Meng Jiang
About
Meng Jiang works in the industrial ecology programme with Prof. Edgar Hertwich. His research focuses on input-output analysis and material flow analysis. He focuses on modeling resource efficiency, the circular economy, and chemical systems.
He received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (Industrial Ecology) from Tsinghua University, China.
He has also studied at the University of Washington (Seattle), USA (joint undergraduate program), and worked at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria (Young Scientist Summer Program), and United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO), Austria (internship).
Publications
Jiang, M., Cao, Y., Liu C., Chen, D., Zhou, W., Wen, Q., Yu, H., Jiang, J., Ren, Y., Hu, S., Hertwich, E., Zhu, B. (2024) Tracing fossil-based plastics, chemicals and fertilizers production in China. Nature Communications, 15, 3854
Ren, Z.#, Jiang, M.#, Behrens, P., Chen, D., Mostert, C., Zhou, W., Li, C., Li, F., Liu, L., Wang, H., Xu, M., Hertwich, E., Bringezu, S., Zhu, B. (2025) Declining demand and circular transition possibilities of sand resources in China. Nature Communications, 16, 9294.
Hu, Q., Qian, S., Wang, Y., Zhao, J., Jiang, M., Sun, M., Huang, H., Gan, T., Ma, J., Zhang, J., Cheng, Y., Niu, Z. (2024) Polyethylene hydrogenolysis by dilute RuPt alloy to achieve H2-pressure-independent low methane selectivity. Nature Communications 15, 10573.
Tian, P., Feng, K., Chen, X., Li, D., Jiang, M., Li, J., Zheng, H., Shan, Y., Sun, L. (2025) Consumption inequalities in material use undermining resources sustainability. Nature Sustainability. 10.1038/s41893-025-01726-2
Wang, Y., Ma, F., Wang, H., Jiang, M., Tzachor, A., Fang, K., Liang, S., Zhu, B., Hertwich, E. G., Lenzen, M., Schandl, H., Lutter, S. (2025). Doubling of the global freshwater footprint of material production over two decades. Nature Sustainability, 10.1038/s41893-025-01661-2
Jiang, M., Behrens, P., Wang, T., Tang, Z., Yu, Y., Chen, D., Liu, L., Ren, Z., Zhou, W., Zhu, S., He, C., Tukker, A., Zhu, B. (2019). Provincial and Sector-level Material Footprints in China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA (PNAS), 116(52), 26484–26490.
Jiang, M., Behrens, P., Yang, Y., Tang, Z., Chen, D., Yu, Y., Liu, L., Gong, P., Zhu, S., Zhou, W., Zhu, B., Tukker, A. (2022). Different Material Footprint Trends between China and the World in 2007-2012 Explained by Construction- and Manufacturing-associated Investment. One Earth, 5(1), 109–119
Jiang, M., Wang, R., Wood, R., Rasul, K., Zhu B., Hertwich, E. (2023). Material and Carbon Footprints of Machinery Capital. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(50), 21124–21135
Jiang, M., Liu, L., Behrens, P., Wang, T., Tang, Z., Chen, D., Yu, Y., Ren, Z., Zhu, S., Tukker, A., Zhu, B. (2020). Improving Subnational Input-Output Analyses Using Regional Trade Data: A Case-Study and Comparison. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(19), 12732-12741.
Ren, Y., Zhu, H., Jiang, M.*, Cao, Y., Li, C., Yu, Y., Chen, D., Xu, M., Guo, B., Zhu, B.*, (2025) Filling the Gaps: Tracing 12 Types of Non-commodity Plastics in China’s Plastic Socioeconomic Metabolism. Environmental Science & Technology, 59(10), 5001–5011.
Li, C., Cao, Y., Ren, Y., Jiang, M., Zhu, H., Zhou, Z., Du, Z., Chen, D., Xu, M., Guo, B., Tian, M., Zhu, B. (2026). Beyond tires: 45 years of rubber flows and stocks in China (1978–2022). Environmental Science & Technology. 10.1021/acs.est.5c12736
Liu, Y., Jiang, M., and Hertwich, E. G. (2025). Environmental impact of machinery and equipment: A comparison between EXIOBASE, national environmentally extended input output models, and Ecoinvent. Environmental Science & Technology, 10.1021/acs.est.5c08581
Ren, Y., Zhu, H., Cao, Y., Jiang, X., Chen, D.*, Jiang, M.*, Xu, M., Guo, B., Zhu, B.* (2025). Dataset on the dynamic stocks and flows of 20 types of plastics in China, 1978 to 2022. Scientific Data, 10.1038/s41597-025-06363-0
Gong P., Zhu, S., Jiang, M., Zhu, B., Yang, Y. (2025). A new dataset of province- and prefecture-level human development index in China. Scientific Data, 12, 1453.
