https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:51:54 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropped-favicon-20180207-2-150x150.jpg?modtime= https://www.sei.org/ 32 32 https://www.sei.org/events/stockholm50-unlocking-a-better-future/ In the run-up to the “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity” UN international meeting on 2–3 June 2022, SEI and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) invite you to the online launch of the Stockholm+50: Unlocking a Better Future report. In the run-up to the “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity” UN international meeting on 2–3 June 2022, SEI and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) invite you to the online launch of the Stockholm+50: Unlocking a Better Future report.

]]> Fri, 13 May 2022 09:29:01 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/stockholm50-unlocking-a-better-future/ Event https://www.sei.org/events/estocolmo50-desbloqueando-mejor-futuro/ De cara a la reunión internacional de la ONU “Estocolmo+50: un planeta sano para la prosperidad de todos – nuestra responsabilidad, nuestra oportunidad”, que se celebrará los días 2 y 3 de junio de 2022, SEI y el Consejo de Energía, Medio Ambiente y Agua (CEEW) le invitan a la presentación del informe Estocolmo+50: Desbloqueando un mejor futuro. De cara a la reunión internacional de la ONU “Estocolmo+50: un planeta sano para la prosperidad de todos – nuestra responsabilidad, nuestra oportunidad”, que se celebrará los días 2 y 3 de junio de 2022, SEI y el Consejo de Energía, Medio Ambiente y Agua (CEEW) le invitan a la presentación del informe Estocolmo+50: Desbloqueando un mejor futuro.

]]> Thu, 12 May 2022 23:01:40 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/estocolmo50-desbloqueando-mejor-futuro/ Event https://www.sei.org/publications/nordic-perspectives-transboundary-climate-risk/ This report funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers highlights how indirect, cross-border climate risks, known as transboundary climate risks, impact the Nordic countries – and what governments can do to advance action to adapt to these risks. This report funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers highlights how indirect, cross-border climate risks, known as transboundary climate risks, impact the Nordic countries – and what governments can do to advance action to adapt to these risks.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 17:01:25 +0000 Frida Lager; Richard J.T. Klein https://www.sei.org/publications/nordic-perspectives-transboundary-climate-risk/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/mainstreaming-animal-welfare/ Developments in science and ethics show that safeguarding animal welfare is an important goal in its own right. Nevertheless, animal welfare remains a marginal issue in sustainable development governance. In 2015, the world’s governments adopted a universal development agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which expresses a desire for a world in which humanity lives in harmony with nature and in which wildlife and other living species are protected. Developments in science and ethics show that safeguarding animal welfare is an important goal in its own right. Nevertheless, animal welfare remains a marginal issue in sustainable development governance. In 2015, the world’s governments adopted a universal development agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which expresses a desire for a world in which humanity lives in harmony with nature and in which wildlife and other living species are protected.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 09:15:42 +0000 Cleo Verkuijl; Jeff Sebo; Ploy Achakulwisut; Mairon G. Bastos Lima; Jonathan Green https://www.sei.org/publications/mainstreaming-animal-welfare/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/sustainable-consumption-digitalization/ Global environmental governance of supply chains is growing in importance, both because of globalized production networks and as a consequence of the proliferation of voluntary and mandatory systems, sometimes causing conflicts and confusion. This paper focuses on global environmental governance of supply chains, green and decent jobs, digitalization, artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. Global environmental governance of supply chains is growing in importance, both because of globalized production networks and as a consequence of the proliferation of voluntary and mandatory systems, sometimes causing conflicts and confusion. This paper focuses on global environmental governance of supply chains, green and decent jobs, digitalization, artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. 

