Personal profile
Author IDs
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6369-9424
Scopus Author ID: 55604838800
Google Scholar Profile: H40ZAKMAAAAJ
Impact
Qualifications (Brief)
B.B.A (Management,Shandong University), PhD (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Biography
Prof. Zhang is a sustainability scientist who uses data analytic approaches that include spatial econometrics/nightlight data, nature-based solutions, complex network, management/economic models, and shared socioeconomic pathways as interdisciplinary approaches to identify, monitor, assess and simulate the commonalities, particularities, as well as interactions among ecology, economic and social systems in shifting towards sustainability and resilience. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to research with lasting impact and significant significance, such as sustainable and smart cities under the constraints of energy and environment, fossil energy conversion/system optimization models and technologies from the perspective of climate change, and sustainable built environment from the perspective of carbon neutrality. She tries to enrich the theoretical framework of sustainability science, construct modular environment-engineering-geographic information and remote sensing-economy-management assessment models by using cutting-edge technologies such as satellite remote sensing and machine learning, integrate natural and environmental occurrence and interaction process models, geographic information system models, economic and technical models, life cycle input-output models, and form a full-process sustainable development methodology.
Under the theoretical umbrella of sustainability science, she has made substantial contribution in the following areas: (1) basic research underpinning sustainability science and engineering management; (2) low carbon and carbon neutral studies, climate change, resource management, energy transformation and governance at Asian and global scale; (3) industry sustainability, socioecological systems and circularity in production and consumption systems; (4) global and local urbanization and land use change: theoretical critiques, processes, drivers, and consequences; (5) paradoxical trade-off between “ecology” versus “economy” at enterprises and industry level.
So far, she has published more than 200 international journal articles, with a total of 17,538 Google Scholar citations and an h-index of 74. She was named as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in 2022. Since 2020, she has also been ranked as Top 2% scientist (Stanford University) for three consecutive years. She has won the President's Award of the City University of Hong Kong for twice and was awarded the 2018 WCC Special Recognition Award (World Cultural Council); She is also a member of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution at the City University of Hong Kong and serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Land Use Policy, Associate Editor of npj Urban Sustainability (Nature partner), Associate Editor of Development in the Built Environment (DIBE) Journal, and Editorial Board Member of several other international journals. At CityU, she is leading the Smart City Cluster. She has given more than 30 Keynote/Planetary Speeches at international conferences. Lately, one edited book has been published, titled as '减缓气候变化经济学 (The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation) (中国社会科学出版社, 2022)'.
Xiaoling is currently working on several projects:
- Green Finance and Carbon Neutral Strategy
- Data analytics in smart and sustainable city
- Circularity and resilience in production and consumption sectors
- Climate change and pro-environment behaviors
- Energy and environmental modeling and economics
For more details of Xiaoling’s work, please refer to Google Scholar Citations
Research Interests/Areas
- Environment and energy studies
- Housing and Urban studies
- ESG, CSR and carbon neutral strategy
- Sustainability Science
- Macro-level dynamics in urbanization/ housing policy/ land use planning, etc
Teaching
- Contemporary issues on Housing management
- Housing Economics and Finance
- Housing and Urban Policy
Related Links
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
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Collaborations from the last five years
Research output
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Environmental risk and burden inequality intensified by changes in cultivated land patterns
Zhao, Z. (Co-first Author), Wen, L. (Co-first Author), Li, K., Kong, X. & Zhang, X., 15 Jan 2026, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 225, 108604.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
4 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Going green for Eco or Ego? A meta-analysis of the comparative effects of environmental appeals and personal appeals on pro-environmental outcomes
Sheng, X., Zhang, X., Huang, Y. & Zhou, X., Jan 2026, In: Ecological Economics. 239, 108639.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
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Toward low-carbon 3D concrete printing through circular construction and waste valorization
Mu, X., Zhang, X., He, G. & Liew, K. M., 1 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Building Engineering. 119, 115308.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
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A dual-driven fusion model of evaluating the performance and carbon emissions for recycled waste pavement
Zhang, Z., Sun, J., Huang, W., Zhang, X., Lu, G., Luo, S. & Wang, Y., Jan 2025, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 212, 107895.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
8 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Big disparities in CH4 emission patterns from landfills between the United States and China and their behind driving forces
Liu, Y. (Co-first Author), Cheng, Z. (Co-first Author), Chen, A. Y., Geng, Y., Zhang, K., Zhu, N., Skitmore, M., Cai, B., Zhang, X. & Lou, Z., Mar 2025, In: Fundamental Research. 5, 2, p. 734-739 6 p.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)86 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)
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DON_RMG: Green Finance and Carbon Neutral Strategy
DONG, L. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator) & ZHANG, X. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/21 → …
Project: Research
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SKL: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH)
LEUNG, M. Y. K. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), CAI, W. (Co-Investigator), CHAN, L. L. (Co-Investigator), CHAN, C. K. (Co-Investigator), CHENG, S. H. (Co-Investigator), CHEUNG, S. G. (Co-Investigator), CHEUNG, Y. H. R. (Co-Investigator), HE, Y. (Co-Investigator), KO, C. C. V. (Co-Investigator), KONG, Y. C. R. (Co-Investigator), KOT, B. C. W. (Co-Investigator), KWOK, C. K. (Co-Investigator), LAM, J. (Co-Investigator), LEE, P. K. H. (Co-Investigator), LEUNG, K. H. M. (Co-Investigator), LO, P. K. P. (Co-Investigator), LU, Z. (Co-Investigator), LY, T. H. (Co-Investigator), NAH, E. M. T. (Co-Investigator), RUAN, Y. P. (Co-Investigator), TAM, F. Y. N. (Co-Investigator), WANG, W. (Co-Investigator), WONG, C. Y. A. (Co-Investigator), WU, J. (Co-Investigator), YAN, M. (Co-Investigator), YANG, M. (Co-Investigator), YE, R. (Co-Investigator), YU, K. N. P. (Co-Investigator), ZENG, Z. (Co-Investigator) & ZHANG, X. (Co-Investigator)
9/04/10 → …
Project: Research
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CRF-Sub-pj: An Upcycling Solution to the Paradox of Clean Energy Development
ZHANG, X. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
30/06/23 → 7/09/23
Project: Research
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GRF: Making it Real: Nudging Individuals' Risk Perception of Climate Change to Engage in Pro-environmental Behaviors
ZHANG, X. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), CHENG, S.-K. A. (Co-Investigator), DU, E. J. (Co-Investigator), WU, L. (Co-Investigator), ZHAI, P. (Co-Investigator) & ZHOU, X. (Co-Investigator)
1/01/21 → 31/08/23
Project: Research
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NSFC-SRI: 我国小城镇的转型发展与治理研究
ZHANG, X. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
1/01/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
Prizes
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Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists 2022
ZHANG, X. (Recipient), Nov 2022
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists 2022
ZHANG, X. (Recipient), Nov 2022
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists 2021
ZHANG, X. (Recipient), Oct 2021
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists 2020
ZHANG, X. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Highly Cited Researcher in Cross-Field, 2022
ZHANG, X. (Recipient), 15 Nov 2022
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
Press/Media
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New study reveals how China’s urbanisation can release croplands and improve its food security
20/05/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media