Hertwich, E., Liu, Y., Jiang, M. (2025). Critical review of climate and resource costs and benefits of machinery and equipment. Engineering. 10.1016/j.eng.2025.10.034
Jiang, M., Behrens, P., Lyu, L., Tang, Z., Chen, D., Cao, Y., Gong, P., Zhou, W., Yang, Y., Tukker, A., Hertwich, E., Zhu, B. (2023). Additional north-south differences in China revealed by the Planetary Pressure-Adjusted Human Development Index. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, 198, 107191.
Ottelin, J., Sborz, J., Jiang, M., Stadler, K. (2026). Environmental intensities of consumption reveal synergy between welfare and environmental policies beyond income effect. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 228, 108791.
Ren, Z., Jiang, M., Chen, D., Yu, Y., Li, F., Xu, M., Bringezu, S., Zhu, B. (2022). Stocks and Flows of Sand, Gravel, and Crushed Stone in China (1978–2018): Evidence of the Peaking and Structural Transformation of Supply and Demand. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 180, 106173
Zhou, Z., Cao, Y., Du, Z., Jiang, M., Ren, Y., Li, C., Zhu, H., Chen, D., Yu, Y., Xu, M., Guo, B., He, Y., Zhu, B. (2025) Weaving through time: Stocks and flows of textile fibers in China (1978–2022). Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 223, 108522.
Jiang, X., Wang, T., Jiang, M., Xu, M., Yu, Y., Guo, B., Chen, D., Hu, S., Jiang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhu, B. (2020). Assessment of Plastic Stocks and Flows in China: 1978-2017. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, 161, 104969.
Zheng, H., Wood, R., Moran, D., Feng, K., Tisserant, A., Jiang, M., Hertwich, E. G. (2023). Rising carbon inequality and its driving factors from 2005 to 2015. Global Environmental Change, 82, 102704.
Zheng, H., Zhang, Z., Dietzenbacher, E., Zhou, Y., Többen, J., Feng, K., Moran D., Jiang, M., Shan, Y., Wang, D., Liu X., Li, L., Zhao, D., Meng, J., Guan, D. (2023). Leveraging opportunity of low carbon transition by super–emitter cities in China. Science Bulletin. 68(20), 2456–2466.
Hertwich, E. G., Jiang, M. (2025). The carbon footprint of machine tools and metal working machinery in U.S. manufacturing. Procedia CIRP, 135, 420–425.
Liu, L., Schandl, H., West, J., Jiang, M., Ren, Z., Chen, D., Zhu, B. (2022) Copper Ore Material Footprints and Transfers Embodied in Domestic and International Trade of Provinces in China. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 26(4), 1423–1436.
Du, Y., Zhao, D., Jiang, M., Bo, Y., Wu, C., Varis, O., Peng, J., Zhou, F. (2022). Local and Non-local Drivers of Consumption-based Water Use in China during 2007–2015: Perspective of Metacoupling. Journal of Environmental Management, 312, 114940
Zhu, B., Chen, D., Jiang, M., Ren, Y., Cao, Y., Zhou, W., Hu, S., Jin, Y. (2021). Key Role of Chemical Engineering in Transition to Low-carbon Development in Perspective of the Linkage between Resource Utilization and Carbon Emissions. CIESC Journal, 72(12), 5893–5903
Zhu, B., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Chen, D., Jiang, M. (2016). Resource productivity estimates at the municipal and intra-county levels in China. Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology), 56(12), 1341–1345
Publications
2025
-
Liu, Yiwen;
Jiang, Meng;
Hertwich, Edgar G..
(2025)
Environmental Impact of Machinery and Equipment: A Comparison between EXIOBASE, National Environmentally Extended Input–Output Models, and Ecoinvent.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
-
Ren, Yucheng;
Zhu, Hengzhi;
Jiang, Meng;
Cao, Yuheng;
Li, Chunlong;
Yu, Yadong.
(2025)
Filling the Gaps: Tracing 12 Types of Non-commodity Plastics in China’s Plastic Socioeconomic Metabolism.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
2024
-
Hu, Qikun;
Qian, Shuairen;
Wang, Yuqi;
Zhao, Jiayang;
Jiang, Meng;
Sun, Mingze.
(2024)
Polyethylene hydrogenolysis by dilute RuPt alloy to achieve H<inf>2</inf>-pressure-independent low methane selectivity.
