SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:53:00 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropped-favicon-20180207-2-150x150.jpg?modtime= SEI https://www.sei.org/ 32 32 At COP26, it’s time for corporate climate action to move beyond offsets https://www.sei.org/perspectives/time-for-corporate-climate-action-to-move-beyond-offsets/ Are corporate carbon offsets a viable approach to reach net-zero emissions? This perspective explores another approach and suggests that the narrative should be changed. Instead of offsets, think of contributions, argues Senior Scientist Derik Broekhoff, who sets out three steps that could move things in the right direction. The perspective was originally published in Business Green (paywall). Are corporate carbon offsets a viable approach to reach net-zero emissions? This perspective explores another approach and suggests that the narrative should be changed. Instead of offsets, think of contributions, argues Senior Scientist Derik Broekhoff, who sets out three steps that could move things in the right direction.

The perspective was originally published in Business Green (paywall).

]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:40:32 +0000 Derik Broekhoff https://www.sei.org/perspectives/time-for-corporate-climate-action-to-move-beyond-offsets/ Perspective EU:s transportmål räcker inte, visar ny rapport https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/eus-transportmal-racker-inte-visar-ny-rapport/ SEI-rapporten “Accelerating to Zero – Speeding up the decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles in the EU” visar att med en ambitiösare klimatpolitik skulle EU:s utsläpp från tunga transporter kunna minska med så mycket som 24% till år 2030. I en intervju med Dagens Industri berättar forskaren Maria Xylia om vad som behövs för att EU ska uppnå sina klimatmål till 2030 och 2050. SEI-rapporten “Accelerating to Zero – Speeding up the decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles in the EU” visar att med en ambitiösare klimatpolitik skulle EU:s utsläpp från tunga transporter kunna minska med så mycket som 24% till år 2030. I en intervju med Dagens Industri berättar forskaren Maria Xylia om vad som behövs för att EU ska uppnå sina klimatmål till 2030 och 2050.

]]> Thu, 02 Dec 2021 12:23:36 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/eus-transportmal-racker-inte-visar-ny-rapport/ Press The UK Soy Manifesto – virtual launch https://www.sei.org/events/launch-uk-soy-manifesto/ The UK Soy Manifesto is a commitment from UK industry to source soya that has been grown without deforestation or removal of native vegetation, by 2025. This virtual launch event will introduce the Manifesto and the commitments made by signatories. It will also be an opportunity to hear reflections from industry leaders, environmental science experts and government representatives. The event is organized by Efeca, a UK based consultancy in the field of natural resources management. The UK Soy Manifesto is a commitment from UK industry to source soya that has been grown without deforestation or removal of native vegetation, by 2025. This virtual launch event will introduce the Manifesto and the commitments made by signatories. It will also be an opportunity to hear reflections from industry leaders, environmental science experts and government representatives. The event is organized by Efeca, a UK based consultancy in the field of natural resources management.

]]> Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:00:05 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/launch-uk-soy-manifesto/ Event Launch of Adaptation Without Borders: A New Era in International Cooperation on Climate Change https://www.sei.org/events/launch-of-adaptation-without-borders/ Adaptation Without Borders is a global partnership working to strengthen international cooperation on adaptation and build just resilience to the “next generation” of climate risk. This high-level event launched a collaboration between the European Commission and Adaptation Without Borders, shone a spotlight on the implications of cross-border and cascading risks for climate diplomacy and made the case for a new era of adaptation defined by global cooperation. Adaptation Without Borders is a global partnership working to strengthen international cooperation on adaptation and build just resilience to the “next generation” of climate risk. This high-level event launched a collaboration between the European Commission and Adaptation Without Borders, shone a spotlight on the implications of cross-border and cascading risks for climate diplomacy and made the case for a new era of adaptation defined by global cooperation.

