Filtyp
This study aimed to investigate how a Swedish standard, developed by the Swedish Institute for Standards, can support local governments in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. Local authorities have been identified as key actors in the transition towards sustainable development, making the standard a potentially valuable tool. To achieve this aim, interviews were conducted with local govern
Environmental protection supervision is an important instrument for limiting and controlling the negative effects that environmentally hazardous activities can have on human health and the envi-ronment. Fuel facilities (“gas stations”) are one of these hazardous activities, supervised by envi-ronmental protection inspectors at the municipal level. To ensure legal compliance, inspectors use tools s
Sweden has long been seen as a leader in environmental policy. However, after the reorganization of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment in 2023, concerns have been raised about how this change affects the country’s climate work. This study investigates how the merger of the Ministry of Climate with the Ministry of Enterprise has influenced the political priorities between renewable energy and
Global biodiversity is declining, which threatens ecosystems as well as essen-tial ecosystem services. The corporate sector is an important part of the solu-tion. Companies covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are required to disclose their impacts on biodiversity according to the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS) E4 if their impacts are determined to
We are at a critical point where the carbon emissions worldwide must cease. One way to do so is to switch to renewable energy and become less dependent on fossil fuels. Solar power is an energy source which can be expanded rather quickly, and has become more common in the past years. The issue with large scale solar power plants is that they take up a lot of space, which leads to conflict of inter
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of highly persistent synthetic chemicals that have raised growing concern due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential health effects. This study focuses on Lake Bolmen, one of southern Sweden’s most important sources of drinking water, and investigates how PFAS enter and accumulate in the lake. A total of 23 PFAS compound
The Swedish forest is subject to significant pressure from the forestry industry. As a consequence, biodiversity is negatively affected. Sustainability reporting serves as a means for consumers and stakeholders to gain insight into companies' sustainability ef- forts. Reporting on biodiversity is relatively new compared to climate reporting and poses greater challenges in terms of quantificati
The public sector is responsible for 28 percent of the average Swedish citizen’s consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). Looking at purchasing categories with the highest GHGe, consumables – products like paper and single use items – play a significant role. The first step in becoming more circular and reducing waste is often to completely refrain from purchases when possible. However,
In the context of the current climate crisis and a growing need for electricity, renewable energy plays an important role. Repowering means upgrading existing renewable energy production with new, more efficient technology to increase production in older sites. Wind-power technology has developed significantly in the last few years and upgrading wind parks in the most suitable locations is relevan
Previous studies have shown a correlation between nature connection and pro environmental behavior. Simultaneously, urbanisation amongst other causes has led to decreased human contact with nature. However, local outdoor recreation is considered an option for spending time in nature despite living in urban areas. Drawing from the above, there are reasons to study whether local outdoor recreation c
This study shows that several beneficial aspects of climate adaptation in Swedish municipalities can be linked to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. In doing so, the study also exhibits that the sustainable development goals could serve as a good tool to aid in maximizing social, environmental and economic benefits when planning and executing climate adaptation measures. A claim th
Local acceptance is key when implementing climate technologies. One necessary technology to mitigate climate change is land-based Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). In Denmark, earlier experience with the technology ended in shutdown due to local resistance. But now CCS plays a significant role in the Danish climate reduction goals; without CCS the goal won't be met. The academic field is very
Increased average temperatures, rising sea levels and heat waves are some examples of the consequences of climate change. Cities are particularly vulnerable to climate-related events due to their structure and lack of green and blue spaces causing negative impacts on both the environment and public health. Children are one of the most sensitive groups to heat waves and they spend plenty of time in
Pollutant emissions to the environment caused by human activity is a worldwide problem. This can occur due to residential fires which are often connected to loss of human lifes and belongings, as well as environmental damage. Residential fires canlead to emissions of pollutants that can be released to the air, water and soil. In this study, the level of soil contamination caused by residential fi
With climate change resulting from a history of uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions, all parts of society now need to take action - maybe most importantly the private sector. Since 2015 the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative has committed over 5000 companies worldwide to heavily reduce their total emissions at a pace that scientists deem necessary for average global temperature rise to stay
Clean water is an essentiality from both an individual and societal perspective. Legal actions enable the enforcement of the protection that the drinking water resource needs to protect the current but also the future supply of clean and sustainable water. Establishing water protection areas (WPA) is today the legal action that Swedish municipalities or county administration boards have at their d
Biodiversity is declining all over the world due to human activities. This is alarming since human survival is dependent on biodiversity and the ecosystem services nature provides. In urban areas, private gardens have been pointed out as important agents for nature conservation, at the same time as they function as expressions of the owner’s identity and personal values. This study investigates wh
This study investigated how pollinators are affected by plant protection products (PPP), what type of PPPs strawberry farmers used and what knowledge they had about these products. To investigate this, a literature review and a survey was conducted. The questionnaire was sent to 70 Swedish strawberry farmers of which 11% participated in the study. The results of the survey shows that all (6) straw
To reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience to climate change, climate adaptation measures are needed that can contribute to a more resilient society. Cross-sectoral collaboration and the involvement of multiple actors are central to a coherent and comprehensive approach to climate adaptation. The aim of this study is to contribute to an increased understanding of how policy labs can be used a
Climate change, manifested through flooding, landslides, and erosion, poses increasing challenges for the built environment. In Sweden, nearly 90 percent of the population resides in urban areas, which were planned under past climatic conditions and are often difficult to adapt retroactively. Spatial planning plays a crucial role in addressing this issue, with municipalities holding central respo
