In the past few years, more than 70 scientific papers have been published in highly reputable international or Chinese journals such as Nature, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, Applied Energy, Energy Policy in which I am either lead or co-author. The publications have been cited by the journals for more than 3000 times (Google Scholar).

In 2018, I was mentioned by the scholars across the globe in the research field of circular economy (Worldwide Research on Circular Economy and Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018. 15(2699): 1-14)

My publications have been reported by the global institutions and multiple media such as the Yale University in USA, China Scientific Web etc. For instance, my published paper“How does circular economy respond to greenhouse gas emissions reduction: An analysis of Chinese plastic recycling industries” in the journal of Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (2018, 91: 1162-1169) was reported by Yale University on the website (https://environment-review.yale.edu/china-leader-plastic-recycling) and covered by National Scientific Advancement Web in China (http://news.sciencenet.cn/sbhtmlnews/2019/1/342651.shtm?id=342651)

In 2019, I was interviewed by Environment Canada to talk about “The current circular economic development and challenges in Canada, China and across the globe”

PEER-REVIEWED INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ARTICLES (*Corresponding Author)

1. Liu, Z* & Liu, TT., 2025. Temporal and Spatial Evolution and Network Analysis of Urban Ecological Resilience Considering Natural Influences. Journal of Industrial Ecology 29(3): 863-877 (IF: 5.4) SCI

2. Rafique, N., Liu, Z*., Khan, MH., 2025. Total Energy Use, Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Corporate Carbon Emissions: The Moderating Role of Firm-Level Environmental Governance. Business Strategy and the Environment 0:1–24 (IF: 13.3) SSCI

3. Zhang, XR., Liu, Z*., Walker, TR., Wilson, J., Tao, XL., Dong, HJ., Zhao, W., 2025. Impact of political incentives on urban green development: An analysis of 284 cities in China. Cities 161 (105891): 1-16 (IF: 6.6) SSCI

4. Tang, Y., Liu, Z*., Walker, TR., Rodenbiker, J., Li, YZ., Liu, WL., 2025. How centralizing environmental enforcement affects water quality: A quasi-experiment in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 110 (107704): 1-12 (IF: 11.2) SSCI

5. Liu, Z*., Zhu, HL., Wilson, J., Adams, M., Walker, TR., Xu, YY., Tang, Y., Wang, ZY., Liu, TT., Chen, QH., 2024. Achieving China’s ‘double carbon goals’, an analysis of the potential and cost of carbon capture in the resource-based area: Northwestern China. Energy 292 (130441): 1-17 (IF: 9.4) SCI

6. Xu, YY., Liu, Z*., Walker, TR., Adams, M., Dong, HJ., 2024. Spatio-temporal patterns and spillover effects of synergy on carbon dioxide emission and pollution reductions in the Yangtze River Delta region in China. Sustainable Cities and Society 107 (105419): 1-17 (IF: 12) SCI（ESI 1% Highly Cited Paper）

7. Zhu, HL., Liu, Z*., Wilson, J., Liu, TT., Negesa, D., Li, YZ., 2024. Spatiotemporal evolution and key driver analysis of ozone pollution from the perspectives of spatial spillover and path dependence effects in China. Environmental Pollution 356 (124318): 1-13 (IF: 7.3) SCI/SSCI

8. Wu, JX., Xu, YY., Liu, Z*., 2024. A Comprehensive Review on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions in China: Opportunities and Challenges. Carbon Footprints. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/cf.2024.23

9. Dai, Y., Dong, HJ*., Sun, LX., Li, JZ., Zhang, TY., Geng, Y., Liu, Z., 2024. Life cycle environmental impact assessment of titanium dioxide production in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 105 (107412): 1-11 (IF: 11.2) SSCI

10. Liu, Z*., Tang, Y., Wilson, J., Tao, XL., Lv, BJ., Wang, ZY., Xu, YY., Zhang, Z., Zhang, YL., Zhao, W., 2023. Influence of government attention on environmental quality: An analysis of 30 provinces in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 100 (107084): 1-14 (IF: 11.2) SSCI （ESI 1% Highly Cited Paper）

11. Liu, Z*., Ashton, WS., Adams, M., Wang, Q., Cote, RP., Walker, TR., Sun, L., Lowitt, P., 2023. Diversity in financing and implementation pathways for industrial symbiosis across the globe. Environment, Development and Sustainability 25 (1): 960-978 (IF: 4.2) SCI

12. Liu, Z*., Xu, YY., Adams, M., Liu, WL., Walker, TR., Domenech, D., Bleischwitz, R., Geng, Y., 2023. Comparative analysis of the contribution of municipal waste management policies to GHG reductions in China. Waste Management Research 41(4): 860–870 (IF: 4.3) SCI