]]> Mon, 01 Nov 2021 12:41:56 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/launch-of-adaptation-without-borders/ Event UK industry leaders unite to cut deforestation- and conversion-linked soy from supply chains by 2025 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/uk-soy-manifesto/ Leading brands including Tesco, Nestle, Sainsbury’s, Nando’s, KFC UK and Ireland, Morrisons and McDonald’s UK and Ireland have signed up to the new UK Soy Manifesto. They have committed to buying only soya that has been grown without deforestation or removal of native vegetation by 2025. Leading brands including Tesco, Nestle, Sainsbury’s, Nando’s, KFC UK and Ireland, Morrisons and McDonald’s UK and Ireland have signed up to the new UK Soy Manifesto. They have committed to buying only soya that has been grown without deforestation or removal of native vegetation by 2025.

]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:01:21 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/uk-soy-manifesto/ Press How corn links Jamaica’s food supply to climate change in the US Midwest https://www.sei.org/features/jamaica-food-supply-climate-change-us-midwest/ Agriculture is one of the most climate-vulnerable economic sectors and global maize production, in particular, may decline by about 27% in the long term due to climate change impacts, according to an SEI assessment. In Jamaica, maize is an essential part of diets, and while some of the grain is grown locally, the vast majority comes from the US. How will this deep dependency on US maize affect both the economy and food security for Jamaica in a changing climate? Agriculture is one of the most climate-vulnerable economic sectors and global maize production, in particular, may decline by about 27% in the long term due to climate change impacts, according to an SEI assessment. In Jamaica, maize is an essential part of diets, and while some of the grain is grown locally, the vast majority comes from the US. How will this deep dependency on US maize affect both the economy and food security for Jamaica in a changing climate?

]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:43:00 +0000 Marion Davis; Robin Hocquet https://www.sei.org/features/jamaica-food-supply-climate-change-us-midwest/ Feature Stories from an interconnected world https://www.sei.org/features/transboundary-climate-risks-stories-interconnected-world/ Delve into stories about how climate risk crosses borders - and what that means for climate adaptation and international cooperation. Photo: Photo: v2osk / Unsplash. Delve into stories about how climate risk crosses borders - and what that means for climate adaptation and international cooperation.


Photo: Photo: v2osk / Unsplash.

]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2021 16:10:25 +0000 https://www.sei.org/features/transboundary-climate-risks-stories-interconnected-world/ Feature Dams and droughts, data and diplomacy in the Mekong https://www.sei.org/perspectives/dams-and-droughts-data-and-diplomacy-in-the-mekong/ As the Mekong Region faces more intense floods and droughts every year, data sharing and water diplomacy are emerging as new narratives for transboundary water governance. As the Mekong Region faces more intense floods and droughts every year, data sharing and water diplomacy are emerging as new narratives for transboundary water governance.

]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2021 04:21:04 +0000 Rajesh Daniel https://www.sei.org/perspectives/dams-and-droughts-data-and-diplomacy-in-the-mekong/ Perspective British food firms vow to stop soy imports from deforested areas https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/bloomberg-soy-manifesto/ Bloomberg covered the launch of the UK Soy Manifesto on 9 November 2021. SEI’s Chris West, who spoke at the launch event, is co-developing the monitoring system that will help ensure that industry commitments to the Manifesto are turned into effective action. Bloomberg covered the launch of the UK Soy Manifesto on 9 November 2021. SEI’s Chris West, who spoke at the launch event, is co-developing the monitoring system that will help ensure that industry commitments to the Manifesto are turned into effective action.

]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2021 09:18:46 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/bloomberg-soy-manifesto/ Press A tool in the toolkit: can true cost accounting remove siloed thinking about food loss and waste? https://www.sei.org/publications/toolkit-food-loss-waste/ Efforts to decrease food loss and waste must engage with all stakeholders and all of their impacts. This report explores using a method called True Cost Accounting to help overcome siloed thinking and support collaborative efforts to reduce food loss and waste throughout the whole food system. Efforts to decrease food loss and waste must engage with all stakeholders and all of their impacts. This report explores using a method called True Cost Accounting to help overcome siloed thinking and support collaborative efforts to reduce food loss and waste throughout the whole food system.

