Center for the Environment

China-U.S. Joint Research Center for Ecosystem and Environmental Change

NEED

China and the U.S. are the two dominant economies in respect to global environmental impacts
including climate change and consumption of fossil fuels. China has implemented aggressive programs
to reduce their output of greenhouse gases including programs for re-forestation, ecosystem restoration,
and the development of alternative energy including biofuels.

INITIATIVE

The China-U.S. Joint Research Center was created to connect Purdue faculty with top Chinese biofuels
and environmental researchers, and to build partnerships among Purdue, the University of Tennessee,
and Oak Ridge National Lab scientists.

IMPACTS

• The China-U.S. Joint Research Center has held four international symposia. The first, Environmental aspects of bioenergy production and sustainability: A joint China-U.S. workshop was held in Knoxville, Tennessee in September 2007. Additionally, the China-U.S. Joint Research Center has sponsored 3 topical workshops on bioenergy plants and soil and water issues.
• In October 2008 the second annual meeting was held in Beijing and focused on Bioenergy consequences for global environmental change.
• In November 2009 the third annual meeting was held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and focused on the Climate-energy nexus with 36 Chinese participants and 69 U.S. participants.
• In September 2010 the fourth annual meeting was held in Beijing and focused on Energy, Ecosystem and Environmental Change with 64 presentations.
• The fifth annual meeting was held in September 2011, to be held at Purdue University.
• A partnership agreement has been signed between Purdue's Center for the Environment and the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This agreement establishes the China-U.S. Joint Research Laboratory on Sustainable Ecosystem and will promote faculty and graduate student exchanges between Purdue and the Institute of Applied Ecology. These exchanges will include collaborative research projects, lab visits, and faculty sabbaticals.
• Collaborative research proposals have been submitted to the National Science Foundation, to the Environmental Protection Agency, and to the Department of State as a result of Purdue faculty networks established through the China-U.S. Joint Research Center. About 1000 Chinese and U.S. Scientists from over 40 institutions have participated in joint conferences, field site visits, and exchange programs including sabbatical.
• In March 2011, the U.S. Department of State and the China National Reform and Development Commission became part of the EcoPartnerships Program to bring Chinese and U.S. entities  together to create mutual economic and environmental benefits.