Dr Ruilian Zhang

Honorary Research Fellow

CSRM

ruilian.zhang@uq.edu.au

Ruilian’s interests are in the various dimensions of resettlement, covering involuntary land acquisition and resettlement, livelihoods, social impact assessment, and the social and environmental risks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He completed his PhD at the National Research Centre for Resettlement (NRCR), Hohai University, China. He has published 11 major technical reports (6 in Chinese, 5 in English), and 26 peer reviewed articles (11 in Chinese, 15 in English).

Ruilian Zhang is a Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI). He is also a member of the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), and the International Network of Displacement and Resettlement (INDR).

Industry Engagement

Ruilian has engaged in industry facing projects through applied research with hydropower developers, government bodies, international lenders, international and bilateral financial organizations. These include the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and Appraisal Centre for Environment & Engineering (ACEE) of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China.

The focus of Ruilian current position is to examine patterns of mining induced displacement and resettlement worldwide.

Collaborations

From 2015 to 2017, Ruilian was an assistant supervisor to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects financed by the Appraisal Center for Environment & Engineering (ACEE) of Ministry of Ecology and Environment. His projects in this area include: (i) Environmental Risk Identification of China-Central South Peninsula Economic Corridor, (ii) Strategic Environmental Assessment of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, (iii) Research on the Social Safeguard Policy Framework of “Belt & Road” initiative, and (iv) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Foreign Investment in Brazil.

Key Publications

Gong, Yichun, Yao, Kaiwen, Zhang, Ruilian, Liu, Bingwen and Wang, Feilong (2020). Rethinking livelihood resilience after development-induced displacement and resettlement: a case study of Qianping Reservoir. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 1-24. doi: 10.1080/07900627.2020.1790340

Owen, John R., Zhang, Ruilian and Solar, Andrea Arratia (2020). On the economics of project-induced displacement: a critique of the externality principle in resource development projects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276 123247, 123247. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123247

Peng, Shengping, Shi, Guoqing and Zhang, Ruilian (2019). Social stability risk assessment: status, trends and prospects — a case of land acquisition and resettlement in the hydropower sector. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2019.1706386

Zhang, Ruilian, Shi, Guoqing, Wang, Yuanni, Zhao, Si, Ahmad, Shafiq, Zhang, Xiaochen and Deng, Qucheng (2018). Social impact assessment of investment activities in the China-Pakistan economic corridor. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 36 (4), 331-347. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2018.1465227

Zhang, Ruilian, Andam, Francis and Shi, Guoqing (2017). Environmental and social risk evaluation of overseas investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189 (6) 253. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-5967-6

Publications

Journal Articles (41)

Conference Paper (1)

Research Reports (2)

Journal Articles

Cao, Yonghai, Mi, Wei and Zhang, Ruilian (2024). Provincial ESG performance in China: Evolution trends and the role of environmental regulation. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 107 107570, 107570. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107570

Wang, Xue, Zhang, Ruilian and Jiang, Tianhe (2024). Energy justice and decarbonization: A critical assessment for just energy transition in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 105 107420, 107420. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107420

Zhou, Cheng, Zhang, Ruilian, Zhou, Ye and Qian, Zaijian (2023). Analysing the policy process of China’s political accountability in the prevention and control of COVID-19. International Politics. doi: 10.1057/s41311-023-00542-9

Jiang, Tianhe, Zhang, Ruilian, Zhang, Fan, Shi, Guoqing and Wang, Chen (2023). Assessing provincial coal reliance for just low-carbon transition in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 102 107198, 107198. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107198

Li, Yan and Zhang, Ruilian (2023). A review of water-energy-food nexus development in a just energy transition. Energies, 16 (17) 6253. doi: 10.3390/en16176253

Wang, Yuanni, Zhang, Ruilian, Zhao, Yazhou and Li, Chunhua (2023). A public participation approach in the environmental governance of industrial parks. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 101 107131, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107131

Sharma, Vigya, Loginova, Julia, Zhang, Ruilian, Kemp, Deanna and Shi, Guoqing (2023). How do past global experiences of coal phase-out inform China’s domestic approach to a just transition?. Sustainability Science, 18 (5), 1-18. doi: 10.1007/s11625-023-01312-5

