Ma Jun will talk to us about the impact of pollution, take a closer look at China’s green policies and ask what solutions are most likely to produce results

He will introduce the theme of empowering civil society through the act of consumption. Ma Jun will tell us how he and his team have exposed air and water violations by local and multinational companies operating in China. Thanks to his app, Chinese citizens, for the first time in history, have at their fingertips information that reveals which companies are violating environmental regulations—and with it, the power to demand justice. He will explain the importance of encouraging Chinese consumers to use their buying power to influence corporate sourcing and manufacturing behavior. The link between consumption and pollution is becoming more relevant and it is an effective solution to combat pollution with civil participation.

Ma Jun began his career in 1993 working for the South China Morning Post, where his research on China’s environmental problems spurred him to publish the 1999 book China’s Water Crisis. In 2004 he was selected as a Yale World Fellow. Upon returning to China, Ma Jun founded the non-profit organization the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) in Beijing in 2006. As Director of IPE, Ma Jun has led the development and launch of China’s first environmental public database, the China Pollution Map, as well as the Blue Map (Weilan Ditu), a mobile app that helps the public use “micro-reports” against environmental violations and polluted rivers. In 2006, he was awarded as China’s “Green Person of the Year” and was named as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s 100 Most Influential People. For his environmental work, Ma has also been honored with the Magsaysay Award in 2009, Goldman Prize in 2012, and 2015 Skoll Foundation Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
Ma Jun, Director, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs

60 RMB; 30 RMB for students | No Reservation Required