]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2021 13:05:39 +0000 Amy Molotoks https://www.sei.org/publications/toolkit-food-loss-waste/ Publication From “hard-to-abate” to net-zero: Policy priorities for decarbonizing steel by 2050 https://www.sei.org/publications/net-zero-decarbonising-steel-by-2050/ Global steel demand continues to rise and global crude steel production capacity has more than doubled in the past two decades. Steel production, already 1,950 Mt today, could increase by a third by 2050. This brief, based on three major new studies on steel decarbonization, explores how the steel sector could achieve net zero by 2050. Global steel demand continues to rise and global crude steel production capacity has more than doubled in the past two decades. Steel production, already 1,950 Mt today, could increase by a third by 2050. This brief, based on three major new studies on steel decarbonization, explores how the steel sector could achieve net zero by 2050.

]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:28:50 +0000 Marion Davis; Gökçe Mete https://www.sei.org/publications/net-zero-decarbonising-steel-by-2050/ Publication High-level event to launch Adaptation Without Borders https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/high-level-event-to-launch-adaptation-without-borders/ At COP26, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action is launching a collaboration with Adaptation Without Borders (AWB), a global partnership working to improve and accelerate international action on adaptation. At COP26, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action is launching a collaboration with Adaptation Without Borders (AWB), a global partnership working to improve and accelerate international action on adaptation.

]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:06:38 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/high-level-event-to-launch-adaptation-without-borders/ Press More funding needed for adaptation https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/more-funding-needed-for-adaptation/ In a Bloomberg Opinion, SEI Researcher Georgia Savvidou says it is important to remember adaptation to climate change is a cross-border issue with far-reaching consequences. In a Bloomberg Opinion, SEI Researcher Georgia Savvidou says it is important to remember adaptation to climate change is a cross-border issue with far-reaching consequences.

]]> Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:34:40 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/more-funding-needed-for-adaptation/ Press Pandemic recovery efforts undermine a just energy transition in Latin America https://www.sei.org/perspectives/pandemic-recovery-just-energy-transition-latin-america/ In the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow, researchers from SEI, Mexico’s Climate Initiative and Argentina’s Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales prepared a policy brief exploring the contradictions of national energy and mining policies in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico in the current climate emergency. The findings reveal how several narratives and trends bolster fossil fuels in the economic recovery instead of promoting a sustainable and socially just future. In the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow, researchers from SEI, Mexico’s Climate Initiative and Argentina’s Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales prepared a policy brief exploring the contradictions of national energy and mining policies in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico in the current climate emergency. The findings reveal how several narratives and trends bolster fossil fuels in the economic recovery instead of promoting a sustainable and socially just future.

]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2021 02:00:32 +0000 José Vega Araújo; Miquel Muñoz Cabré; Elisa Arond; María Marta Di Paola; Gabriela Velázquez; Rafael Fonseca https://www.sei.org/perspectives/pandemic-recovery-just-energy-transition-latin-america/ Perspective Leading the way to carbon neutrality – best practices and business solutions https://www.sei.org/events/leading-the-way-to-carbon-neutrality/ This European Union side event at COP26, co-organized by the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), will showcase best practices and business-driven approaches to drive industry transition. This European Union side event at COP26, co-organized by the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), will showcase best practices and business-driven approaches to drive industry transition.

]]> Tue, 02 Nov 2021 07:59:22 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/leading-the-way-to-carbon-neutrality/ Event Resilience & Management of Permafrost Wetlands https://www.sei.org/events/arctic-wetlands-resilience/ Do Arctic wetlands and permafrost hold a key to combatting climate change – and preserving traditional livelihoods? This COP26 event takes up why wetlands are important for both and discusses recommendations adopted by the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Reykjavik on 20 May 2021 to strengthen restoration and conservation efforts. Do Arctic wetlands and permafrost hold a key to combatting climate change – and preserving traditional livelihoods? This COP26 event takes up why wetlands are important for both and discusses recommendations adopted by the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Reykjavik on 20 May 2021 to strengthen restoration and conservation efforts.

