Recently, Professor Chen Xiaoguang and his collaborators from our institute published three research papers in Nature and Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (JEEM), covering topics in environmental economics and agricultural economics, including sustainable agricultural development, the impact of air pollution on flight delays, and the impact of climate change on agriculture.

On March 16, 2023, Professor Chen Xiaoguang, as a co-corresponding author, along with researchers Xie Wei from Peking University and Wu Feng from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a research paper titled Crop switching can enhance environmental sustainability and farmer incomes in China

This study combined high-resolution data on specific crop yields, harvested area, environmental footprint, and farmer income to quantify the current state of crop production sustainability and perform spatial optimization to meet a series of sustainable agricultural development goals. The study found that crop conversion can improve the environmental sustainability of agriculture and farmers' income levels. For example, converting corn planting area to wheat planting area can reduce land use and fertilizer use while increasing farmers' income. This research provides new ideas and methods for sustainable agricultural development in China and also contributes to global food security and the achievement of sustainable development goals. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Excellent Young Scientists Fund and the NSFC Key International Cooperation Project.

From February to March 2023, Professor Chen Xiaoguang published two consecutive papers as the first author in JEEM: "Flight delays due to air pollution in China" and "Differentiated agricultural sensitivity and adaptability to rising temperatures across regions and sectors in China." The first study examines the impact of air pollution on flight delays. The study found that when PM2.5 concentration levels increased by one standard deviation, flight departure delays increased by approximately 4.5–6.4 minutes. The second study explored the differences in agricultural sensitivity and adaptability to rising temperatures across different regions and sectors in China. It found that the effects of temperature varied between northern and southern China, as well as among different agricultural sectors. The warming effects were concentrated in the cooler northern regions, where concurrent high temperatures were detrimental to crop farming and animal husbandry, but beneficial to forestry. The short-term negative impacts of extreme temperatures on crop farming could be largely mitigated, but the mitigation effect on animal husbandry was limited. These findings provide a basis for designing and prioritizing specific policies and investments for regional and sectoral agricultural adaptation to climate change. The research results offer references for relevant policy formulation and contribute to promoting sustainable agricultural development and environmental protection.

Nature is an international multidisciplinary science journal published by Nature Portfolio, founded in 1869. It is one of the world's most authoritative and respected scientific journals, renowned for publishing original research, reviews, news commentaries, and science news. It covers all fields of natural science, including biology, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and astronomy. The journal has a high influence and reputation among scientists, researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

The Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (JEEM), published by Elsevier, is an international journal in the field of environmental economics and management. Since its founding in 1974, it has consistently been one of the leading journals in environmental economics and management, widely considered one of the top journals in the field. Its impact factor ranks first in environmental economics and management, and its articles are widely cited, significantly impacting research and practice in the field.

Chen Xiaoguang is currently a Distinguished Professor and PhD supervisor under the Guanghua Outstanding Scholar Program at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, and a recipient of the National Natural Science Foundation of China's Excellent Young Scientists Fund. He earned his dual bachelor's degrees in Environmental Science and Economics from Peking University in 2003 and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. His research focuses on the theoretical and applied fields of environmental economics, agricultural economics, and operations research. He has published 37 academic papers in Chinese and English, including 13 in leading journals such as Nature, Economic Research Journal, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, and Transportation Science. He has led three National Natural Science Foundation of China projects and one World Bank-funded international collaborative project. He was selected as one of Elsevier's 2020 Highly Cited Chinese Researchers (Theoretical Economics).