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Professor Kuishuang FENG 
馮奎雙 教授

Professor 

Room 9.24
391 73854
kfeng@hku.hk

HKU Scholar Hub
FENG Kuishuang.png

Prof. Feng is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong. Prior to this appointment, he held positions as Tenured Associate Professor, Research Professor and the Chair of Research Faculty at the University of Maryland College Park after his PhD study at University of Leeds, UK. He is currently leading a Sustainability Research group specializing in socio-economic and environmental accounting at different spatial scales (local, national, and global), with focuses on sustainable consumption and production, climate change mitigation, low carbon transition, sustainable natural resource management, and environmental justice. Prof. Feng’s research prominently features methodological and modeling development and applications, including Environmentally Extended Input-Output models and extensions (EEIO), Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA), and Integrated Assessment Models (e.g. Global Change Analysis Model - GCAM). He is lead/co-author of more than 200 journal articles with significant contributions to top-tier journals of his discipline, including more than 40 publications in Nature, Science and Cell Press journals and PNAS. His research has been supported by different funding sources, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the Energy Foundation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China to just name a few.

 

Prof. Feng actively contributes to his field's community through leadership roles. He is currently the President of the International Input-Output Association (IIOA) and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Sustainable Production and Consumption. As a well-recognized researcher in the field of Climate Change Mitigation, he contributed to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. He also serves on the editorial boards of several other journals, including Ecological Economics and Geography and Sustainability. He was named as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate from 2019 to 2025. He received multiple International Visiting Fellows awards from the QS World Top Universities, including University of Adelaide and University of Nagoya.

Research Interests

  • Human Dimensions of Global Change

  • Sustainable Production and Consumption

  • Environmental Input-Output Analysis

  • Life Cyle Analysis

  • Integrated Assessment Modeling

  • Low Carbon Transition

  • Sustainable Resource Management

Courses (TBC)

Selected Publications

  2025  

  • Nzudie, H., Zhao, X., Tian, P., He, P., Zhang, X., Hamad, A., Tillotson, M., Onah, I., Chen, S., Zhang, H., Feng, K., Zhang, N., (2025), NATURE FOOD, 6, 930–935.
     

  • Yuan, P., Li, J., Xin, Y., Tong, D., Wang, C., Jia, W., Li, C., Du, H., Goodsite, M., Feng, K., (2025), Material price surges threaten an equitable and timely renewable energy transition, ONE EARTH, 8, 101466
     

  • Wang, Q., Zhang, H., Feng, K., He, P., Wood, R., Tian, P., Wang, Y., Wang, S., Liu, Y., Liu, H., Zheng, H., (2025), Implications of demographic policies on China’s food-related environmental footprints amid population ageing, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, 95, 103082
     

  • Li, D., Sun, L., Feng, K., Zhang, N., Yu Y., Zhao, D., Zhou, Y. (2025). Disproportionate flood exposure for slum populations of the Global South. NATURE CITIES, 2, 626 – 638. 10.1038/s44284-025-00273-3
     

  • Ge, N., Xin, Y., Tian, P., Yu, Y., Zhang, Z., Zhong, H., Feng, K. (2025) Mapping mangrove deforestation and blue carbon loss in global supply chains between 2000 and 2019. ONE EARTH, 101357.  10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101357
     

  • Wang, C., Tian, P., Zuo, J., Zhong, H., Liu, X., Liu, H., Ma, L., Wang, P., Feng, K., Li, J. (2025). Facilitating circularity of end-of-life photovoltaic in China with environmental benefits and costs informed by a high-resolution waste map. ISCIENCE, 28(5).  10.1016/j.isci.2025.112332
     

  • Li, J., Sun, Q., Yang, F., Wang, C., Feng, K., Xin, Y., Wang, W., Li, D. (2025). Expanding the emissions trading system coverage can increase the cost competitiveness of low-carbon ammonia in China. COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT, 6(1).  10.1038/s43247-025-02056-z
     

  • Wang, J., Wang, K., Hubacek, K., Feng, K., Shan, Y., Wei, Y. (2025). Changes in global trade patterns increase global inequality towards Sustainable Development Goals. ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS, 227.  10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108421
     

  • Wang, S., Zhou, J., Feng, K., Hubacek, K. (2025). Decoupling and Decomposition of Emissions and Economic Growth Based on Interprovincial Embodied Carbon Flow in China. ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHERS, 115(6), 1326-1346. 

