Duke Kunshan University brought together more than 50 scholars from 15 top universities around the world on May 20 for a workshop focused on environmental economics and sustainable development.
The event, part of the first China Environmental Economics Tour in 2025, was hosted by the university’s Environmental Research Center. Attendees came from institutions including Arizona State University, Tufts University, the University of Hamburg, the London School of Economics and Political Science, North Carolina State University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and others.
“This workshop aims to connect research with real-world solutions to address urgent environmental issues,” said Jingbo Cui, associate professor of applied economics and co-director of the center, who opened the event.
The keynote speaker, Tufts University professor Ujjayant Chakravorty, shared new findings on how energy infrastructure is shaping where people live in Southeast Asia. His presentation kicked off a day of wide-ranging discussions on how environmental policies affect economies, communities and public health.
Several scholars shared research on the unintended consequences of well-meaning regulations. One study looked at how crop-burning bans in India led to cleaner air but also a rise in insect-borne diseases. Another examined how water conservation rules in China reduced pollution but also cut agricultural output upstream. Researchers stressed the importance of designing policies that account for long-term environmental and economic feedback.
Despite these challenges, the event also showcased practical solutions, including the environmental benefits of high-speed rail, the impact of green certifications on lowering emissions in supply chains, and how local water protection laws have improved quality in certain regions.
In the final session, Cui moderated a roundtable discussion on research and academic careers in environmental economics. Panelists included Chakravorty and editors of leading journals such as the “Journal of Environmental Economics and Management” and the “Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.” They discussed emerging research topics, trends in submissions and how AI is beginning to shape academic writing.
“True sustainability requires global collaboration and shared knowledge,” Cui said. “Today’s dialogue shows Duke Kunshan’s commitment to incubating transformative sustainability research.”