13. Shao, Q., Zhang, Y., Liu, Z., Long, LZ., Liu, ZZ., Chen, YQ., Hu, XM., Lu, MM., Huang, LZ*., 2022. Phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from wastewater by ceramsite: Adsorption mechanism, plant cultivation and sustainability analysis. Science of the Total Environment 805 (150288): 1-12 (IF: 8) SCI

14. Bleischwitz, R*., Yang, MY., Huang, BJ., Xu, XZ., Zhou, J., McDowall, W., Andrews-Speed, P., Liu, Z.,  Geng, Y., 2022. The circular economy in China: Achievements, challenges and potential implications for decarbonisation. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 183 (106350): 1-11 (IF: 10.9) SCI

15. Shrestha, K., Shah, IH., Liu, Z., Park, HS*., 2022. Regional sustainability assessment using emergy accounting approach: The case of Nepal in South Asia. Environmental Engineering Research 27(5): 210329 (IF: 3) SCI

16. Liu, Z*., 2021. Regulate waste recycling internationally. Nature 594, 333 (IF: 50.5) SCI

17. Liu, Z*., Liu, WL., Walker, TR., Adams, M., Zhao, JJ., 2021. How does the global plastic waste trade contribute to environmental benefits: implication for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions?. Journal of Environmental Management 287 (112283): 1-9 (IF: 8.4) SCI/SSCI

18. Shrestha, K., Shah, IH., Liu, Z., Park, HS*., 2021. Efficiency assessment in co-production systems based on modified emergy accounting approach. Ecological Indicators 126 (107675): 1-7 (IF: 7.4) SCI

19. Liu, Z*., MacDonald, B., 2020. New Policies and Evaluation System Needed to Address Environmental Concerns in China. Sustainability 12(12): 4924 (1-3) (IF: 3.3) SCI/SSCI

20. Lin, YS., Liu, Z*, Liu, R., Yu, XM., Zhang, LM.,2020. Uncovering driving forces of co-benefits achieved by eco-industrial development strategies at the scale of industrial park. Energy and Environment 31(2): 275-290 (IF: 4.8) SSCI

21. Sun, L., Fujii, M., Li, ZL., Dong, HJ*., Geng, Y., Liu, Z., Fujita, T., Yu, XM., Zhang, YP., 2020. Energy-saving and carbon emission reduction effect of urban-industrial symbiosis implementation with feasibility analysis in the city. Technological Forecasting & Social Change 151 (119853): 1-10 (IF: 13.3) SCI/SSCI

22. Liu, Z*., Liu, WL., Adams, M., Cote, RP., Geng, Y., Chen, SL., 2019. A hybrid model of LCA and emergy for co-benefits assessment associated with waste and by-product reutilization. Journal of Cleaner Production 236 (117670): 1-9 (IF: 10) SCI

23. Liu, Z*., Adams, M., Wen, ZG., Massard, G., Dong, HJ., 2019. Review of eco-industrial development around the globe: Recent progress and continuing challenges. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 143: 111-113 (IF: 10.9) SCI

24. Zhang, LM., Geng, Y*., Zhong, YG., Dong, HJ., Liu, Z. 2019. A bibliometric analysis on waste electrical and electronic equipment research. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26(21): 21098–21108

25. Huang, BJ., Geng, Y*., Zhao, J., Domenech, T., Liu, Z., Chiu, SF., McDowall, W., Bleischwitz, R., 2019. Evaluation Tool of Eco-industrial Park: Review and Critical Analysis of China's Standard System. Resources, Conservation &Recycling 140: 137-144 (IF: 10.9) SCI

26. Liu, Z., Adams, M*., Cote, RP., Geng, Y*., Chen, QH., Liu, WL., Zhu, XS., 2018. Co-benefits accounting for the implementation of eco-industrial development strategies in the scale of industrial park based on emergy analysis. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 81: 1522-1529 (IF: 16.3) SCI/SSCI

27. Liu, Z*., Adams, M., Cote, RP., Chen, QH*., Wu, R., Wen, ZG., Liu, WL., Dong, L., 2018. How does circular economy respond to greenhouse gas emissions reduction: an analysis of Chinese recycling plastic industry. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 91: 1162-1169 (IF: 16.3) SCI /SSCI

28. Liu, Z*., Adams, M., Cote, RP., Geng, Y., Li, YZ., 2018. Comparative study on the pathways of industrial parks towards sustainable development between China and Canada. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 128: 417–425 (IF: 10.9) SCI

