Dr Hao Zhang
Dr Hao Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is the recipient of the CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award 2020. Specialising in energy and climate law, his research centres on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing energy decarbonisation and the transition to a green economy, with a particular focus on China and comparative legal studies.
His recent work examines carbon pricing mechanisms and their interplay with electricity market regulation, renewable energy law, law and regulations surrounding critical raw materials and minerals, and energy market reforms. Dr Zhang has published extensively in law, energy, and environmental studies journals, such as Energy Policy, Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law, and Journal of World Energy Law and Business. He is also the author of the book ‘In Pursuit of Carbon Neutrality: Energy Law and Regulation in China’ (Cambridge University Press, 2024). Dr Zhang serves a member of the Academic Advisory Group, Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) of the International Bar Association. Beyond academia, he has contributed expertise as a consultant to international organisations, government agencies, and NGOs, including the Energy Charter Secretariat, the German Environment Agency, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
Select publications
- Hao Zhang, ‘Resilience of Critical Transition Minerals Supply Chain in the Context of Strategic Rivalry: Implications for the National Policy and Regulatory Frameworks’ (2025) Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (advance article published online)
- Hao Zhang, ‘Regulatory Pathways of Renewable Energy Integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’ (2024) 24(2) The China Review 97-125
- Haomiao Du and Hao Zhang, ‘Climate Neutrality in the EU and China: An Analysis of the Stringency of Targets and the Adaptiveness of the Relevant Legal Frameworks’ (2022) 31(3) Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law 495-509 (with Haomiao Du)
- Hao Zhang, ‘China’s Natural Gas Sector Regulation in the Context of Pipeline Restructuring: Towards Independent Gas Pipeline Operation?’ (2021) 14(6) Journal of World Energy Law & Business 447-463
- Hao Zhang, ‘Regulations for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage: Comparative Analysis of Development in Europe, China and the Middle East’ (2021) 173 Resources, Conservation and Recycling 105722
- Hao Zhang, ‘Antinomic Policy Making under the Fragmented Authoritarianism: Regulating China’s Electricity Sector through the Energy-Climate-Environment Dimension’ (2019) 128 Energy Policy 162-169
- Anatole Boute and Hao Zhang, ‘The Role of the Market and Traditional Regulation to Decarbonise China’s Energy Supply’ (2018) 30(2) Journal of Environmental Law 261-284
- Christopher Arup and Hao Zhang, ‘Lessons from Regulating Carbon Offset Markets’ (2015) 4(1) Transnational Environmental Law 69-100
