By Ke Lin (Linka), Movers Envoy, Storyteller of Young Climate Leaders
Standing at the shore of a tranquil Swedish lake, Chi felt the crisp air fill her lungs as the northern lights painted the sky in vibrant hues. It was during her time at University and the Royal Institute of Technology, studying her master’s thesis on carbon emission trading mechanisms under the guidance of Professor Jerry Yan, an expert in CCUS and renewable energy systems, that Chi’s curiosity for climate change and passion for a sustainable future were ignited.
Returning to China, Chi was appointed to the roles of Assistant Dean and Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. The urgency of climate change’s impact on health, particularly among vulnerable populations, weighed heavily on her mind. The most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and low-income families—were bearing the brunt of these changes. Chi recognized that doing research alone was insufficient. She became a steadfast advocate for policy engagement and public education, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical solutions.
As the vice director of the Lancet Countdown Asia Center, Chi co-authored the annual China report on health and climate change. The 2021 report was a wake-up call: record-high temperatures and extreme weather events were estimated to lead to over 50,900 heatwave-related deaths in China alone.
She knew that translating research into tangible impact required innovative solutions. She developed two groundbreaking mobile applications designed to help individuals, particularly the elderly and outdoor laborers, to assess and mitigate heat-related health risks. The development process was rigorous. Chi collaborated with meteorologists, hospital doctors, and software developers to ensure the applications were both scientifically accurate and user-friendly. Users could input their age, location, and planned activities, and the programmes would provide tailored advice on the safest times to be outdoors and the necessary precautions to take. This approach demonstrated a significant leap in public health tools, bridging the gap between complex scientific data and everyday practical use.
Recognizing the potential of public education and protection, Chi signed an agreement with the Public Meteorological Service Centre of China Meteorological Administration. This agreement allowed the agency to utilize her mobile programmes’ technology and products for free. In the future, these tools would eventually become National Public Meteorological Service Products. This “Meteorology + Physical Activity + Risk Inquiry + Adaptation Advice” mode was unprecedented. By providing real-time, accessible information, these applications empower users to make informed decisions about their outdoor activities, thereby reducing the health risks associated with extreme weather conditions.
As a professor, Chi’s dedication to empowering the next generation was unwavering. From years of experience coordinating international collaborative research and innovation projects such as the Lancet Countdown UNiLAB and the International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE), Chi has consistently organized popular science lectures and youth workshops beyond her research commitments. A workshop on climate and health, designed and organized by Chi in Beijing, attracted 200 young minds from around the world, eager to learn and make a difference. Her popular science videos on CO2 emission reduction were viewed over 400,000 times. As a mentor and educator, Chi inspired countless students to pursue their own paths in climate action, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions on the global stage. Chi also joined the UNDP Movers Programme and Movers4Climate Project as a facilitator, reaching out to over 1,000 young climate activists.
Chi’s vision for the future is both ambitious and grounded in practical action. She plans to continue her interdisciplinary research on the “climate-energy-economy-health” nexus, focusing on vulnerable populations. Collaborating with policymakers, she aims to provide evidence-based research and applications to assist the National Adaptation Plans for Health (H-NAP). Her vision includes creating an open database on international climate change and health, fostering global cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Through her work, Chi embodies the belief that every step, no matter how small, contributes to a larger, more resilient world. Her advice resonates with simplicity and wisdom: “A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step. Take action, whether at an individual or community level, for it all matters.”
Chi Zhang is a Movers Facilitator, an Assistant Dean and Professor of the School of Global Governance, and a Professor of the School of Management, Beijing Institute of Technology. She is also the recipient of the Overseas High-level Talent Youth Programme in China, the Associate Editor of Applied Energy (IF 11.2), the vice-director of Lancet Countdown Asia Center, and an Editorial Board Member of Environmental Research Letters (IF 6.9).
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