SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute’s Post

Our annual report 2023 is now available 🍊 In a year marked by global uncertainties, our commitment to impactful research and strategic partnerships remains constant. We are proud of what we achieved in 2023 and grateful for the ongoing support from our partners and funders. Looking ahead, we are energized to continue our efforts and invite you to explore our successes in this report. Highlights include: 🔸 Insights from Måns Nilsson, SEI Executive Director 🔸 A snapshot of key statistics from 2023 🔸 An overview of our financial growth and diverse funding sources 🔸 Six in-depth case studies highlighting how we drove change 🔸 Spotlight on SEI York and its impactful work Explore it here 👉 sei.org/annual-report-2023

Earlier this week, we concluded our global pre-COP series, From Words to Action, with an event hosted by our Tallinn centre. Experts discussed how to secure political support and funding in Europe and the European Union's Eastern Partnership countries to ensure that long-term environmental goals are not sidelined amidst geopolitical challenges. Key Takeaways: • Fighting climate change and biodiversity loss is costly, but the challenge isn’t just securing funding—it's about how we allocate and use it. To make a real impact, we need well-planned, well-executed initiatives that deliver measurable results. • Implementation is crucial. We must find substantive solutions to the biodiversity crisis, giving it the same priority as climate issues. • Climate and biodiversity challenges transcend borders. Ignoring them will lead to new crises, particularly impacting the most vulnerable groups in society. • Cooperation between institutions and effective assessment of environmental funding are vital. Only when funds are used efficiently and with clear outcomes can we achieve lasting change. • Science and research are pivotal to finding innovative ways to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, helping us address the interconnected challenges ahead. Watch the full recording here: https://buff.ly/3NvzZGW #ClimateFinance #Biodiversity #GeopoliticalTensions #EasternEurope #EaP CC: Arnold Kreilhuber, UN Environment Programme Regional Director for Europe; Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, European Court of Auditors; Iordanka-Rodika Iordanova, former Moldova Minister of Environment (2022–2024); @Helena Braun, European Commission Representation in Estonia; Lauri Tammiste, Director of SEI Tallinn Centre; Måns Nilsson, Executive Director of SEI.

Our Rights and Equity team contributed to four impactful sessions at the Insight and Outlook Conference, a three-day event hosted by Umeå Universitet's Várdduo Centre for Sámi Research. With over 150 participants and 100 presentations, this year’s conference highlighted the remarkable growth of interdisciplinary researchers over the past decade. It's a clear reflection of a dynamic, diverse, and evolving field, reminding us to embrace new ways of learning from and listening to the land. The agenda spotlighted the contested future of infrastructure projects in Sápmi, framed around sustainability transitions. SEI’s Rasmus Kløcker Larsen, Annette Löf, and Katarina Inga led discussions on hydropower, land use rights, governance, and the essential inclusion of Sámi voices in decision-making processes. #RightsAndEquity #IndigenousRights #Hydropower #Sami #LandRights #Governance #Sapmi

“The great thing is, you can address both air quality and climate change at the same time – they’re two sides of the same coin!” As part of our Meet SEI series, we introduce Caroline Sawe, Research Associate at our York centre. Caroline’s work focuses on helping governments, particularly in West Africa, develop air pollution mitigation strategies that also tackle climate change. In this interview, she shares her career journey, from working with local authorities in East Africa to joining SEI York at the University of York, where she combines her passion for air quality and climate action. Caroline also reflects on what makes our centre a unique place to grow professionally, emphasizing the diverse, international environment that fosters collaboration and learning. Read more about Caroline’s work and her path to us:

🌏 We were honoured to welcome a delegation from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), led by President Prof. Dr. CHEN Dongxiao, for a fruitful roundtable discussion at our headquarters in Stockholm. The exchange focused on advancing EU-China research collaboration on the green transition amid the evolving geopolitical landscape. Key topics included renewable energy prospects, industry policy approaches, and the alignment of standards in areas such as the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and Eco-design, alongside opportunities for trade and investment via initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Europe’s Global Gateway. We are excited to explore future collaborations, applying a regional lens. A big thank you to Prof. Dr. CHEN Dongxiao, Prof. Dr. YU Hongyuan, Dr. LONG Jing, Prof. Dr. WANG Yuzhu, and Ms. WANG Huijie for a meaningful dialogue, and to our SEI representatives Yani Wang, Timothy Suljada, Guoyi Han, and Robert Watt for contributing to this important exchange. #GreenTransition #EUChina #EUDR #CBAM #Deforestation #Carbon