  2024  

  • Tian, P., Zhong, H., Chen, X., Feng, K., Sun, L.#, Zhang, N.#, Shao, X., Liu, Y., Hubacek, K.#, (2024), Keeping consumption within planetary boundaries, Nature, 635, 625–630. 10.1038/s41586-024-08154-w
     

  • Zhong, H., Li, Y., Ding, J., Bruckner, B., Feng, K., Sun, L., Prell, C., Shan, Y., Hubacek, K., (2024), Global spillover effects of the European Green Deal and plausible mitigation options, Nature Sustainability. 7, 1501–1511. doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01428-1  
     

  • Tian, P., Feng, K., Sun, L., Hubacek, K., Malerba, D., Zhong, H., Zheng, H., Li, D., Zhang, N., Li, J. (2024). Higher total energy costs strain the elderly, especially low- income, across 31 developed countries. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 121(12), 10.  
     

  • Long, Y., Huang, L., Su, J., Yoshida, Y., Feng, K., Gasparatos, A. (2024). Mixed diets can meet nutrient requirements with lower carbon footprints. SCIENCE ADVANCES, 10(15), 15
     

  • Wang, P., Wang, C., Li, J., Hubacek, K., Sun, L., Yang, F., Feng, K., Chen, W. (2024). Incorporating platinum circular economy into China's hydrogen pathways toward carbon neutrality. PNAS NEXUS, 3(5). 
     

  • Wang, S., Chen, X., Xie, R., Liu, K., Wang, J., Liu, X., Hubacek, K., Wu, C., Feng, K., Yan, Y., Liu, Z., Sun, L., Fang, C. (2024). Demand-side insights for steering human appropriation of net primary productivity within planetary boundaries. ONE EARTH, 7(4). 
     

  • Peng, X., Sun, L., Feng, K., Zhong, H., Liang, J., Zhang, C., Zhao, D., Chen, H., Long, R., Xing, Z., Hubacek, K. (2024). Extent of global decarbonization of the power sector through energy policies and governance capacity. Communications Earth & Environment. 5, 321.
     

  • Zhao, D., Liu, J., Sun, L., Hubacek, K., Pfister, S., Feng, K., Zheng, H., Peng, X., Wang, D., Yang, H., Shen, L., Lun, F., Zhao, X., Chen, B., Keskinen, M., Zhang, S., Cai, J., Varis, O. (2024). Water consumption and biodiversity: Responses to global emergency events. SCIENCE BULLETIN, 69(16), 2632-2646. 
     

  • Li, J., Wang, C., Guo, J., Xin, Y., Zhang, N., Liu, X., Feng, K. (2024). Promoting Sustainable Development Goals by Optimizing City-Level Solar Photovoltaic Deployment in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 58(12), 14.  
     

  • Kang, Y., Tian, P., Feng, K., Li, J., Hubacek, K. (2024). Opportunities beyond net-zero CO2 for cost-effective greenhouse gas mitigation in China. SCIENCE BULLETIN. 69 (21), 3434-3443.
     

  • Xu, L., Feng, K., Shao, S. (2024). Impacts of air pollution on child growth: Evidence from extensive data in Chinese counties. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 85, 20.
     

  • Zhang, P., Feng, K., Yan, L., Guo, Y., Gao, B., Li, J. (2024). Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY, 17, 9.
     

  • Yuan, P., Li, D., Feng, K., Wang, H., Wang, P., Li, J. (2024). Assessing the supply risks of critical metals in China's low-carbon energy transition. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 86, 10.
     

  • Wang, P., Wang, C., Li, J., Hubacek, K., Sun, L., Yang, F., Feng, K., Chen, W.# (2024). Incorporating platinum circular economy into China’s hydrogen pathways toward carbon neutrality. PNAS NEXUS. 3(5), 172.
     

  • Wang, S., Zhou, J., Wu, R., Feng, K., Hubacek, K. (2024). Interregional flows of embodied carbon storage associated with land-use change in China. Annals of the American Association of Geographers. 114, 1526-1545.