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 09:15:27 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/sustainable-consumption-digitalization/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/valuing-nature-individuals-communities/ For many people today, especially in urban settings or in the wealthiest economies, the current relationships with nature are broken, with multiple negative repercussions for health, environment, and overall sustainability. The fractured relationship is characterized by a transactional and unidirectional worldview that treats nature almost exclusively as resources and stocks to be extracted and valued economically. For many people today, especially in urban settings or in the wealthiest economies, the current relationships with nature are broken, with multiple negative repercussions for health, environment, and overall sustainability. The fractured relationship is characterized by a transactional and unidirectional worldview that treats nature almost exclusively as resources and stocks to be extracted and valued economically.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 09:15:14 +0000 Elena Dawkins; Fiona Lambe https://www.sei.org/publications/valuing-nature-individuals-communities/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/investment-technologies-today/ The low-carbon transition requires an economy-wide transformation encompassing the decarbonization of electricity and heat generation, transport, industry and buildings sectors. This entails investments across a number of low-carbon technologies. This paper focuses on ‘technologies of today’, in other words those that have demonstrated technological viability but remain at varying levels of commercial viability in developing countries. The low-carbon transition requires an economy-wide transformation encompassing the decarbonization of electricity and heat generation, transport, industry and buildings sectors. This entails investments across a number of low-carbon technologies. This paper focuses on ‘technologies of today’, in other words those that have demonstrated technological viability but remain at varying levels of commercial viability in developing countries.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:59 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/investment-technologies-today/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/policy-transition-sustainable-lifestyles/ Fifty years since the Stockholm conference when the global community recognized the effects of human intervention on environmental degradation, the world continues to use resources and generate waste beyond our planet’s capacity to sustain. In this paper, the authors argue that resource-intensive lifestyles of the global rich and rising inequality underpin these issues and that reimagining the way people consume and their lifestyles is integral to solving this intricate problem. Fifty years since the Stockholm conference when the global community recognized the effects of human intervention on environmental degradation, the world continues to use resources and generate waste beyond our planet’s capacity to sustain. In this paper, the authors argue that resource-intensive lifestyles of the global rich and rising inequality underpin these issues and that reimagining the way people consume and their lifestyles is integral to solving this intricate problem.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:55 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/policy-transition-sustainable-lifestyles/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-multifunctionality/ The framing of nature as separate from culture impacts our notion of landscapes and the functions, infrastructures and activities deemed appropriate within these, where natural landscapes are associated with nature conservation, and the built environment with human activity. In this paper, we propose bridging this nature–society dichotomy through a multifunctional perspective as a way to adopt a more systemic view of space in relation to landscape traits as well as material artefacts. The framing of nature as separate from culture impacts our notion of landscapes and the functions, infrastructures and activities deemed appropriate within these, where natural landscapes are associated with nature conservation, and the built environment with human activity. In this paper, we propose bridging this nature–society dichotomy through a multifunctional perspective as a way to adopt a more systemic view of space in relation to landscape traits as well as material artefacts. 

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:53 +0000 Karina Barquet; Jonathan Green https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-multifunctionality/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/the-elite-citizen-gap/ In this report, we present recent research on elite and citizen perceptions of international organization legitimacy, discuss the evidence in light of the Stockholm+50 challenges and beyond and derive forward-looking proposals for how to build trust in the UN. In this report, we present recent research on elite and citizen perceptions of international organization legitimacy, discuss the evidence in light of the Stockholm+50 challenges and beyond and derive forward-looking proposals for how to build trust in the UN.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:49 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/the-elite-citizen-gap/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/just-equitable-energy-transition/ As the energy transition accelerates, it is our responsibility, it is our opportunity, to ensure that in addition to contributing to a healthy planet by replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources, this is accomplished in a just and equitable manner providing prosperity for all. As the energy transition accelerates, it is our responsibility, it is our opportunity, to ensure that in addition to contributing to a healthy planet by replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources, this is accomplished in a just and equitable manner providing prosperity for all. 