29. Liu, Z., Adams, M., Walker, RT*., 2018. Are exports of recyclable from developed to developing countries waste pollution transfer or part of the global circular economy? Resources, Conservation &Recycling 136: 22-23 (IF: 10.9) SCI

30. Liu, Z*., Walker, RT., 2018. China’s ban is all not doom for global recycling industries. Science (eLetters): http://science.sciencemag.org/content/339/6127/1526/tab-e-letters

31. Wang, H., Liu, Z., Sun, LN*., Wang, YG., Luo, Q., Wu, H., Wang, XX., 2018. Characterization and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water from Liaohe River, Northeast China. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds 38(5): 389-401 (IF: 2.6) SCI

32. Liu, Z*., Adams, M., Cote, RP., Chen, QH., Liu, WL., Sun, L., Yu, XM., 2017. Comprehensive development of industrial symbiosis for the response of greenhouse gases emission mitigation: challenges and opportunities in China. Energy Policy 102: 88-95 (IF: 9.2) SCI/SSCI

33. Liu, Z*., Adams, M., Wen, ZG., Massard, G., Dong, HJ., 2017. Eco-industrial development around the globe: recent progress and continuing challenges. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 127：A1-A2 (IF: 10.9) SCI

34. Wang, H., Sun, LN., Liu, Z*., Luo, Q., 2017. Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Variations of Heavy Metal Contamination in Surface Waters of Liaohe River, Northeast China. Chinese Geographical Science 27(1): 52-62 (IF: 3.1) SCI

35. Dong, HJ., Dai, HC., Geng, Y*., Fujita, T., Liu, Z., Yang, X., Wu, R., Fuji, M., 2017. Exploring impact of carbon tax on China's CO₂ reductions and provincial disparities. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 77:596-603 (IF: 16.3) SCI/SSCI

36. Lu, YSY., Geng, Y*., Liu, Z., Cote, PR., Yu, XM., 2017. Measuring sustainability at the community level: An overview of China's indicator system on National Demonstration Sustainable Communities. Journal of Cleaner Production 143: 326-335 (IF: 10) SCI

37. Chen, W., Liu, Z., Geng, Y*., Chiu, A., Han, WY., Liu, ZQ., Zhong, SZ.,, Qian, YY., You, W., Cui, XW., 2017. A Bibliometric Review: Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Residential Sector. Journal of Cleaner Production 159: 301-316 (IF: 10) SCI

38. Li, ZL., Sun, L., Geng, Y*., Dong, HJ*., Ren, JZ., Liu, Z., Tian, X., Yabar, H., Higano, Y., 2017. Examining industrial structure evolution changes and corresponding carbon emission reduction effect by combining an input-output analysis and a social network analysis: A comparative study of China and Japan. Journal of Cleaner Production 162：61-70 (IF: 10) SCI

39. Liu, Z*., Geng, Y., Adams, M., Dong, L., Sun, LN., Zhao, JJ., Dong, HJ., Wu, J., Tian, X., 2016. Uncovering driving forces on greenhouse gas emissions in China’ aluminum industry from the perspective of life cycle analysis. Applied Energy 166: 253-263 (IF: 11) SCI

40. Liu, Z., Geng, Y*., Sergio, U., Park, HS., Fujita, T., Wang, H., 2016. Uncovering key factors influencing one industrial park’s sustainability: a combined evaluation method of emergy analysis and index decomposition analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production 114: 141-149 (IF: 10) SCI

41. Liu, Z., Geng, Y*., Park, HS., Dong, HJ., Dong, L., Fujita, T., 2016. An emergy-based hybrid method for assessing industrial symbiosis of an industrial park. Journal of Cleaner Production 114: 132-140 (IF: 10) SCI

42. Tian, X., Geng, Y*., Dai, HC., Fujita, T., Wu, R., Liu, Z., Masui, T., Yang, X., 2016. The effects of household consumption pattern on regional development: A case study of Shanghai. Energy 103: 49-60 (IF: 9.4) SCI

43. Tian, X., Geng, Y*., Dong, HJ., Dong, L., Fujita, T., Wang, YT., Zhao, HY., Wu, R., Liu, Z., Sun, L., 2016. Regional household carbon footprint in China: a case of Liaoning Province. Journal of Cleaner Production 114: 401-411 (IF: 10) SCI

44. Sun, L., Dong, HJ., Geng, Y*., Li, ZL., Liu, Z., Fujita, T., Ohnishi S., Fuji, M., 2016. Uncovering driving forces on urban metabolism—A case of Shenyang. Journal of Cleaner Production 114: 171-179 (IF: 10) SCI

