Climate and Earth System

The rapid rise in global temperatures is triggering a multitude of issues, including the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, a decline in biodiversity, and ongoing environmental degradation. This sub-session will focus on a series of cutting-edge scientific and technological topics, including: An in-depth understanding of climate change mechanisms, a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of climate change on ecological environments and various social sectors, climate prediction and projections of climate change characteristics, and a scientific evaluation of the safety boundaries and tipping points of the Earth system.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Wenjie Dong, Sun Yat-Sen University

Prof. Bin Wang, University of Hawaii

Prof. Kyung-Ja Ha, Pusan National University

Prof. Fei Liu, Sun Yat-sen University

Prof. Naiming Yuan, Sun Yat-sen University

Extreme weather and climate events and their impacts

Human and natural systems are vulnerable to various types of extreme weather and climate events.  The frequency, intensity, and nature of the extreme events are changing under human-induced climate change. This session will explore how extreme weather and climate events are generated, how they vary in space and time, how they impact human and natural systems, and how both they and their impacts change under past, present, and future climate change.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Qian Cheng, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Dáithí Stone, Earth Science New Zealand

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

The current global environmental crises mainly include global change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution, which are key factors affecting the achievement of sustainable socio-economic development. This session will focus on three topics: large-scale patterns and conservation strategies of biodiversity, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and the mechanisms underlying biodiversity maintenance. With the online sharing of large databases such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), research on large-scale biodiversity patterns has been greatly promoted, providing a scientific basis for identifying priority areas for conservation. Research on biodiversity and ecosystem functions aims to reveal the impacts of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning, with the relationship between plant diversity and primary productivity emerging as a research hotspot. The mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance involve multiple dimensions, including species and ecosystems, with the mechanisms of species coexistence within communities being a major focus. Other important issues such as biodiversity responses to global change and the scientific support for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Keping Ma, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Alessandro Chiarucci, University of Bologna

Prof. Pavel Krestov, Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Science

Emerging Pollutants and Impacts

The conventional priority pollutants are only one piece of the larger risk puzzle. Diverse emerging pollutants in environmental media continue to pose significant threats to both the ecological environment and human health. This session will focus on the screening and detection of emerging pollutants, alongside their toxicological profiles, ecological risks, and human health impacts. It will also explore methodologies for screening emerging pollutants to identify those requiring priority control, as well as the technologies and strategies for mitigating the environmental risks posed by emerging pollutants.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Minghui Zheng, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Mohamed A. Abdallah, University of Birmingham

Urban Metabolism and Sustainability Transition

As complex systems with high concentrations of human activities, cities depend on continuous inputs of materials, conversion of energy, accumulation of stocks, and outputs of wastes and emissions. With the acceleration of global urbanization and tightening resource and environmental constraints, understanding and optimizing the urban metabolism process has become a central issue for achieving regional sustainable development. This session will explore the fundamental components and operational mechanisms of urban metabolic systems; analyze the evolutionary characteristics and driving factors of material and energy flows across different spatial and temporal scales; assess the complex impacts of urban metabolic processes on both ecological and socio-economic systems; and investigate pathways and strategies for transitioning urban metabolic systems towards more efficient, circular, and resilient models under future development scenarios, such as carbon neutrality and the circular economy.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Weiqiang Chen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Prof. Heinz Schandl, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.

Prof. Jose Lobo, Arizona State University, USA.

Environmental Health and Well-Being

The environment is a fundamental determinant of human health and well-being. In an era of rapid urbanization and profound global environmental change, understanding and addressing the health challenges posed by environmental factors is more critical than ever. This parallel session is designed to create an international, interdisciplinary forum focused on the multi-faceted impacts of the natural and social environments on the health and well-being under the situation of global change and human activities.

Key topics will be discussed include, but are not limited to:

•        Health risks and response strategies for global climate change

•        Health impacts of environmental pollution (air, water, soil, noise)

•        Environmental microorganisms on human health

•        Emerging contaminants on global health in the “One Health” era

•        Technological innovations and policy interventions for healthier environments

Co-Chair:

Prof. Tiantian Li, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Prof. Xinhong Wang, Xiamen University

Prof. Kurunthachalam Kannan, State University of New York at Albany

Prof. Joy Shumake-Guillemot, World Health Organization (WHO)/ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Joint Office for Climate and Health

AI for Brain Science and Innovation

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and brain science is unlocking unprecedented insights into the human mind and revolutionizing clinical practice. This session explores this dynamic and symbiotic relationship through three pivotal domains. We will first delve into AI for Neuroscience, examining how machine learning and deep learning decode complex neural data, identify highly nonlinear patterns, and accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. We will then explore AI for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) and Digital Twin Brains, showcasing how AI models function effectively in BCIs and how personalized digital simulations of the brain provide a computational experimental context for precision medicine. Finally, the session will discuss AI for Brain-Inspired Models, focusing on how principles from neuroscience, such as neural topology, inspire the next generation of energy-efficient and highly adaptive AI systems like Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs). This session will also comprehensively discuss the urgent technical breakthroughs and cross-cutting challenges within the field.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Tianzi Jiang, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Benjamin Becker, The University of Hong Kong

