Xiyan Xu is a full professor at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Xiyan’s research focuses on the cross–scale interactions among climate change, human activities and ecosystem processes, aiming to provide scientific supports for climate change mitigation and adaptation. She leads projects by the Ministry of Science and Technology and National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is active in multiple international climate and environment programs for promoting international cooperation to combatting environmental issues and bridge the gap between science and policy.  She serves as the coordinating lead author of the United Nations Environment Programme seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO7), lead author of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Thematic Assessment of the Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health, and is a chapter scientist of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Land. She won the World Meteorological Organization Norbert Gerbier-MUMM International Award in 2012.