45. Yu, XM., Geng, Y*., Dong, HJ., Fujita, T., Liu, Z., 2016. Emergy-based sustainability assessment on natural resource utilization in 30 Chinese provinces. Journal of Cleaner Production 133: 18-27 (IF: 10) SCI

46. Yu. XM., Geng, Y*., Dong, HJ., Ulgiati, S., Liu, Z., Liu, ZX., Ma, ZX., Tian, X., Sun, L., 2016. Sustainability assessment of one industrial region: A combined method of emergy analysis and IPAT (Human Impact Population Affluence Technology). Energy 107: 818–830 (IF: 9.4) SCI

47. Sun, L., Li, H., Dong, L*., Fang, K., Ren, JZ., Geng, Y., Fuji, M., Zhang, W., Zhang, N., Liu, Z., 2016. Eco-benefits assessment on urban industrial symbiosis based on material flows analysis and emergy evaluation approach: A case of Liuzhou city, China. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 119: 78-88 (IF: 10.9) SCI

48. Wang, H., Sun, LN*., Liu, Z., Wang, YG., Luo, Q., Shen, S., Wang, XX., Wu, |H., 2016. The Levels and Risks of Heavy Metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Hun River in Northeastern China. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 25(5): 2167-2175 (IF: 1.3) SCI

49. Liu, Z*., Geng, Y*., Wang, H., Sun, L., Ma, ZX., Tian, X., Yu, XM., 2015. Emergy-based comparative analysis of energy intensity in different industrial systems. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22:18687-18698

50. Liu, Z., Geng, Y*., Wang, FF., Liu, ZX., Ma, ZX., Yu, XM., Tian, X., Sun, L., He, QX., Zhang, LM., 2015. Emergy-ecological footprint hybrid method analysis on the industrial parks from the geographical and regional perspective. Environmental Engineering Science 32(3): 193-202 (IF: 1.8) SCI

51. Wang, H., Liu, Z., Sun, LN*., Luo, Q., 2015. Optimal Design of River Monitoring Network in Taizihe River by Matter Element Analysis. Plos One 10(5), e0127535 (IF: 2.6) SCI

52. Liu, Z*., Geng, Y*., Zhang, P., Dong, HJ., Liu, ZX. 2014. Emergy-based comparative analysis of industrial clusters: Economic and Technological Development of Shenyang Area, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21(17): 10243-10253

53. Geng, Y*., Ma, ZX., Xue, B., Ren, WX., Liu, Z., Fujita, T., 2013. Co-benefit evaluation for urban public transportation sector-A Case of Shenyang, China. Journal of Cleaner Production 58(1): 82-91 (IF: 10) SCI

54. Liu, R*., Jadeja, RN., Zhou, QX., Liu, Z., 2012. Treatment and remediation of petroleum-contaminated soils using selective ornamental plants. Environmental Engineering Science 29(6): 494-501 (IF: 1.8) SCI

55. Wang, H*., Sun, LN., Bao, T., Zhang, Z., Shi, M., Liu, Z., 2011. Surface water quality assessment in Tieling reach of Liaohe river main stream. 2011. Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering 10.1109/icbbe.2011.5780879 (EI)

56. Tang, Y., Liu, Z*., Tao XL., 2024. How centralized environmental enforcement system reform affects environmental enforcement and air quality? A quasi-experiment based on 192 cities. China Environmental Science. DOI: 10.19674/j.cnki.issn1000-6923.20241119.002 (In Chinese)

57. Tang, Y., Liu, Z*., Wang ZY., 2024. Heterogeneous social feedback, differential response and government environmental governance. Public Administration and Policy Review. 3:38-53 (In Chinese)

58. Tang, Y., Liu, Z*., 2023. Institutional change and multiple logics of China’s environmental law enforcement system reform: China’s experience in global environmental governance. Jinan Journal (Philosophy and Social Sciences). 299 (12): 42-54 (In Chinese)

59. Liu, Z*., Xu, YY., 2021. Research on the utilization efficiency of coal resources in Shaanxi Province based on AHP. Journal of Fuqing Branch of Fujian Normal University. 39(2): 180-188 (In Chinese)

60. Yang, Q., Geng, Y., Sun, L., Liu, Z., Dong, HJ., Yu, XM., Lv, XR., 2017. Emergy accounting research on natural graphite and its products: a case studies of Pingdu and Chenzhou. Chinese Journal of Ecology. 36 (9): 2592-2604 (In Chinese)

61. Wang H., Wu, H., Sun, LN*., Wang, XX., Liu, Z., 2017. Characterization and effect of washing diesel oil-contaminated aged soil by Tween 80. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering 5: 3239-3243 (In Chinese)