‪Prof. Pedro A. Valdes-Sosa,  University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Socio-Ecological Networks and Ecosystem Services

Achieving global sustainability requires a mechanistic understanding of the coupling between human and natural systems. This session positions socio-ecological networks (SENs) as a critical analytical framework to dissect the structure and dynamics of these coupled systems. We will examine how SENs mediate the flow of ecosystem services, directly linking ecological structure to human well-being and economic stability. Moving beyond siloed approaches, in this session, we will integrate ecology, complexity science, economics, and political science to address three core challenges:

First, we will explore how network topology governs system resilience, vulnerability, and the propagation of shocks—from climate change to market collapse. We will present evidence of critical thresholds and feedback loops that dictate system responses.

Second, we will debate novel frameworks for the equitable governance and economic valuation of ecosystem services. The discussion will focus on moving beyond simplistic monetary metrics to incorporate justice and distributional equity into policy design.

Finally, we will discuss and translate theory into practice, demonstrating how SENs can operationalize adaptive management and nature-based solutions. We will highlight applications in vulnerable, high-stakes regions—including coastal zones, polar systems, and biodiversity hotspots—to outline scalable strategies for achieving sustainable development goals.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Xiaoling Zhang, The University of Hong Kong

Prof. Hijioka Yasuki, Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies

Prof. Thomas Elmqvist, Stockholm University

Prof. Eugene Chigbu, Namibia University of Science and Technology

Dr. Yang Xia, Senior Editor, Nature

Ecological Sensitivity and Sustainability

Under the combined pressures of climate change and human activities, the sustainable development of ecologically sensitive regions faces significant challenges. This session will address the prominent contradiction between socio-economic development and environmental carrying capacity in ecologically sensitive regions. It will mainly explore the evolutionary patterns and driving mechanisms of the coupling relationship between socio-economy and environment, analyzing how interactions between natural and socio-economic factors contribute to ecological vulnerability which may lead to tipping points. The session will investigate the impacts of various development activities on regional ecosystem functioning and their interrelationships, as well as explore changes in natural resource consumption, contaminants emissions, and carbon emission fluxes—along with their spatiotemporal distribution patterns—across the entire industrial chain in ecologically sensitive regions. Furthermore, it will assess the responses and evolutionary dynamics of key elements such as water, soil, air, biota, and social systems. Finally, the session will also discuss about cross-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral social interventions, aiming to advance integrated models for sustainable development of regional ecology and socio-economic systems.Co-Chair:

Prof. Yonglong Lu, Xiamen University

Prof. Shahid Naeem, Columbia University

Prof. Piotr Matczak, Adam Mickiewicz University

Polar Environmental Change and its Impacts

Polar regions, including Arctic and Antarctic, are sentinels of global environmental change, and have experienced rapid changes in recent decades. Their impacts are resulting in significant consequences affecting climate, ecosystems, and human activities. This session brings together scientists to share research on 1) environmental changes in the Arctic and Antarctic and their underlying mechanisms, 2) connections and contributions of Arctic and Antarctic changes to regional and global climate, and 3) effects of polar changes on human societies and natural ecosystems. This session also welcomes discussions on the need for sustained polar observations for monitoring polar environmental changes.

Co-Chair:

Prof. Jiping Liu, Sun Yat-sen University

Prof. Cunde Xiao, Beijing Normal University

Prof. Clare Eayrs, Korea Polar Research Institute

Coastal and Ocean Health

Healthy oceans, from coastal waters to remote high seas and deep seabed areas, are integral to human health, wellbeing, and survival. However, the coastal and ocean ecosystem health is declining because of overexploitation, anthropogenic pollutants, and the effects of global climate change. This session invites researchers to present the integrated advancement of ocean health science around the Asia-Pacific region. The detailed topics will cover but not limited to: 1) the new progress and perspectives in precisely addressing the state of coastal and ocean health; 2) the interactions among the anthropogenic perturbations, effects of ongoing climate change, and potential implications for ecosystem services, biodiversity, and public health; 3) the nature-based solutions for the recovery of marine ecosystem services and helping build resilience of marine ecosystems; 4) interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches addressing issues related to environmental justice and research that involves citizen science; 5) precautionary approaches to maintain the integrity of these ecosystems as part of the vital functioning of our planet, including marine protected areas, marine parks etc..

Co-Chair:

Prof. Wenhua Liu, Shantou University

Prof. Ling Cao, Xiamen University

Prof. Kenneth Leung, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR