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Teo Hoong Chen

Academic Qualification

B.Sc. (First Class Honours) in Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham

Research Areas

Climate change; ecosystem processes; remote sensing; earth system modelling; nature-based solutions; urban sustainability

Research Interests

Hoong Chen’s research applies earth system models, hydrological models, remote sensing and machine learning tools (i) to reduce the uncertainties and risks of forest carbon sequestration which may hamper adoption, and (ii) to develop and inform nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Biography

Hoong Chen is a climate and ecosystem scientist at the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore. He is a leading global voice on nature-based solutions, sustainable finance, and carbon market integrity. His research has provided evidence-based thought leadership to global policy-makers, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Lancet Pathfinder Commission. He was appointed as Singapore's expert representative to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Pre-COP27 scientific conference.

Selected publications

  • Teo HC, Tan NHL, Zheng Q, Lim AJY, Sreekar R, Chen X, Zhou Y, Sarira TV, De Alban JDT, Tang H, Friess DA, Koh LP (2023). Uncertainties in deforestation emission baseline methodologies and implications for carbon markets. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44127-9
  • Lamba A, Teo HC, Sreekar R, Zeng Y, Carrasco LR, Koh LP (2023). Climate co-benefits of tiger conservation. Nature Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02069-x
  • Teo HC, Raghavan SV, He X, Zeng Z, Cheng Y, Luo X, Lechner AM, Ashfold MJ, Lamba A, Sreekar R, Zheng Q, Chen A, Koh LP (2022). Large-scale reforestation can increase water yield and reduce drought risk for water-insecure regions in the Asia-Pacific. Global Change Biology. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16404
  • Teo HC, Zeng Y, Sarira TV, Fung TK, Zheng Q, Song XP, Chong KY, Koh LP (2021). Global urban reforestation can be an important natural climate solution. Environmental Research Letters. doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe783                                                                                                                                                                                                    · Cited by the Lancet Pathfinder Commission 2023 report.
  • Narain D, Maron M, Teo HC, Hussey K, Lechner AM (2020). Best-practice biodiversity safeguards for Belt and Road Initiative’s financiers. Nature Sustainability. doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0528-3
  • Teo HC, Lechner AM, Walton G, Chan FKS, Cheshmehzangi A, Tan-Mullins M, Chan HK, Sternberg T, Campos-Arceiz A (2019). Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure Development under the Belt and Road Initiative. Environments. doi.org/10.3390/environments6060072                                                                                                                       · Cited by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC WGII AR6), Chapter 17.

Feature and publications in popular media

  1. Nature-based solutions can pave the way to carbon-neutral cities in 2030. (2023, Jul 23). Nature Climate Change.
  2. Resale HDB flats with views of greenery fetch higher prices: Study. (2023, Jun 9). The Straits Times.
  3. Reforestation could boost water security in vulnerable regions in the Asia-Pacific: Study (2022, Nov 14). The Straits Times.
  4. The role of urban forests in climate change (2021, Mar 29). The Straits Times.
  5. China’s belt and road: an environmental disaster for Southeast Asia? (2020, Jan 5). South China Morning Post.

 Conference and presentations

  1. Keynote speaker and Singapore expert representative: Climate and ecosystem science to support carbon market credibility. International Scientific Conference on Congo Basin Forests and Other Tropical Basins, Preparatory Works of the 27th Conference of Parties (Pre-COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Yangambi, DR Congo, Sep 2022.
  2. Large-scale reforestation can increase water yield and reduce drought risk for water-insecure regions in the Asia-Pacific. Nature-based Solutions Conference, Oxford, United Kingdom, Jul 2022.
  3. Environmental impacts of infrastructure development under the Belt and Road Initiative. 29th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul 2019.