Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I study transnational governance, environmental politics, and sustainable consumption, with a geographical focus on emerging economies. My research explains the changing role of China in global environmental governance, including sustainability transitions within China as well as sustainability impacts of China's overseas engagement. My current projects focus on sustainability governance of China's Belt and Road Initiative. My work has been published in Ecological Economics, Global Environmental Change, Global Environmental Politics, Global Food Security, Nature Food, Nature Sustainability, Review of International Political Economy and other international scientific journals (see my Google Scholar page). My first book Certifying China investigates China's engagement in transnational sustainability certification and was published by the MIT Press in Feburary 2022 (Earth System Governance Series). I am Associate Editor of Global Enviornmental Politics and World Development Perspectives.
Besides my research, I am also a member of the Expert Peer Review Group of the Race to Zero, a UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time. I have been also a writer for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin since 2015, and have attended various meetings of multilateral environmental treaties. I am also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore, a Research Fellow of the Earth System Governance (ESG) Project, and co-convenor of the ESG Taskforce on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Willing to supervise doctoral students
I am wiling to supervise PhD students who want to work on global environmental governance, corporate sustainability strategies, sustainable development in China, and the impact of China's foreign investment in the Global South. For those who are interested in these areas, please contact me by email.
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):
Education/Academic qualification
Political Science/International Relations, Doctor of Philosophy, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Award Date: 27 Nov 2018
Political Science/International Relations, Master of Arts, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Award Date: 12 Sept 2014
International Studies, Bachelor of Arts, Nanjing University
Award Date: 30 Jun 2010
External positions
Scholar Award Committee, Environmental Studies Section, International Studies Association (ISA)
Mar 2023 → …
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Instiute for Environment and Sustainability, National University of Singapore
1 Nov 2022 → …
Associate Editor, World Development Perspectives Journal
1 Jun 2022 → …
Associate Editor, Global Environmental Politics (Journal)
Feb 2022 → …
Member of the Expert Peer Review Group, Race to Zero - the UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial and educational institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.
Aug 2021 → …
Research Fellow, Earth System Governance Project
Keywords
- JZ International relations
- JF Political institutions (General)
- China
- Environmental Politics
- Sustainable Development
- Transnational Governance
- Non-state Actors
- Global value chains
- Climate Change
- Political Economy
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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ESRC IAA - Engaging with policymakers and stakeholders at the UN Climate Change Conference
Economic and Social Research Council
25/10/23 → 29/12/23
Project: Research council
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The impact of export-oriented voluntary certifications on gender inequality in rural Brazil: The case of the Bonsucro-RED certification
Sun, Y., Cezar, R. & Camargo, J.
15/04/23 → 30/09/23
Project: Research-related funding
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The Future of the Sustainable Development Goals
Sun, Y., Bloomfield, M., Charles, A. & Copestake, J.
1/03/23 → 31/07/23
Project: Other
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Living Well Now and in 2050: Understanding perceptions of “Living Well” in the Bath community
1/04/22 → 31/05/22
Project: Other
Research output
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Certifying China: The Rise and Limits of Transnational Sustainability Governance in Emerging Economies
Sun, Y., 22 Feb 2022, MIT Press. 260 p. (Earth System Governance Series)Research output: Book/Report › Book
Open Access -
Commodity supply chain
Sun, Y., 1 Jan 2023, Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium. Cheltenham, U. K.: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 77 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Commodity Trade
Sun, Y., 1 Jan 2023, Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium. Cheltenham, U. K.: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 77 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Enabling Positive Tipping Points in Public Support for Food System Transformation: The Case of Meat Consumption
Fesenfeld, L. & Sun, Y., 16 Oct 2023, The Political Economy of Food System Transformation: Pathways to Progress in a Polarized World. Resnick, D. & Swinnen, J. (eds.). Oxford, U. K.: Oxford University Press, p. 256-287Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter or section
Open Access -
Environmental governance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Sun, Y., I. Lewis, J. & Urpelainen, J., 31 Oct 2023, In: Environmental Politics. 32, 7, p. 1109-1116 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open Access