Nature Communications
Academic article
-
Jiang, Meng;
Cao, Yuheng;
Liu, Changgong;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Zhou, Wenji;
Wen, Qian.
(2024)
Tracing fossil-based plastics, chemicals and fertilizers production in China.
Nature Communications
Academic article
2023
-
Jiang, Meng;
Behrens, Paul;
Lyu, Le;
Tang, Zhipeng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Cao, Yuheng.
(2023)
Additional north-south differences in China revealed by the Planetary Pressure-Adjusted Human Development Index.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Academic article
-
Jiang, Meng;
Wang, Ranran;
Wood, Richard John;
Rasul, Kajwan;
Zhu, Bing;
Hertwich, Edgar.
(2023)
Material and Carbon Footprints of Machinery Capital.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
-
Zheng, Heran;
Wood, Richard John;
Moran, Daniel Dean;
Feng, Kuishuang;
Tisserant, Alexandre Fabien Regis;
Jiang, Meng.
(2023)
Rising carbon inequality and its driving factors from 2005 to 2015.
Global Environmental Change
Academic article
-
Zheng, Heran;
Zhang, Zengkai;
Dietzenbacher, Erik;
Zhou, Ya;
Többen, Johannes Reinhard;
Feng, Kuishuang.
(2023)
Leveraging opportunity of low carbon transition by super-emitter cities in China.
Science Bulletin
Academic article
2022
-
Ren, Zijian;
Jiang, Meng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Yu, Yadong;
Li, Fei;
Xu, Ming.
(2022)
Stocks and flows of sand, gravel, and crushed stone in China (1978–2018): Evidence of the peaking and structural transformation of supply and demand.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Academic article
-
Liu, Lin;
Schandl, Heinz;
West, James;
Jiang, Meng;
Ren, Zijian;
Chen, Dingjiang.
(2022)
Copper ore material footprints and transfers embodied in domestic and international trade of provinces in China.
Journal of Industrial Ecology
Academic article
-
Ren, Zijian;
Jiang, Meng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Yu, Yadong;
Li, Fei;
Xu, Ming.
(2022)
Corrigendum to ‘Stocks and flows of sand, gravel, and crushed stone in China (1978-2018): Evidence of the peaking and structural transformation of supply and demand’ (Resources, Conservation & Recycling (2022) 180, (S0921344922000210), (10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106173)).
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Errata
-
Du, Yueyue;
Zhao, Dandan;
Jiang, Meng;
Bo, Yan;
Wu, Changxian;
Varis, Olli.
(2022)
Local and non-local drivers of consumption-based water use in China during 2007–2015: Perspective of metacoupling.
Journal of Environmental Management (JEM)
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Liu, Yiwen;
Jiang, Meng;
Hertwich, Edgar G..
(2025)
Environmental Impact of Machinery and Equipment: A Comparison between EXIOBASE, National Environmentally Extended Input–Output Models, and Ecoinvent.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
-
Ren, Yucheng;
Zhu, Hengzhi;
Jiang, Meng;
Cao, Yuheng;
Li, Chunlong;
Yu, Yadong.
(2025)
Filling the Gaps: Tracing 12 Types of Non-commodity Plastics in China’s Plastic Socioeconomic Metabolism.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
-
Hu, Qikun;
Qian, Shuairen;
Wang, Yuqi;
Zhao, Jiayang;
Jiang, Meng;
Sun, Mingze.
(2024)
Polyethylene hydrogenolysis by dilute RuPt alloy to achieve H<inf>2</inf>-pressure-independent low methane selectivity.
Nature Communications
Academic article
-
Jiang, Meng;
Cao, Yuheng;
Liu, Changgong;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Zhou, Wenji;
Wen, Qian.
(2024)
Tracing fossil-based plastics, chemicals and fertilizers production in China.
Nature Communications
Academic article
-
Jiang, Meng;
Behrens, Paul;
Lyu, Le;
Tang, Zhipeng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Cao, Yuheng.
(2023)
Additional north-south differences in China revealed by the Planetary Pressure-Adjusted Human Development Index.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Academic article
-
Jiang, Meng;
Wang, Ranran;
Wood, Richard John;
Rasul, Kajwan;
Zhu, Bing;
Hertwich, Edgar.
(2023)
Material and Carbon Footprints of Machinery Capital.
Environmental Science and Technology
Academic article
-
Zheng, Heran;
Wood, Richard John;
Moran, Daniel Dean;
Feng, Kuishuang;
Tisserant, Alexandre Fabien Regis;
Jiang, Meng.
(2023)
Rising carbon inequality and its driving factors from 2005 to 2015.