🍽️ Today is #WorldFoodDay—a perfect time to highlight our work on food systems in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. We are working to align national food strategies with the European Union food transformation agenda. This presents both an urgent challenge and an immense opportunity to build resilient food systems that can deliver nutritious food for all. Our Farm to Fork experts, Ieva Galkyté and Mark Driscoll, identified 5 key considerations to navigate this transition: 1️⃣ Collaborative governance for sustainable food systems. 2️⃣ Just transitions that uplift vulnerable communities. 3️⃣ Access to healthy, sustainable food. 4️⃣ Robust climate adaptation practices. 5️⃣ Cross-sectoral research and innovation for lasting change. Learn more about the path to resilient food systems here 👉 https://buff.ly/3Yp2kox #SimpleStepsBigImpact #GreenAgenda #FoodForAll #WorldFoodDay2024 #FoodSystems #EUGreenDeal #EUFarm2Fork

The bioeconomy has significant potential to address the polycrisis of biodiversity loss, land degradation, and climate change. This new policy brief for G20 countries highlights the benefits of smaller-scale and more diversified bioeconomy pathways that prioritize the socio-ecological dimensions of the bioeconomy. Using examples from Brazil and Thailand, researchers illustrate how it’s possible to promote the bioeconomy while ensuring socio-ecological safeguards. These are grounded in local community development and sustainable use of biodiversity for bio-based goods and services. 🇧🇷 🇹🇭 Through these case studies, the brief offers principles and policy recommendations to support the development of the socio-bioeconomy worldwide, which is equally relevant for upcoming dialogues at the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS2024) being held in Nairobi on 23-24 October. Read the brief for #T20Brasil, co-authored by researchers from SEI, WRI Brasil, World Resources Institute, Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI), UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Universidade de Brasília, Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazônicos - NAEA, Instituto Pupykary ➡️ https://buff.ly/3Ubhuvo Francis X. Johnson, Huiling/Mia Zhu #Bioeconomy #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #Think20 #T20 #G20 #GBS2024

Our Senior Policy Fellow and expert on consumption-based emissions, Katarina Axelsson, participated in a panel at the regional Sustainable Living Summit earlier today in Stockholm. Here are two of her key takeaways: 💡 Stronger policy measures are needed in European Union countries to shift consumption patterns or even avoid certain consumption altogether. 💡 There is significant engagement from many Swedish municipalities to reduce consumption-based emissions. By using SEI's Consumption Compass, which analyses climate impacts from household consumption at the postcode level, municipalities can identify emission hotspots and develop more effective local policies. 🎥 Watch the recording 👉 https://buff.ly/3U6lQ6Q #SustainableLivingSummit #ConsumptionCompass cc: Nordregio, The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Nordic Council

🎉 Congratulations to Frank Biermann who receives the Volvo Group Environment Prize 2024 tonight! As the first political scientist to receive this prestigious award, Biermann, a Professor of Global Sustainability Governance at Universiteit Utrecht and member of our Science Advisory Council, is recognized for his groundbreaking work on global governance and the Sustainable Development Goals. His research underscores the critical need for stronger, more effective political institutions to address global environmental crises. “We lack effective political institutions to address these challenges. This prize highlights the critical role of political science in global sustainability governance,” said Biermann 📖 Learn more about his work and the award: https://buff.ly/3A0uEEw #Sustainability #GlobalGovernance #VolvoEnvironmentPrize #SDGs

🚲 Ready to shape the future of inclusive transportation planning? Join us at the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt Forum for a transformative masterclass! 🔍 How can we ensure disadvantaged groups are heard in climate-resilient transportation? 🚀 Participate in our workshop and explore the Guidance Framework for Inclusive Climate-Resilient Transport Planning. Learn about climate impacts and innovative participatory tools like digital storytelling, participatory mapping, AI, and more—based on the UK FCDO Services High Volume Transport Applied Research project on active mobility in a changing climate. 📍 Multipurpose room 10, Egypt International Exhibition Center 📅 5 November 2024 🕒 9:00 – 12:00 (Cairo time) 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/47ZV7i5 cc: Gary Haq, PhD (University of York/SEI), Janene Tuniz (UN Environment Programme), Steve Cinderby (University of York/SEI), Cassilde Muhoza (SEI Africa – Stockholm Environment Institute). #InclusiveTransport #ClimateResilience #WorldUrbanForum #Masterclass #WUF12