More About the
INSTITUTE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

 

 

Mission

The Institute of Human Ecology (IHE) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) approved by the State Government of the People’s Republic of China.  IHE provides leadership in the search for creative solutions to human concerns regarding the environment and sustainability of life.

IHE intends the term "human ecology" to refer to all aspects of the human experience and everything in the environment that defines quality of life.   IHE aims to use human ecology as an original, interdisciplinary approach to the complex issues of social and economic reform in developing areas.

China holds a particular focus in IHE’s work. In recent years, the positive effects of industrialization have become significant in China’s large cities and along the coast, but there continue to be high levels of poverty in the country’s interior. This poverty has both immense human and natural costs and IHE is trying in various ways to assist people and local governments in responding to the current challenges confronting the country in its efforts to achieve widespread sustainable development. As an NGO, IHE has considerable latitude to promote intellectual awareness on the environment and human ecology, develop research to be applied to these issues, and facilitate a variety of progressive social and educational practices throughout the different strata of society.

Goals and Objectives

Our work centers on the following subjects:

Human and Sustainable Development – The application of scientific understanding of human behavior and the supporting natural environment created for the sustainment of life. This includes sponsorship of industrial and commercial projects that contribute to China’s objectives for sustainable development.

Economics and Social Service – The identification of issues in society - such as consumer affairs, community reform, economic development, poverty alleviation, and access to housing and health care - that have collateral effect on and benefit to the surrounding environment.

Environmental Design and Planning – The improvement and sustainment of the natural environment by creating effective and healthy living and working conditions. Facilitating the development of renewable energy projects and resources and promoting nature conservation are important aspects of this.

Health and Nutritional Sciences – Addressing the health and wellness of all people, with special focus on women, children, the physically challenged, and senior citizens.

Education and Cultural Studies – Assistance to educational institutions so that they may develop interdisciplinary programs in human ecology and the preservation of traditional art and culture.

 

IHE Directors and Supporting Associates

IHE established a Consultative Board to facilitate its work in China.    (Names marked with asterisk are founding members.)

The Chair of this Board is Zhang Ai Ping*, former Vice Premier, former Minister of National Defense.

The Vice Chairs of this board are:

Dr. Zhu Guangya* - Vice-Chair of the People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, and the President of the China Academy of Engineering;

Tang Ke* - Vice Chairman of the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC), former Minister of Energy Resources and the Head of the first Delegation of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment;

Lin Hujia* - Advisor to the State Council Committee for Economic Development of Poverty Regions; former Chairman of the State Planning Commission, former Party Secretary of Beijing, and former Minister of Agriculture.

Consultative Board Members include:

Zou Jiahua* – Vice Chairman of National People’s Congress. Former Vice-Premier;

Dr. Song Jian* – – Vice Chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference. Former State Councilor and Chair of the State Science and Technology Commission;

P. J. Keating - Former Prime Minister of Australia;

Dr. R. F. M. Lubbers – Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands;

Prof. Qu Geping - Chairman, Council of Environmental and Resources Protection of the National People's Congress (NPC);

Xie Zhenhua – Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA);

Dr. Wu Jieping* – China’s leading physician and the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress;

Wang Guangying* – Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Chair of the Board of Directors of China Ever Bright Industrial Company;

Yan Mingfu – Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs;

Mme. Gu Xiulian, Vice-Chairperson, Chinese National Women's Federation, and former Minister of Chemical Industry;

Xiao Ke* – former Vice-Minister of National Defense, Vice-Chair of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference;

Mme. Qian Zhengying, Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Former Minister of Hydropower;

Zhou Guangzhao* – Vice Chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference. Former President of China Academy of Science;

Dr. Chien-Hsiung Wu – Professor of Physics at Columbia University, USA;

Mme. Jiang Zehui, President, National Academy of Forestry;

Zhu Yucheng, Vice Chairman of Beijing Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference. Former Deputy Director General, Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong;

Dr. Patrick C.P. Ho, Chairman, Strategic and Development Board, Hong Kong SAR Government;

Gen. Chavalit Yodmani, Chairman of Bang Pakong, Thailand.

 

Collaborative Efforts

IHE welcomes the development of collaborative efforts of its international and Chinese associates to better promote environment and sustainable development goals.  To date, some of these associates include:
Corporate:
General Electric Power Systems
British Petroleum
Monsanto Company
Goldman, Sachs & Company
Mitsubishi Corporation
Seiko Epson Corporation
Kerry Holdings Ltd.
British American Tobacco Industries
Rabobank International		  

Government:
Council of Environmental and Resources Protection,
     the National People's Congress (NPC)
The State Development and Planning Commission (SDPC)
The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA)
The State Forestry Administration
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Education
Beijing Municipal Government
Sichuan Provincial Government
Tibet Autonomous Region Government
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government
Yunnan Provincial Government
Hubei Provincial Government
Dalian Municipal Government
Gansu Provincial Government
Qinghai Provincial Government
Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Government
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
NGOs:
UNESCO
The Nature Conservancy
Japan League of Women Voters
Conservation International
U.S.-China Environmental Fund
Keepers of the Waters
Universities:
Beijing University
Tsinghua University
China Academy of Environmental Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chengdu Institute of Biology, CAS
New York University
Texas A & M University
Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada
Australia National University

IHE has three offices worldwide:

IHE China Office
Attn: Dr Diane Chang
Suite 1501
CNT Manhattan Building#6
Chaoyangmen Beidajie
Beijing 100027
CHINA		 
IHE US Office 
Attn: Barry Mauck
2300 Clarendon Blvd. 
Suite 1001
Arlington, VA  22201
USA  
IHE Japan Office
Attn: Naoto Hamada
TBP Building
Suite 607
2-10-2 Nagata-cho
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100
JAPAN

last update: 5/6/02