Shangguan, Ziheng, Liu, Jianping, Wang, Mark Yaolin, Chen, Shaojun and Zhang, Ruilian (2023). Have water conservancy project resettlers in contemporary China really been lifted out of poverty? Re-measurement based on relative poverty and consumption poverty. Land, 12 (1) 169, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/land12010169

Owen, John R., Kemp, Deanna, Lechner, Alex M., Harris, Jill, Zhang, Ruilian and Lèbre, Éléonore (2023). Energy transition minerals and their intersection with land-connected peoples. Nature Sustainability, 6 (2), 203-211. doi: 10.1038/s41893-022-00994-6

Owen, John R., Kemp, Deanna, Lechner, Alex M., Harris, Jill, Zhang, Ruilian and Lèbre, Éléonore (2023). Author Correction: Energy transition minerals and their intersection with land-connected peoples. Nature Sustainability, 6 (8), 1024-1024. doi: 10.1038/s41893-022-01057-6

Xiao, Jianliang and Zhang, Ruilian (2022). Digital technology to control COVID-19 in China: issues, challenges and implications for the healthcare system. Signa Vitae, 18 (6), 103-109. doi: 10.22514/sv.2021.229

Zhang, Ruilian, Worden, Sandy, Xu, Junzhuo, Owen, John R. and Shi, Guoqing (2022). Social stability risk assessment and economic competitiveness in China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9 (1) 309, 1-7. doi: 10.1057/s41599-022-01329-8

Li, Xiaofeng, Abbas, Jaffar, Dongling, Wang, Baig, Noor Ul Ain and Zhang, Ruilian (2022). From cultural tourism to social entrepreneurship: role of social value creation for environmental sustainability. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 925768, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.925768

Zhou, Cheng, Zhang, Ruilian, Loginova, Julia, Sharma, Vigya, Zhang, Zhonghua and Qian, Zaijian (2022). Institutional logic of carbon neutrality policies in China: what can we learn?. Energies, 15 (12) 4391, 4391. doi: 10.3390/en15124391

Zhang, Xiaochen, Husnain, Muhammad, Yang, Hailan, Ullah, Saif, Abbas, Jaffar and Zhang, Ruilian (2022). Corporate business strategy and tax avoidance culture: moderating role of gender diversity in an emerging economy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 827553. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.827553

Ge, Taoan, Abbas, Jaffar, Ullah, Raza, Abbas, Azhar, Sadiq, Iqra and Zhang, Ruilian (2022). Women’s entrepreneurial contribution to family income: innovative technologies promote females’ entrepreneurship amid COVID-19 crisis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 828040, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.828040

Ding, Difeng and Zhang, Ruilian (2022). China's COVID-19 control strategy and its impact on the global pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 10 857003, 857003. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.857003

Cheng, Jun, Zhang, Ruilian, Liu, Yuzhen and Wang, Chen (2022). Social anomie induced by resource development projects: a case of a coal mining project. Journal of International Development, 34 (2), 306-321. doi: 10.1002/jid.3593

Zhang, Ruilian, Owen, John R., Kemp, Deanna and Shi, Guoqing (2022). An applied framework for assessing the relative deprivation of dam‐affected communities. Sustainable Development, 30 (1), 176-190. doi: 10.1002/sd.2237

Meng, Zhigang, Shan, Shoujin and Zhang, Ruilian (2021). China’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy and its impact on the global pandemic. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 14, 4649-4655. doi: 10.2147/rmhp.s338701

Shan, Shoujin, Sun, Zhonggen, Zhang, Furong, Zhang, Ruilian and Yang, Bingqing (2021). Have elderly individuals in urban China been satisfied with nursing services during the COVID-19 pandemic?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (20) 10624, 10624. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182010624

Wang, Jie and Zhang, Ruilian (2021). COVID-19 in rural China: features, challenges and implications for the healthcare system. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 14, 1045-1051. doi: 10.2147/jmdh.s307232