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:49 +0000 José Vega Araújo; Miquel Muñoz Cabré https://www.sei.org/publications/just-equitable-energy-transition/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/renewed-multilateralism-alleviate-risks-enhance-security/ Multilateralism for chronic risks would seek to mitigate outcomes that we all prefer to avoid by installing ‘pillars of transparency and risk pooling’ and strengthening the ‘vulnerability and capacity of countries’ to deal with stresses and shocks. Multilateralism for chronic risks would seek to mitigate outcomes that we all prefer to avoid by installing ‘pillars of transparency and risk pooling’ and strengthening the ‘vulnerability and capacity of countries’ to deal with stresses and shocks.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:45 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/renewed-multilateralism-alleviate-risks-enhance-security/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/affordable-favorable-sustainable-lifestyles/ Lifestyles have changed significantly in the half-century since the adoption of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. Today, we are at an inflection point and must reflect on the Declaration’s principles, review whether they have stood the test of time as the world transitioned from the 20th to the 21st century, and reframe those that need correction based on the lived experiences of the global population. Lifestyles have changed significantly in the half-century since the adoption of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. Today, we are at an inflection point and must reflect on the Declaration’s principles, review whether they have stood the test of time as the world transitioned from the 20th to the 21st century, and reframe those that need correction based on the lived experiences of the global population.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:45 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/affordable-favorable-sustainable-lifestyles/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/meeting-human-needs/ Beginning during the industrial revolution and then rapidly accelerating since the end of the Second World War, human civilization has undergone a massive transformation and transition with profound implications not just for humans but for the planet more broadly. While this development has enabled great improvements in living conditions for billions, it has come at the cost of massive overexploitation of natural resources. Beginning during the industrial revolution and then rapidly accelerating since the end of the Second World War, human civilization has undergone a massive transformation and transition with profound implications not just for humans but for the planet more broadly. While this development has enabled great improvements in living conditions for billions, it has come at the cost of massive overexploitation of natural resources.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:44 +0000 Olle Olsson; Elena Dawkins https://www.sei.org/publications/meeting-human-needs/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/circular-economy-business-paradigm/ Circular economy practices could lead to the end of waste, following policy and other shifts to regulate and introduce steps to adopt and move forward to adopting this kind of economy. Societal aspects must be considered as part of this shift. Circular economy practices could lead to the end of waste, following policy and other shifts to regulate and introduce steps to adopt and move forward to adopting this kind of economy. Societal aspects must be considered as part of this shift.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:44 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/circular-economy-business-paradigm/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/stockholm50-unlocking-better-future/ This report was written to provide a scientific basis for the UN international meeting “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity” to be held in Stockholm from 2–3 June 2022. It is intended to stimulate an informed debate on why change towards a sustainable future is not happening at pace with the challenges humans and the planet face and guide leaders to actions they can take now, informed by relevant science. This report was written to provide a scientific basis for the UN international meeting “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity” to be held in Stockholm from 2–3 June 2022. It is intended to stimulate an informed debate on why change towards a sustainable future is not happening at pace with the challenges humans and the planet face and guide leaders to actions they can take now, informed by relevant science.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:38 +0000 Eric Kemp-Benedict; Fiona Lambe; Henrik Carlsen; Nina Weitz; Åsa Persson https://www.sei.org/publications/stockholm50-unlocking-better-future/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/normalizing-sustainability-finance/ The present structure and orientation of global and national financial systems is a critical barrier to securing a transition to sustainability. The volume of gross liquid assets in the world is around USD 400 trillion of which 64% is owned by individuals. The bulk of the assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by rich individuals in upper-income and middle-income countries. Within each country the flow of finance is also shaped by the pattern of income and wealth inequality. The present structure and orientation of global and national financial systems is a critical barrier to securing a transition to sustainability. The volume of gross liquid assets in the world is around USD 400 trillion of which 64% is owned by individuals. The bulk of the assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by rich individuals in upper-income and middle-income countries. Within each country the flow of finance is also shaped by the pattern of income and wealth inequality.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:27 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/normalizing-sustainability-finance/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/equal-distribution/ Restructuring our socio-economic systems is necessary to tackle both climate change and structural and procedural inequality. To avoid significant climate change, we need to move away from economic systems shaped by the dominant economic class and based on an extractive and exploitative use of natural resources. These same systems also exploit, exclude or oppress people on a global scale and across different groups. Restructuring our socio-economic systems is necessary to tackle both climate change and structural and procedural inequality. To avoid significant climate change, we need to move away from economic systems shaped by the dominant economic class and based on an extractive and exploitative use of natural resources. These same systems also exploit, exclude or oppress people on a global scale and across different groups.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:18 +0000 Anisha Nazareth; Emily Ghosh https://www.sei.org/publications/equal-distribution/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-prosperity/ Human civilization is at a juncture in history where straining certain planetary boundaries any further would lead to catastrophic consequences with limited recourse to plough back. Our relentless chase of material gains is leading to rising social inequity and declining natural capital. We urgently need to redefine our individual and collective pursuits beyond material gains and gross domestic product (GDP). Human civilization is at a juncture in history where straining certain planetary boundaries any further would lead to catastrophic consequences with limited recourse to plough back. Our relentless chase of material gains is leading to rising social inequity and declining natural capital. We urgently need to redefine our individual and collective pursuits beyond material gains and gross domestic product (GDP).

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:09 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-prosperity/ Publication https://www.sei.org/publications/still-one-earth/ Many of the pressing environmental problems and policy challenges weighing on the world in 1972, when nations met in Stockholm for the UN Conference on Human Environment, persist. The retreat of nuclear threat reduction and disarmament from global environmental policy priorities reflects political dynamics that continue to shape international environmental relations and carry potential insights for the prospects of promoting effective global environmental governance. Many of the pressing environmental problems and policy challenges weighing on the world in 1972, when nations met in Stockholm for the UN Conference on Human Environment, persist. The retreat of nuclear threat reduction and disarmament from global environmental policy priorities reflects political dynamics that continue to shape international environmental relations and carry potential insights for the prospects of promoting effective global environmental governance.

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 08:15:00 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/still-one-earth/ Publication