  2023  

  • Bruckner, B., Shan, Y., Prell, C., Zhou, Y., Zhong, H., Feng, K., Hubacek, K. (2023). Ecologically unequal exchanges driven by EU consumption. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY.
     

  • Meng, B., Liu, Y., Gao, Y., Li, M., Wang, Z., Xue, J., Andrew, R., Feng, K., Qi, Y., Sun, Y., Song, H., Wang, K. (2023). Developing countries' responsibilities for CO2 emissions in value chains are larger and growing faster than those of developed countries. ONE EARTH, 6(2), 16. 
     

  • Hu, G., Feng, K., Sun, L., Baiocchi, G. (2023). Tracing toxic chemical releases embodied in US interstate trade and their unequal distribution. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL, 171. 
     

  • Wang, H., Feng, K., Wang, P., Yang, Y., Sun, L., Yang, F., Chen, W.-Q., Zhang, Y., Li, J. (2023). China's electric vehicle and climate ambitions jeopardized by surging critical material prices. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14(1). 
     

  • Meng, J., Huo, J., Zhang, Z., Liu, Y., Mi, Z., Guan, D., Feng, K. (2023). The narrowing gap in developed and developing country emission intensities reduces global trade's carbon leakage. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14(1), 10. 
     

  • Feng, K., Song, K., Viteri, A., Liu, Y., Vogt-Schilb, A. (2023). National and local labor impacts of coal phase-out scenarios in Chile. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 414, 10. 
     

  • Peng, K., Feng, K., Chen, B., Shan, Y., Zhang, N., Wang, P., Fang, K., Bai, Y., Zou, X., Wei, W., Geng, X., Zhang, Y., Li, J. (2023). The global power sector's low-carbon transition may enhance sustainable development goal achievement. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14(1), 14. 
     

  • Tian, P.*, Feng, K., Zhang, H., Hubacek, K., Li, J., Zhong, H., Chen, X., Sun, L. (2023). Implementation of carbon pricing in an aging world calls for targeted protection schemes. PNAS NEXUS, 2(7), 10. 
     

  • Fu, R., Peng, K., Wang, P., Zhong, H., Chen, B., Zhang, P., Zhang, Y., Chen, D., Liu, X., Feng, K., Li, J. (2023). Tracing metal footprints via global renewable power value chains. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14(1), 14.
     

  • Li, Y., Tang, Y., Liu, M., Yuan, X., Zuo, J., Feng, K., Wang, Q., Mu, R., Wang, W., Hong, J. (2023). Life-cycle assessment reveals disposable surgical masks in 2020-2022 led to more than 18 million tons of carbon emissions. ONE EARTH, 6(9), 12. 

  2022  

  • Bruckner, B., Hubacek, K., Shan, Y., Zhong, H., Feng, K. (2022). Impacts of poverty alleviation on national and global carbon emissions. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, 5(4), 311-320. 
     

  • Zheng, H., Long, Y., Wood, R., Moran, D., Zhang, Z., Meng, J., Feng, K., Hertwich, E., Guan, D. (2022). Ageing society in developed countries challenges carbon mitigation. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE, 12(3), 241-248. 
     

  • Du, M., Liu, Y., Cui, Q., Lin, J., Liu, Y., Liu, Q., Tong, D., Feng, K., Hubacek, K. (2022). Contrasting suitability and ambition in regional carbon mitigation. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 13(1). 
     

  • Qi, X., Feng, K., Sun, L., Zhao, D., Huang, X., Zhang, D., Liu, Z., Baiocchi, G. (2022). Rising agricultural water scarcity in China is driven by expansion of irrigated cropland in water scarce regions. ONE EARTH, 5(10), 1139-1152. 

  2021  

  • He, P., Feng, K., Baiocchi, G., Sun, L., Hubacek, K. (2021). Shifts towards healthy diets in the US can reduce environmental impacts but would be unaffordable for poorer minorities. NATURE FOOD, 2(9), 664-672.

  2020  

  • Chen, S., Chen, B., Feng, K., Liu, Z., Fromer, N., Tan, X., Alsaedi, A., Hayat, T., Weisz, H., Schellnhuber, H. J., Hubacek, K. (2020). Physical and virtual carbon metabolism of global cities. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 11(1). 

