The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences recognizes YNU’s ecology think tank by including it in the national core think tanks list. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

An ecology think tank at Yunnan University (YNU) was included in a list of China’s core think tanks, according to a recent list revealed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

The list was launched at a forum held by CASS, and involved nearly 100 experts from various think tanks in different organizations.

According to the list, a total of 166 organizations were included in national core think tanks by being divided into four kinds based on their function –– comprehensive, professional, commercial or social.

The ecology think tank was established under the guidance of Duan Changqun, professor at the School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of YNU. With the support of Peking University, the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and Yunnan Academy of Environmental Sciences, the think tank has gone from strength to strength.

Since 2007, when the think tank was set up, the institute has paid constant attention to issues related to protecting Yunnan’s ecology. In 2016, it was selected as a key think tank in Yunnan province.

The think tank has made more than 20 proposals to the provincial government in terms of regional ecological protection, and many of them have been taken up.

Advice given on addressing climate change in Yunnan captured the attention of international media organizations and was reported by China’s State-owned media organization Reference News.

The research report by the organization on the influence exerted by engineering projects in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River on the area’s ecology was recognized by national leaders.

In terms of addressing agricultural pollution, their proposals were noticed by Canadian scientists and the Canadian government.