University of North Texas 
Sustainable Local Policy Lab
The Sustainable Local Policy Lab explores how local governments can adapt to external
challenges through effective, long-horizon policy and regulation.
The Sustainable Local Policy Lab explores how local governments in urban and rural settings can adapt to external
challenges through effective, sensible, and durable policy and regulation. Led by
Dr. Linlang He, the lab analyzes governmental policies on a variety of topics, including the adoption
of electric vehicles in public fleets and the interoperability of emergency communication
systems. Researchers seek to understand the perspectives and interactions of multiple
actors, such as front-line workers, local and regional public officials, affected
residents, members of advocacy coalitions, and theoreticians, about specific policies.
Lab members evaluate public policy in terms of its fiscal, political, social and ecological
sustainability. The goal is to develop knowledge that advances administrative theory
and helps practitioners achieve desired, sustainable development outcomes.
He, L., Kreske, E., Nawyn, S., Pearson, A., Axelrod, M., Pokhrel, Y., Gasteyer, S., Lawrie, S., Kendall, A. (2023). Interventions addressing conflict in communities hosting climate-influenced migrants: Literature review. Environment and Security. https://doi.org/10.1177/27538796231207919
Sampedro, J., Cui, R., McJeon, H., Smith, S., Hultman, N., He, L., Sen, A., Dingenen, R., Cazcarro, I. (2021). Quantifying the reductions in mortality from air-pollution by cancelling new coal power plants. Energy and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100023
He, L., Hultman, N. (2021). Urban agglomerations and cities' capacity in environmental enforcement and compliance. Journal of Cleaner Production. 313 127585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127585
Cui, R.Y., Hultman, N., Edwards, M.R., He, L., Sen, A., Surana, K., McJeon, H., Iyer, G., Patel, P., Yu, S., Nace, T., Shearer, C. (2019). Quantifying operational lifetimes for coal power plants under the Paris goals. Nature Communications. 10 (1) 1-9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12618-3
He, L. (Supporting), Zhao, D. (Principal), Durst, N. (Co-Principal), Beecher, J. (Co-Principal), "NSF Award Number 2214872: U.S.-China: Infrastructure-Driven Decision System for Sustainable and Equitable Urban-Rural Development (total amount: $500,000)," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $36308 Funded. (2022 - 2026).
- Publications
He, L., Wills, K., Benson, C., Flaim, A. (2025). Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and policy actors' coalition behavior around hydropower development in the Mekong countries: Testing the impact of coalition opportunity structures. Review of Policy Research. http://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12638
Nawyn, S., He, L., Chen, J., Axelrod, M., Irfan, F., Ahmed, F., Walker, M.A. (2024). Mapping the Future of Migration and Climate Change Science. International Migration Review. Sage. https://doi.org/10.1177/01979183241272470He, L., Kreske, E., Nawyn, S., Pearson, A., Axelrod, M., Pokhrel, Y., Gasteyer, S., Lawrie, S., Kendall, A. (2023). Interventions addressing conflict in communities hosting climate-influenced migrants: Literature review. Environment and Security. https://doi.org/10.1177/27538796231207919
Sampedro, J., Cui, R., McJeon, H., Smith, S., Hultman, N., He, L., Sen, A., Dingenen, R., Cazcarro, I. (2021). Quantifying the reductions in mortality from air-pollution by cancelling new coal power plants. Energy and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100023
He, L., Hultman, N. (2021). Urban agglomerations and cities' capacity in environmental enforcement and compliance. Journal of Cleaner Production. 313 127585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127585
Cui, R.Y., Hultman, N., Edwards, M.R., He, L., Sen, A., Surana, K., McJeon, H., Iyer, G., Patel, P., Yu, S., Nace, T., Shearer, C. (2019). Quantifying operational lifetimes for coal power plants under the Paris goals. Nature Communications. 10 (1) 1-9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12618-3
- Conference Presentations
Nam, A., He, L., Osei-Kojo, A. (2024, September) Discourses and Beliefs: Exploring Coalition Politics in U.S. Wind Energy Policymaking [Research presentation] 2024 Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Chicago, IL, United States of America.
He, L. (2024, May) Continual Learning and Policy Change: A Longitudinal Analysis across Hydropower Projects [Research presentation]. Conference on Policy Process Research 2024. Syracuse, NY, USA, United States of America.
He, L., & Zhao, D. (2023, November 9-11) Public Technologies and Institutional Behavior -- An Equitable Transition to Clean School Buses -- the Role of Industry Support Networks [Panel presentation] 2023 Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference/Policy that Matters: Making Public Services Work for All. Atlanta, GA, United States.- Grants and Sponsored Research
He, L. (Principal), "The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Junior Faculty Enhancement Award: An Equitable Transition to Low-Emission Government Fleet – The Role of Industry Partners " Sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and UNT VPRI, $10,000.00.(2024 - 2025).
He, L. (Principal), "UNT Subaward on NSF Grant 2214872: “U.S.-China: Infrastructure-Driven Decision System for Sustainable and Equitable Urban-Rural Development”," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $20000 Funded. (2023 - 2026).He, L. (Supporting), Zhao, D. (Principal), Durst, N. (Co-Principal), Beecher, J. (Co-Principal), "NSF Award Number 2214872: U.S.-China: Infrastructure-Driven Decision System for Sustainable and Equitable Urban-Rural Development (total amount: $500,000)," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $36308 Funded. (2022 - 2026).
- Research Team
Dr. Linlang He, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration
Eraky Ahmed, Hyojun Kim, Edmund Poku Adu & Hao Zhang, UNT doctoral students
Stephen Cottingham, MPA student