Global Environmental Change
Academic article
-
Zheng, Heran;
Zhang, Zengkai;
Dietzenbacher, Erik;
Zhou, Ya;
Többen, Johannes Reinhard;
Feng, Kuishuang.
(2023)
Leveraging opportunity of low carbon transition by super-emitter cities in China.
Science Bulletin
Academic article
-
Ren, Zijian;
Jiang, Meng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Yu, Yadong;
Li, Fei;
Xu, Ming.
(2022)
Stocks and flows of sand, gravel, and crushed stone in China (1978–2018): Evidence of the peaking and structural transformation of supply and demand.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Academic article
-
Liu, Lin;
Schandl, Heinz;
West, James;
Jiang, Meng;
Ren, Zijian;
Chen, Dingjiang.
(2022)
Copper ore material footprints and transfers embodied in domestic and international trade of provinces in China.
Journal of Industrial Ecology
Academic article
-
Ren, Zijian;
Jiang, Meng;
Chen, Dingjiang;
Yu, Yadong;
Li, Fei;
Xu, Ming.
(2022)
Corrigendum to ‘Stocks and flows of sand, gravel, and crushed stone in China (1978-2018): Evidence of the peaking and structural transformation of supply and demand’ (Resources, Conservation & Recycling (2022) 180, (S0921344922000210), (10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106173)).
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Errata
-
Du, Yueyue;
Zhao, Dandan;
Jiang, Meng;
Bo, Yan;
Wu, Changxian;
Varis, Olli.
(2022)
Local and non-local drivers of consumption-based water use in China during 2007–2015: Perspective of metacoupling.
Journal of Environmental Management (JEM)
Academic article
Teaching
Courses
Outreach
2025
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng; Hertwich, Edgar. (2025) Assessing Petrochemical Sector Footprints and Linkages via Global Input-Output Modeling. The first international conference on Petrochemicals and Climate Change: Technology, Policy, and Societal Change in a Time of Planetary Crises , Cambridge 2025-07-01 - 2025-07-03
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Academic lectureHertwich, Edgar G.; Jiang, Meng. (2025) The carbon footprint of machine tools and metal working machinery in U.S. manufacturing. 32nd CIRP Conference on Life Cycle Engineering , Manchester 2025-04-07 - 2025-04-09
2024
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng; Hertwich, Edgar. (2024) Machinery and Equipment Required for a Sustainable Future. Gordon Research Seminar – Industrial Ecology , Switzerland, 2024-05-25 - 2024-05-26
2023
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng. (2023) Tracing Fossil-Based Energy, Plastics, and Chemical Production in China. 6th NTNU Young Researcher Clean Energy Forum , Trondheim 2023-03-31 - 2023-04-01
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Academic lectureRen, Yucheng; Jiang, Jian; Jiang, Meng; Zhu, Bing. (2023) Carbon Emissions from China's Plastic Production and Consumption. 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE) , Leiden 2023-07-02 - 2023-07-05
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Academic lectureCao, Yuheng; Jiang, Meng; Zhu, Bing. (2023) Energy and feedstock: Material Flow Analysis of Fossil-based Chemical Production in China. 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE) , Leiden 2023-07-02 - 2023-07-05
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng; Wang, Ranran; Wood, Richard John; Hertwich, Edgar. (2023) Global Carbon and Material Footprints of Machinery Capital. 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE) , Leiden 2023-07-02 - 2023-07-05
2022
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PosterJiang, Meng; Zhu, Bing; Hertwich, Edgar. (2022) The Role of Capital Investment in China’s Material Development. 14th ISIE Socio-Economic Metabolism section conference (ISIE-SEM) , Vienna 2022-09-19 - 2022-09-21
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng; Zhu, Bing. (2022) Integrating socioeconomic factors, carbon emissions, and material footprints to evaluate the development of Chinese provinces: An analysis based on planetary pressure-adjusted human development index. Gordon Research Conference - Industrial Ecology , Newry, USA 2022-06-12 - 2022-06-17
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Academic lectureRen, Zijian; Jiang, Meng; Chen, Dingjiang; Yu, Yadong; Li, Fei; Xu, Ming. (2022) Structure Transition and Circularity Gap of Sand and Gravel Resources in China. EGU22 , Vienna 2022-05-23 - 2022-05-27
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Academic lectureJiang, Meng; Behrens, Paul; Yang, Yongheng; Tang, Zhipeng; Chen, Dingjiang; Yu, Yadong. (2022) Distinguishing Capital Investment and Consumption of Material Footprint: A Comparative Analysis between Subnational China and Other Nations. EGU22 , Vienna 2022-05-23 - 2022-05-27