Future research needs for environmental science in China

Abstract

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary science developed in the process of understanding and solving ecological and environmental problems. In order to tackle these problems, environmental science research is expected to reveal the source, behavior, fate, exposure, and risks of pollutants in the environment and develop potential solutions to control pollution. It provides the scientific basis for decision-makers to establish environmental and economic policies, and promote concerted efforts for the sustainable development of society. Here, we articulate the development patterns, challenges, and future research needs of environmental science in China based on literature review and expert panel discussion. Environmental science research has evolved significantly in the past decade with an increasing diversity of environmental pollutants and health impacts, new technologies and methods, deepening fusion of multiple disciplines, and emerging solutions for pollution control. Its future development relies on the advances in our knowledge on the fate and transport of pollutants, regional environmental processes, ecotoxicological effects, environmental exposure and health effects, environmental analysis and monitoring, source control and reduction, environmental remediation, as well as environmental risk management. For each of these fields, we summarize the significant challenges and highlight the research demands for China. Based on the status quo of China's environmental science research and future needs, we provide recommendations to promote its future development, including encouraging innovation and interdisciplinary research, providing decision support for national needs, encouraging international collaboration, and improving collaboration mechanisms.

Keywords

Environmental science / China / Challenges / Opportunities / Research needs

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal interests that might have influenced the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. L1924041) and Research Project on the Discipline Development Strategy of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XK2019DXC006).

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