62. Wang H., Sun, LN*., Liu, Z., Luo, Q., Wang, XX., Wu, H., Sun, JJ., 2015. Pollution level and probabilistic cancer risk assessment of P in surface water of Daliao river. Asian Journal of Ecotoxicology. 4: 187-194 (In Chinese)

63. Wang H., Sun, LN*., Liu, Z., Luo, Q., Wu, H., Wang, XX., 2015. Study on the character of health risk in the water environment of Hun river. Asian Journal of Ecotoxicology. 2: 394-402 (In Chinese)

64. Yu, XM., Geng, Y*., Xue, B., Dong, HJ., Tian, X., Liu, Z., Ma, ZX., 2015. Effects of resource endowment on regional sustainable development [J]. Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 24(2): 359-364 (In Chinese)

65. Bing, LF*., Xi, FM., Wang, ML., Liu, Z., Wang, ZG., 2014. Intensive utilization of land in Tiexi old industrial district, Shenyang, Northeast China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology. 25 (1): 219-227 (In Chinese)

66. Sun, L., Geng, Y*., Liu, ZX., Xue, B., Liu, Z., Liu, Z., 2014. Eco-efficiency evaluation of urban complex ecosystem based on emergy and data envelopment analyses. Chinese Journal of Ecology. 33(2): 462-468 (In Chinese)

67. Wang H., Sun, JJ., Sun, LN*., Liu, Z., 2014. Modification of similarity method and its application in optimization design of river quality monitoring section in the mainstream of Hun River. Chinese Journal of Ecology. 33(12): 3470 (In Chinese)

68. Liu, Z*., Bing, LF., 2013. Comparative study on different types of industrial clusters based on emergy. Environmental Science & Technology. 36(51): 428-432 (In Chinese)

69. Liu, Z*., Bing LF., Liu, Y., 2013. Study on regional livestock’s green house gas emission based on IPCC suggested method. Environmental Science & Technology. 36(51): 377-381 (In Chinese)

70. Liu, Z*., Zhang, JS., Xu, LZ., Wu, CS., 2006. The unascertained measure model assessment of eco-environment quality for the county nearby Shanzi reservoir. Environmental Science & Technology. 10: 56-58 (In Chinese)

71. Liu, Z*., Zhang, JS., Kong, JJ., 2005. Evaluating bottom sludge pollution of the Hangzhou segment of canal by using attribute identity model. Safety and Environment Engineering. 2(12):19-22 (In Chinese)

72. Liu, Z*., Zhang, JS., 2005. The model design and application of analytical hierarchy process method used for the assessment of reservoir water quality. Environmental Science and Technology. 2(18):33-35（In Chinese）

SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

2020-2025 Young talent grant in Xi’an Jiaotong University, China

2021-2022 Titled “Study on the pathways towards plastic waste reutilization and recycling and its associated policy implications based on Shaanxi Province, China”. Soft Science project granted by Shaanxi provincial government, China

2019-2020 Titled “Efficiency evaluation of industrial symbiosis at the scale of industrial park based on Liaoning provincial old industrial base”. Grant from Key Lab of Eco-restoration of Regional Contaminated Environment, Ministry of Education, China.

2017-2019 Titled “Port Hawkesbury eco-industrial network”. Grant from NSERC, Canada

2017-2019 Titled “Impact on climate change through systematic optimization of industrial symbiosis”. Grant from Killam Trust Grant, Canada

2015-2016 Titled “Ecological and economic improvement by industrial symbiosis in old industrial area”. Grant from Liaoning provincial government, China. 60 thousand RMB

2011-2012 Titled “Investigating on the environmental condition of Fuxin industrial park, Liaoning Province, China”, Grant from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

BOOKS & CHAPTERS

Liu, Z*., Qiu Y. (2025). Book: The Current Situation of Circular Development and Its Potential and Cost of Carbon Emission Reduction in the Northwestern Region in China. Xi’an Jiaotong University Press (in Chinese)

Liu, Z*., Cote, R.P. (2023). Chapter: The Pathway Toward Circular Economic Development in China: Policies, Case Studies, and the Role of Universities. In: Ghosh, S.K., Ghosh, S.K. (eds) Circular Economy Adoption . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4803-1_3

Han, XG., Wu, YG., Gu, BH., Sun, G., Liu, Z., Liu, QQ., Li, BL., Wu, JG., Chen, JQ., Lin, GH., Wu, XY., Yuan, ZW., Tang, JW., Huang, CZ., Peng, CH., Cheng, WX., Miao, SL., Pan, XB. (2011). Book: Ecological Vision. Higher Education Press (in Chinese)