About

Dr. Ya-Qing Zhan is a climate protection manager with an interdisciplinary background in geography, cultural studies, and sustainability. Her work focuses on translating climate goals into practical, locally adapted strategies that are both data-driven and socially embedded.

She combines greenhouse gas accounting, scenario analysis, and strategic planning with a strong emphasis on citizen participation and communication. Her approach bridges science, administration, and society, enabling municipalities to develop realistic and widely supported climate solutions.

Originally from Taiwan, she brings an international and intercultural perspective to her work. Her academic path led her to Germany, where she completed her PhD in geography at Universität Hamburg, focusing on climate resilience and the role of culture in shaping responses to environmental change.

Today, she works as Climate Protection Manager in the Samtgemeinde Sittensen, where she develops an integrated climate protection concept, establishes participatory formats such as a digital idea map, and promotes climate education across different societal groups.

She believes that successful climate action is not only a technical challenge, but also a social process. Her goal is to make climate protection tangible, positive, and achievable — and to empower people to actively shape sustainable transformation.