q.* Refining material criticality for global circular, low-carbon and just transition. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2024, 208, 107708.
  31. Wang, Q.-C.; Lu, T.; Chen, H.-C.; Wang, L.; Jia, j. P.* and Chen, W.-Q.* Tracing environmental footprint of copper wire rod manufacturing in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2024, 204, 107503.
  32. Chen, W.-Q.; Hauschild, M. Z.; Huang, B.-J.*; Kara, S.; Sutherland, J. W.; Umeda, Y.. Life cycle engineering and sustainable manufacturing for net-zero targets and environmental sustainability. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022, 186, 106480.
  33. Chen, C. K.; Jiang, Z. H.; Li, N.*; Wang, H. M.; Wang, P.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, C.; Ma, F. M.; Huang, Y. Y.; Lu, X. H.; Wei, J.L.M.; Qi, J.C. and Chen, W.-Q. *Advancing UN Comtrade for Physical Trade Flow Analysis: Review of Data Quality Issues and Solutions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022, 186, 106526.
  34. Zhang, Z. H.; Jiang, Z. H.; Chen, C. K.; Zhang, X.; Wang, H. M.*; Li, N.; Wang, P.; Zhang, C.; Ma, F. M.; Huang, Y. Y.; Qi, J. C. and Chen, W.-Q.* Advancing UN Comtrade for Physical Trade Flow Analysis: Addressing the Issue of Missing Values. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2022, 186, 106525.
  35. Jiang, Z. H.; Chen, C. K.; Li, N.*; Wang, H. M.; Wang, P.; Zhang, C.; Ma, F. M.; Zhang, Z.; Huang, Y. Y.; Qi, J. C. and Chen, W.-Q.* Advancing UN Comtrade for Physical Trade Flow Analysis: Addressing the Issue of Outliers. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2022, 186, 106524.
  36. Chen, W.-Q.*; Wang, H. M.; Li, N. and Wang, P. Advancing UN Comtrade for Physical Trade Flow Analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022, 186,106520.
  37. Wang, Q.-C.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Wang, P.; and Dai, T.* Illustrating the supply chain of dysprosium in China through material flow analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022, 184, 106417.
  38. Chen, W.-Q.*; Ciacci, L.; Sun, N.-N.; and Yoshioka, T.; Sustainable cycles and management of plastics: A brief review of RCR publications in 2019 and early 2020. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2020, 159, 104822.
  39. Li, X.-Y.; Ge, J.-P.*; Chen, W.-Q.*; and Wang, P. Scenarios of rare earth elements demand driven by automotive electrification in China: 2018–2030. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2019, 145, 322-331.
  40. Chen, W.-Q.*; Ciacci, L.; Geyer, R.; Wilts, H.; and Yoshioka, T. Sustainable Cycles and Management of Plastics. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2019, 141, 502-503.
  41. Chen, W.-Q.* and Shi, L.* Analysis of Aluminum Stocks and Flows in Mainland China from 1950 to 2009: Exploring the Dynamics Driving the Rapid Increase in China's Aluminum Production. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2012, 65, 18-28.
  42. Chen, W.-Q.; Shi, L.*; and Qian Y. Substance flow analysis of aluminium in mainland China for 2001, 2004 and 2007: Exploring its initial sources, eventual sinks and the pathways linking them. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2010, 54 (9), 557-70.
  43. Yang, X.; Zhang, C.*; Li, X. Y.; Cao, Z.*; Wang, P.; Wang, H. M.; Liu, G.; Xia, Z. Q.; Zhu, D. J. and Chen, W.-Q.* Multinational dynamic steel cycle analysis reveals sequential decoupling between material use and economic growth. Ecological Economics. 2024, 217, 108092.
  44. Hu X.-Q.; Wang, C.*; Lim, M.K.; and Chen, W.-Q. Characteristics of the global copper raw materials and scrap trade systems and the policy impacts of China's import ban. Ecological Economics. 2020, 172, 106626.
  45. Zhang, C.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Liu, G.; and Zhu, D.-J. Economic Growth and the Evolution of Material Cycles: An Analytical Framework Integrating Material Flow and Stock Indicators. Ecological Economics. 2017, 140, 265-274.
  46. Chen, W.-Q.* and Graedel, T.E. Dynamic Analysis of Aluminum Stocks and Flows in the United States: 1900-2009. Ecological Economics. 2012, 81, 92-102.
  47. Song, L. L.; Huang, Y. Y.*; Liu, Y. P.; Li, N. and Chen, W.-Q. * Mapping manufactured capital in mainland China with harmonized night‐time light images between 1992 and 2018. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2024, 28(5), 1103-1116.
  48. Huang, G. C.; Song, L. L.*; Wen, Y. Z. and Chen, W.-Q.* Material metabolism and associated environmental impacts in Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2024, 28(5), 1227-1241.
  49. Tang, L. B.; Wang, P.; Ma, Z. J.; Pauliuk, S.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Dai, T.*; and Lin, Z. P. Exploring the global trade networks of the tungsten supply chain: Insights into the physical and monetary mismatch among countries. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2022, 1-13.
  50. Liu, Y. P.; Li, J. J.; Chen, W.-Q.*; Song, L. L.; and Dai, S. Q. Quantifying Urban Mass Gain and Loss by a GIS‐based Material Stocks and Flows Analysis. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2022, 26, 1051-1060.
  51. Yang, Y.; Liu, B.-B.; Wang, P.; Chen, W.-Q.*; and Smith, T.-M. Toward Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2020, 24 (2), 318-330.
  52. Chen, W.-Q.* Dynamic Product-Level Analysis of In-Use Aluminum Stocks in the United States. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2018, 22 (6), 1425-1435.
  53. Chen, W.-Q.* Recycling Rates of Aluminum in the United States. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2013, 17 (6), 926-938.

Research Interests

General: 

Industrial Ecology and Urban Ecology

Complex System Science

Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Economics, and Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy and Sustainable Resources Management


Specific: 

Anthropogenic Cycles of Materials

Environmental Consequences of International Trade

Urban Metabolism

Industrial Symbiosis

​Urban Environmental Management

Students

已指导学生

王东方  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

郝敏  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

汤林彬  博士研究生  0830Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

代敏  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

王婉君  博士研究生  0830Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

李佳佳  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

段临林  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

马梓洁  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

陈楚珂  博士研究生  0830Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

卢浩洁  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

韦健丽敏  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

简小枚  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

黄国淳  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

现指导学生

刘果果  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

毛婷  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

汪涛  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

聂宇  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

肖婧雯  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

车心玥  博士研究生  0830Z1-环境经济与环境管理  

张希  硕士研究生  0776Z1-环境经济与环境管理