Sheri Xiaoyi Liao

After obtaining her Masters Degree in Philosophy from Sun Yat-Sen University in 1986, Sheri Liao worked as a researcher with the China Academy of Social Science for five years, before becoming a visiting scholar on International Environmental Politics at the University of North Carolina. Committed to developing environmental education in China, she returned to Beijing to found the Global Village of Beijing, a non-governmental, non-profit environmental organisation in 1996.

Ms. Liao independently produced “Time for Environment” 《环保时刻》, an environmental programme that was broadcast weekly by CCTV for five years. She also filmed large-scale TV series including “Environmental Protection in Our Life” 《生活中的环保》 and “Global Environmental View” 《全球环保之旅》 etc.; published a thesis on China’s Industrialization and Environmental Loss 《中国工业化和环境代价》; wrote and edited environmental books, such as Citizens’ Environmental Guide 《公民环保行为规范》 and Green Community Guidebook 《绿色社区指导手册》. Through various media and presentations all over the world, she has advocated the idea of "Green Life" and integrated environmental protection with grassroots in people’s daily life. Moreover, she has insisted on the need to promote waste recycling and the construction of a green community based on community education; stimulated the establishment of a community participation mechanism in public environmental safety; called for a Citizen Forum on Environmental Protection; and launched grassroots environmental campaigns including “Green Olympics and Green Life” and “Earth Day China”.

Recognized internationally for her efforts, Ms. Liao was awarded the 2000 Sophie Prize in Norway and the 2001 Banksia International Award in Australia. In 2002, she was recognized as one of the “Ten Outstanding Women in China” by the magazine Chinese Women; and became an environmental advisor of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games. She was awarded the “Green Guider” honour by the China National Tree Planting Committee in 2003 and became one of the “Ten National Outstanding Women” in 2004. In 2005, Ms. Liao won the “Annual Economic Social Commonwealth Award”, awarded by China Central Television (CCTV). In 2006, she was recognized as one of the year’s eight Green Chinese Figures.