Dr. Zhao hails from Beijing, China where she is a professor at the North China Electric Power University. Through a Chinese government program that supports professors working at international universities, Dr. Zhao is conducting research at The Erb Institute for one year. Her studies focus on energy economics and electricity market reform. In the context of China’s rapidly growing economy that requires greater electricity use and results in increased environmental pollution, Dr. Zhao is contributing to four projects. They are supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, the National Social Science Foundation, the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, and the Education Ministry. Obtaining research funding from these organizations is extremely competitive, with typical proposal acceptance rates of less than 10 percent. Dr. Zhao notes that despite the low acceptance rates, government funding for these projects demonstrates the importance of the issues for the country.

Dr. Zhao has examined the drivers of increasing electricity consumption in China. Her results show that increased production output and current industrial structures are the most important factors influencing the increase. The industrial sector represents approximately 70 percent of China’s GDP, and while some adjustments to existing industrial structures have been considered, the fact that China is still developing its economy limits the opportunities for reducing energy consumption in the sector. According to Dr. Zhao, steps to shift goods manufacturing to service-based industries will serve an important role in advancing the economy and reducing electricity consumption. In addition, she notes that energy efficiency across the board with regulatory support in the form of demand-side management will help reduce the problems associated with increasing energy use. Finally, integrating renewable energy sources will be critical but currently efforts to do this face significant cost and technological barriers.

When she is not grappling with some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, Dr. Zhao has found time to reflect on her stay in the U.S. She has enjoyed her time here since October. She is appreciative of the University and its abundant resources, as well as the people here at the Institute and University whom she has found to be very warm-hearted. She also enjoys the blue skies and white clouds in Ann Arbor – sights she says have been rare for her in Beijing since her childhood.

I asked what single thing Dr. Zhao wanted to share with Americans about China. She stated that because of the rapidly growing Chinese economy and attendant environmental destruction most Americans believe that Chinese people do not care about their natural environment. She wants to communicate that there is in fact significant concern within government, and among scholars and average citizens who all want to solve environmental problems. Despite this concern, she noted that China is constrained by its position as a developing country, and lacks the technology and funding capacity to adequately address its environmental issues alone. She said, “I want to tell America – please do something for China’s environment” and suggested that creating international cooperation especially with regard to technology transfer and development.

Xiaoli is happy to speak with anyone interested in talking about China and environmental issues. You may contact her at xiaolizh@umich.edu