  2019  

  • Zhao, D., Hubacek, K., Feng, K., Sun, L., Liu, J. (2019). Explaining virtual water trade: A spatial-temporal analysis of the comparative advantage of land, labor and water in China. WATER RESEARCH, 153, 304-314. 
     

  • Fang, D., Chen, B., Hubacek, K., Ni, R., Chen, L., Feng, K., Lin, J. (2019). Clean air for some: Unintended spillover effects of regional air pollution policies. SCIENCE ADVANCES, 5(4). 
     

  • Feng, K. (2019). Drivers of peak and decline. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE, 9(3), 188-189. 
     

  • Wang, S., Fang, C., Sun, L., Su, Y., Chen, X., Zhou, C., Feng, K., Hubacek, K. (2019). Decarbonizing China's Urban Agglomerations. ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHERS, 109(1), 266-285. 
     

  • Liu, X., Pei, F., Wen, Y., Li, X., Wang, S., Wu, C., Cai, Y., Wu, J., Chen, J., Feng, K., Liu, J., Hubacek, K., Davis, S. J., Yuan, W., Yu, L., Liu, Z. (2019). Global urban expansion offsets climate-driven increases in terrestrial net primary productivity. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10. 

  2018  

  • Meng, J., Mi, Z., Guan, D., Li, J., Tao, S., Li, Y., Feng, K., Liu, J., Liu, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, Q., Davis, S. J. (2018). The rise of South-South trade and its effect on global CO2 emissions. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 9.
     

  • Feng, K., Hubacek, K., Liu, Y., Marchan, E., Vogt-Schilb, A. (2018). Managing the distributional effects of energy taxes and subsidy removal in Latin America and the Caribbean. APPLIED ENERGY, 225, 424-436. 
     

  • He, P., Baiocchi, G., Hubacek, K., Feng, K., Yu, Y. (2018). The environmental impacts of rapidly changing diets and their nutritional quality in China. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, 1(3), 122-127. 
     

  • Qin, Y., Hoeglund-Isaksson, L., Byers, E., Feng, K., Wagner, F., Peng, W., Mauzerall, D. L. (2018). Air quality-carbon-water synergies and trade-offs in China's natural gas industry. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, 1(9), 505-511. 

  2017  

  • Hubacek, K., Baiocchi, G., Feng, K., Patwardhan, A. (2017). Poverty eradication in a carbon constrained world. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 8. 

  2016  

  • Liu, Z., Davis, S. J., Feng, K., Hubacek, K., Liang, S., Anadon, L. D., Chen, B., Liu, J., Yan, J., Guan, D. (2016). Targeted opportunities to address the climate-trade dilemma in China. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE, 6(2), 201-206. 

  2015  

  • Feng, K., Davis, S. J., Sun, L., Hubacek, K. (2015). Drivers of the US CO2 emissions 1997-2013. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 6.

  2014  

  • Feng, K., Hubacek, K., Pfister, S., Yu, Y., Sun, L. (2014). Virtual Scarce Water in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 48(14), 7704-7713. 
     

  • Feng, K., Hubacek, K., Siu, Y. L., Li, X. (2014). The energy and water nexus in Chinese electricity production: A hybrid life cycle analysis. RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS, 39, 342-355. 

  2013  

  • Feng, K., Davis, S. J., Sun, L., Li, X., Guan, D., Liu, W., Liu, Z., Hubacek, K. (2013). Outsourcing CO2 within China. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 110(28), 11654-11659. 

  2012 

  • Feng, K., Siu, Y. L., Guan, D., Hubacek, K. (2012). Analyzing Drivers of Regional Carbon Dioxide Emissions for China A Structural Decomposition Analysis. JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, 16(4), 600-611.

Leadership Roles

  • President of the International Input-Output Association (2025 - 2027)

  • Editor-in-Chief of the Sustainable Production and Consumption (2025 - )

  • Vice-Secretary of the International Society for Industrial Ecology (2022-2024)

  • Co-Chair of the Environmentally Extended Input-Output Section, International Society for Industrial Ecology (2020-2022)

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