John Haffner

Haffner Group

Bio

Based in Hong Kong, John Haffner is a lawyer, advisor and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the cleantech, energy and infrastructure sectors in Canada, China, and Southeast Asia. He is a Yale World Fellow (2008) and an Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader (2011).

Featured Work

Zhang on a local mining road in Boké, Guinea, together with Mamady Koivogui, executive director of a local NGO, Association Mines Sans Pauvreté (far left) and local residents.

FEB 20, 2019 Article

Jingjing Zhang: Greening China's Globalization

Born in China, environmental lawyer Jingjing Zhang is working to hold China accountable for the negative impacts of its overseas investment and construction projects, the ...

Sze Ping Lo

SEP 8, 2016 Article

Sze Ping Lo: Towards a New Environmental Imagination

Sze Ping Lo, CEO of WWF-China, is equal parts activist and intellectual. Now in his early 40s, in a recent conversation Lo looked back on ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://unsplash.com/aindraus" target="_blank">Anthony Indraus</a>.

MAY 28, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: It's Time for a U.S.-Canada Electric Auto Pact

The Canada-U.S. auto pact of 1965 was a major milestone, but it is time for a renewed vision for Canada-U.S. automotive cooperation and for ...

Chayuan, Gansu Province. Credit: Green Camel Bell

SEP 2, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Zhao Zhong: Lessons from the Bottom Up

After an accident where nature nearly took his life, Zhao Zhong has been on a mission to protect the environment in his homeland of China.

CREDIT: <a href"http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-102914237/stock-photo-fisherman-throwing-net-and-hot-steam-from-big-chimney-background.html?src=pp-same_artist-102914210-srQOfL2zUersYKwfA7uODw-6"> Shutterstock </a>

AUG 15, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Rose Niu: Conservation on the Tipping Point

Conservation in China is a long-term struggle that has only intensified with rapid economic growth. To bring degraded ecosystems back, the country needs ambitious plans ...

CREDIT: One Earth Designs.

JUN 16, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Now They're Cooking: SolSource Harnesses the Himalayan Sun

With a solar cooker designed through community consultation, two young innovators are delivering clean energy to remote mountain villages, as well as your backyard BBQ.

CREDIT: &copy; <a href="http://www.ipe.org.cn/en/">Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs</a>.

FEB 11, 2013 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Ma Jun: Information Empowers

Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun walks the line between transparency and activism in his quest to clean China's air, land, and water.

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/horasis/5223479577/">Richter Frank-Jurgen</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 28, 2011 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Zhang Yue: A Call for Discipline in a World Out of Control

Air conditioning pioneer Zhang Yue has bold ideas for energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, and corporate culture: discipline today to preserve life in the future.

NOV 22, 2010 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Kongjian Yu: The Art of Survival

Landscape architect Kongjian Yu is pioneering energy efficient and spiritually enriching designs to reconnect China's rapid urbanization to the land.

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mafleen/466511076/">Mafleen</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JAN 22, 2010 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Right to Move

A collection of essays from our joint Sophia University-Carnegie Council conference exploring the ethics of an international right to migration.