Wang, Yuanni, Zhang, Ruilian, Worden, Sandy, Cao, Hailin and Li, Chunhua (2021). Public participation in environmental governance initiatives of chemical industrial parks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 305 127092, 127092. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127092

Wang, Yan, Wang, Chen, Zhang, Ruilian and Xu, Junzhuo (2021). Trade-off between aquaculture closures and fishermen livelihoods. Sage Open, 11 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1177/21582440211008154

Zhang, Jinrui, Zhang, Ruilian, Xu, Junzhuo, Wang, Jie and Shi, Guoqing (2021). Infrastructure investment and regional economic growth: evidence from Yangtze River Economic Zone. Land, 10 (3) 320, 320. doi: 10.3390/land10030320

Xing, Cunhai and Zhang, Ruilian (2021). COVID-19 in China: responses, challenges and implications for the health system. Healthcare, 9 (1) 82, 82. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9010082

Wang, Yan, Zhang, Ruilian and Peng, Shengping (2021). Cognitive differences and influencing factors of Chinese people’s old-age care responsibility against the ageing background. Healthcare, 9 (1) 72, 72. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9010072

Xu, Junzhuo, Shi, Guoqing, Li, Bingqin, Fischer, Thomas B., Zhang, Ruilian, Yan, Dengcai, Jiang, Jingjun, Yang, Qi and Sun, Zhonggen (2020). Skills’ sets and shared benefits: perceptions of resettled people from the Yangtze-Huai River Diversion Project in China. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 39 (5), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2020.1848242

Gong, Yichun, Zhang, Ruilian, Yao, Kaiwen, Liu, Bingwen and Wang, Feilong (2020). A livelihood resilience measurement framework for dam-induced displacement and resettlement. Water, 12 (11) 3191, 3191-23. doi: 10.3390/w12113191

Sun, Zhonggen, Cheng, Xin, Zhang, Ruilian and Yang, Bingqing (2020). Factors Influencing rumour re-spreading in a public health crisis by the middle-aged and elderly populations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (18) 6542, 6542-14. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186542

Zhang, Jinrui and Zhang, Ruilian (2020). COVID-19 in China: Power, transparency and governance in public health crisis. Healthcare, 8 (3) 288, 288. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8030288

Sun, Zhonggen, Yang, Bingqing, Zhang, Ruilian and Cheng, Xin (2020). Influencing factors of understanding COVID-19 Risks and coping behaviors among the elderly population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (16) 5889, 5889-16. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165889

Zou, Yan, Xu, Junzhuo and Zhang, Ruilian (2020). Rethinking vulnerability and human behaviour in arid and semi-arid regions in northwestern China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192 (6) 379, 379. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-08320-3

Wang, Yuanni, Cao, Hailin, Yuan, Yingchun and Zhang, Ruilian (2020). Empowerment through emotional connection and capacity building: public participation through environmental non-governmental organizations. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 80 106319, 106319. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2019.106319

Wang, Han, Shi, Guoqing, Zhang, Ruilain, Xu, Junzhuo and Shangguan, Ziheng (2019). Risk perceptions and mining-induced displacement and resettlement: a case study from Anhui Province, China. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 39 (5), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2019.1684082

Zhang, Ruilian and Shi, Guoqing (2016). Analysis of the relationship between environmental policies and air quality during major social events. Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment, 14 (3), 167-173. doi: 10.1080/10042857.2016.1177316

Conference Paper

Zhang, Rui Lian and Yao, Feng (2014). Evaluating the relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution. International Conference on Machine Tool Technology and Mechatronics Engineering, ICMTTME, Guilin, China, 22 - 23 June 2014. Pfaffikon, Switzerland: Scientific.Net. doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.644-650.5884

Research Reports

Sharma, Vigya, Loginova, Julia, Zhang, Ruilian and Kemp, Deanna (2022). Energy Transition in China: Scenario analysis informing social sustainability assessment. Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.

Sharma, Vigya, Loginova, Julia, Zhang, Ruilian and Kemp, Deanna (2022). China’s just transitions: reviewing lessons learned and approaches to social sustainability assessment. Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.