Kangkang Tong is an Associate Professor at the China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research explores how urban systems contribute to carbon neutrality and sustainable development during ongoing transitions.
Kangkang (KK) Tong is an Associate Professor at the China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She serves as the co-chair of the International Society for Industrial Ecology’s Sustainable Urban Section and as an Associate Editor of Environmental Challenges. Her research explores how urban systems contribute to carbon neutrality and sustainable development during ongoing transitions.
Her specific areas of focus are: 1) modeling urban energy use and carbon footprint across multiple spatial scales; 2) identifying unique opportunities that urban systems can provide for zero-carbon transitions; and 3) urban energy justice from a distributive perspective, i.e., the distribution of energy use and the benefits of energy policy among socio-economic groups in cities.
Kangkang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences, a Master’s degree in Ecology, and a doctoral degree in Public Affairs with a focus on Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy. Previously, she worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate at Princeton University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the University of Minnesota. She also worked as a Future Council Fellow on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Cities.
Kangkang joined the Panel in May 2025 for a 1-year engagement period, before being considered for full membership by May 2026 (as per IRP standard procedures).