]]> Fri, 29 Oct 2021 11:16:48 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/arctic-wetlands-resilience/ Event For corporate net-zero targets, focus on the big picture https://www.sei.org/perspectives/corporate-net-zero-targets/ The idea that individual actors must achieve net zero because global emissions have to be net zero by 2050 misses the mark. It ignores critical questions about how efforts should be differentiated among countries, sectors, subnational governments and corporations. SEI Senior Scientist Derik Broekhoff sets out three principles that could inform more equitable and ambitious corporate net-zero targets. The idea that individual actors must achieve net zero because global emissions have to be net zero by 2050 misses the mark. It ignores critical questions about how efforts should be differentiated among countries, sectors, subnational governments and corporations. SEI Senior Scientist Derik Broekhoff sets out three principles that could inform more equitable and ambitious corporate net-zero targets.

]]> Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:56:25 +0000 Derik Broekhoff https://www.sei.org/perspectives/corporate-net-zero-targets/ Perspective Phosphorus Flows, Surpluses, and N/P Agronomic Balancing When Using Manure from Pig and Poultry Farms https://www.sei.org/publications/phosphorus-pig-poultry-manure/ The authors studied phosphorus (P) in pig and poultry farming, accounting for P content in feed, animals, manure, soil, and runoff. They found that following only nitrates (N) EU guidelines will lead to surplus P, and they conclude that better measures are needed to manage manure and to keep nutrients recirculating in agricultural applications, not released into the environment. The authors studied phosphorus (P) in pig and poultry farming, accounting for P content in feed, animals, manure, soil, and runoff. They found that following only nitrates (N) EU guidelines will lead to surplus P, and they conclude that better measures are needed to manage manure and to keep nutrients recirculating in agricultural applications, not released into the environment.

]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2021 16:27:49 +0000 Arno Rosemarin; Nelson Ekane; Kim Andersson https://www.sei.org/publications/phosphorus-pig-poultry-manure/ Publication Climate change as a subjacent factor of migration and mobility https://www.sei.org/perspectives/climate-change-as-a-subjacent-factor-of-migration-and-mobility/ Many factors intervene in and feed current migratory dynamics. Most of them fall on the structural factors of the economy, social conditions, political and cultural aspects, and increasingly on environmental changes and the differentiated impacts of climate change. Understanding the latter is key to achieving equity, concrete responses and progress in uncovering the nexus between migration and climate change. Many factors intervene in and feed current migratory dynamics. Most of them fall on the structural factors of the economy, social conditions, political and cultural aspects, and increasingly on environmental changes and the differentiated impacts of climate change. Understanding the latter is key to achieving equity, concrete responses and progress in uncovering the nexus between migration and climate change. 

]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2021 15:12:58 +0000 Mario Cárdenas; Juan Camilo Betancur Jaramillo https://www.sei.org/perspectives/climate-change-as-a-subjacent-factor-of-migration-and-mobility/ Perspective El cambio climático como factor subyacente de la migración y la movilidad https://www.sei.org/perspectives/cambio-climatico-migracion-climatica/ Son muchos los factores que intervienen y alimentan la actual dinámica migratoria. La mayoría de ellos recaen en los factores estructurales de la economía, las condiciones sociales, los aspectos políticos y culturales, y cada vez más en los cambios medioambientales y los impactos diferenciados del cambio climático. Comprender esto último es clave para lograr la equidad, respuestas concretas y avanzar en el descubrimiento del nexo entre migración y cambio climático. Son muchos los factores que intervienen y alimentan la actual dinámica migratoria. La mayoría de ellos recaen en los factores estructurales de la economía, las condiciones sociales, los aspectos políticos y culturales, y cada vez más en los cambios medioambientales y los impactos diferenciados del cambio climático. Comprender esto último es clave para lograr la equidad, respuestas concretas y avanzar en el descubrimiento del nexo entre migración y cambio climático.

]]> Mon, 24 Jan 2022 14:30:21 +0000 Mario Cárdenas; Juan Camilo Betancur Jaramillo https://www.sei.org/perspectives/cambio-climatico-migracion-climatica/ Perspective