Natalie Sum Yue Chung

PhD Candidate, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment, Princeton University
Natalie Sum Yue Chung is a Ph.D. candidate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, jointly supervised by Michael Oppenheimer and Eric Tate. Inspired by a polar explorer at the age of 11, Natalie has dedicated her life to climate action. She is the co-founder of V'air Sustainability Education, a social enterprise that provides nature-based climate change education for schools and corporations, reaching over 2 million population. Natalie is recognized by Eco-Business and The Japan Times as one of the most impactful sustainability leaders in Asia Pacific.

Natalie's professional experience with the World Bank on a Pacific Island environmental project led her to realize the life-and-death consequences of extreme weather for vulnerable communities, sparking her research interest in climate resilience (Link: TEDx Talk on Building Cities’ Climate Resilience. Natalie aims to develop an evaluation model that integrates scientific and human elements to support nature-based adaptation. Her ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between academia and policy by advocating for increased investments in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and promoting community engagement to achieve transformative adaptation.

In recognition of her climate research and advocacy efforts, Natalie has been appointed by the Hong Kong government as a member of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, the Green Tech Fund Assessment Committee, and the Country and Marine Parks Board to advise on policy decisions. As a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Natalie initiated the Lead for Sustainability Mentorship program. She also served as the sole Hong Kong representative at the Dr Sylvia Earle Antarctic Climate Expedition, advocating for tackling the ocean-climate crisis.

Natalie holds an MPhil in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University and a BSSc in Geography and Resource Management from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the clarinet, Chinese painting, and hiking.