Lei (Alice) Bian
Lei (Alice) Bian is a Policy Fellow (Sustainable Societies) at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is leading policy-oriented applied research and engagement activities linked to the LSE’s Global School of Sustainability’s “Building sustainable societies” theme, with a focus on terrestrial and marine food and nutritional security in a climate-insecure world.
Alice’s policy-relevant research expertise lies in the thematic area of climate, health and environment, with a focus on the health co-benefits of climate action, particularly in the context of blue economy and healthy ageing. She is co-leading the GSoS research programme on Financing the Blue Economy for mangrove livelihoods, protection and restoration, with Professor Elizabeth Robinson, contributing to the field of blue food security at the GSoS Climate Food (In)security Lab. She is PI for a British Academy ODA Challenge-Oriented research project on Tackling climate change through health-oriented policy interventions in coastal marinescapes in the Philippines, supported under the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund. Her other area of work focuses on the role of climate resilience strategy in promoting healthy ageing through the life course. She was PI for a project commissioned by the UK Research and Innovation to identify future collaboration opportunities in climate research between the UK and China, by addressing the interlinked challenges of climate change and health.
She is Associate at the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre, as well as a member of the Steering Committee of the LSE Global Health Initiative, and a member of the Ageing@LSE.
Background
Alice has previously worked at several international organisations, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Health Organization, and Clean Air Asia, with a regional focus on Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China.
Alice holds a BA in History and Philosophy of Science, and Economics and a Master of Food and Resource Economics from the University of British Columbia. She also holds an MSc in Global Energy and Climate Policy from the SOAS University of London.
Research interests
- Climate change and food security
- Climate change and health
- Sustainable finance
- Regional cooperation and integration
Research
Research - 2023
This study explores the challenges and opportunities of China’s domestic and international roles in scaling up energy storage investments. Read more
Policy
Policy - 2024
This is a response to an open consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. Read more
This policy insight seeks to evaluate China’s role in supply chains for renewable energy technologies and how the country can accelerate the energy transition in other countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia. Read more
Policy - 2023
This policy brief provides evidence to support policymakers in mobilising capital for a just, resilient transition to net zero, by highlighting the potential health co-benefits of addressing the risks from heat and air pollution in combination. Read more
This report consists of a submission to the call for evidence by the Environmental Audit Committee on heat resilience and sustainable cooling. Read more
This report consists of written evidence to the UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry on environmental change and food security. It states that UK’s Food Strategy of 2022 does not sufficiently factor climate risks into building resilient domestic food supply chains and suggests measures that the Government could take to increase food security while providing climate mitigation and health co-benefits. Read more
Policy - 2022
This paper explores health risks from climate change in a global context, setting out key risks and actions towards addressing these. Read more
This report explores policy options in which China can address the nexus of climate change and trade to reap the benefits of the global net zero transition through partnerships. Read more
News
News - 2025
Financing the blue economy, specifically in relation to the protection and restoration of mangroves, a vital part of the Earth’s natural capital, could lead to broad health and livelihood benefits for all. Read more
News - 2024
A collaborative research project involving LSE’s Grantham Research Institute and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff has received an... Read more
News - 2023
Today at COP28 is the first-ever dedicated Health Day in the international climate negotiations, which has the potential to highlight how climate change is harming our health, and the health co-benefits of tackling climate change. Lei Bian and Elizabeth J Z Robinson outline some of the key issues. Read more
This news article reports on China’s overseas renewable energy investments. The article includes quotes from Lei Bian who stresses the... Read more
News - 2022
This news article considers the role of South Africa and China in discussions at the COP27 UN climate summit on... Read more
This article reports that the US is attempting to make China pay towards ‘loss and damage’ costs by classing the... Read more
This article for S&P Global Market Intelligence reports that China still has some scope for progress on climate targets at... Read more
