SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:40:44 +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 Exploring the circular economy potential of Naivasha’s organic waste https://www.sei.org/features/exploring-the-circular-economy-potential-of-naivashas-organic-waste/ Every day, Kenyan urban areas generate solid waste at the rate of 0.31 to 0.75 kg per person per day. Less than half of that waste is collected and only about 8% of it is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and dump sites leading to pollution, adverse health impacts and degradation of the ecosystem. Every day, Kenyan urban areas generate solid waste at the rate of 0.31 to 0.75 kg per person per day. Less than half of that waste is collected and only about 8% of it is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and dump sites leading to pollution, adverse health impacts and degradation of the ecosystem.

]]> Mon, 24 May 2021 16:09:48 +0000 Kim Andersson; Daniel Ddiba; Lawrence Nzuve https://www.sei.org/features/exploring-the-circular-economy-potential-of-naivashas-organic-waste/ Feature Arctic Council Ministerial meeting embraces wetlands protection https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/arctic-council-ministerial-meeting-embraces-wetlands-protection/ Arctic wetlands have enormous potential to impact climate change, but whether they will help to fight or fuel climate change depends on how well they are managed, says new report. Arctic wetlands have enormous potential to impact climate change, but whether they will help to fight or fuel climate change depends on how well they are managed, says new report.

]]> Mon, 24 May 2021 06:09:39 +0000 Marcus Carson; Ylva Rylander https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/arctic-council-ministerial-meeting-embraces-wetlands-protection/ Press Annual report 2020 https://www.sei.org/publications/annual-report-2020/ Leading a green recovery At the beginning of 2020, we knew we would operate in a challenging context. Little did we expect a global pandemic to alter so much of our work. In our annual report we present highlights in research, policy and engagement, and how we delivered change in the year that was 2020. At the beginning of 2020, we knew we would operate in a challenging context. Little did we expect a global pandemic to alter so much of our work. In our annual report we present highlights in research, policy and engagement, and how we delivered change in the year that was 2020.

]]> Sun, 23 May 2021 13:57:54 +0000 https://www.sei.org/publications/annual-report-2020/ Publication Resilience and management of Arctic wetlands: phase 2 report https://www.sei.org/publications/resilience-management-arctic-wetlands-phase-2-report/ Arctic wetlands play a number of crucial environmental roles, but they continue to be degraded and lost, with potentially dire global consequences. This report offers insights and identifies knowledge gaps, with the aim of supporting sustainable development and resilience in these areas. Arctic wetlands play a number of crucial environmental roles, but they continue to be degraded and lost, with potentially dire global consequences. This report offers insights and identifies knowledge gaps, with the aim of supporting sustainable development and resilience in these areas.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 14:42:28 +0000 Marcus Carson; Nelson Ekane https://www.sei.org/publications/resilience-management-arctic-wetlands-phase-2-report/ Publication Urban greenspace wellbeing benefits in low and middle income countries https://www.sei.org/events/urban-greenspace-wellbeing-benefits/ The SEI Initiative on City Health and Well-being presented this video and poster at the ClimateExp0 conference in May 2021. The conference was for researchers showcasing recent international research relevant to decisions being made at COP26 in November 2021. The SEI Initiative on City Health and Well-being presented this video and poster at the ClimateExp0 conference in May 2021. The conference was for researchers showcasing recent international research relevant to decisions being made at COP26 in November 2021.

]]> Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:35:03 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/urban-greenspace-wellbeing-benefits/ Event Citizen participation for sustainable cities https://www.sei.org/features/citizen-participation-for-sustainable-cities/ Involving citizens in decision-making processes is crucial. By giving them the opportunity to propose ideas, voice their concerns, and influence decisions about what to invest in and why, the impact of investments can be greater. Involving citizens in decision-making processes is crucial. By giving them the opportunity to propose ideas, voice their concerns, and influence decisions about what to invest in and why, the impact of investments can be greater.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 08:25:10 +0000 Astrid Nilsson Lewis; Fedra Vanhuyse; Venni Arra; Alicia Requena Carrión; Magnus Agerström https://www.sei.org/features/citizen-participation-for-sustainable-cities/ Feature Financing Swedish municipalities https://www.sei.org/features/financing-swedish-municipalities/ For most Swedish citizens, the closest engagement they have with the government happens through the municipalities they live in. In Sweden, there are 290 municipalities that are responsible for providing their inhabitants with numerous services, including education and childcare, non-medical healthcare, social care, waste and water treatment, and environmental management. For most Swedish citizens, the closest engagement they have with the government happens through the municipalities they live in. In Sweden, there are 290 municipalities that are responsible for providing their inhabitants with numerous services, including education and childcare, non-medical healthcare, social care, waste and water treatment, and environmental management.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 08:24:38 +0000 Fedra Vanhuyse; Astrid Nilsson Lewis; Venni Arra; Alicia Requena Carrión; Magnus Agerström https://www.sei.org/features/financing-swedish-municipalities/ Feature Environmental change, Covid-19 and (im)mobility: A comparative study of Myanmar migrant workers in Samut Sakhon and Phuket, Thailand https://www.sei.org/projects/environmental-change-covid-19-and-immobility/ How are migrant workers impacted by disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic? Do migrants’ age, gender, class, education level or ethnicity impact their (im)mobility patterns in times of crisis? This project generated new insights on how disaster preparedness and response measures take into account the needs and rights of migrant workers, and on how migrant workers organize themselves in times of disasters. How are migrant workers impacted by disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic? Do migrants’ age, gender, class, education level or ethnicity impact their (im)mobility patterns in times of crisis? This project generated new insights on how disaster preparedness and response measures take into account the needs and rights of migrant workers, and on how migrant workers organize themselves in times of disasters.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 04:34:35 +0000 https://www.sei.org/projects/environmental-change-covid-19-and-immobility/ Project Addressing the biodiversity losses embedded in global commodity trade https://www.sei.org/perspectives/addressing-biodiversity-losses-in-global-commodity-trade/ There is an increasing awareness that the decisions we make about what – and how much – we buy can have profound implications for the species we share the planet with and the ecosystems they inhabit. With an increasing range of data, methods and tools now available, SEI is at the forefront of research to understand how these embedded biodiversity losses flow through global supply chains to the countries, sectors and consumers driving them. There is an increasing awareness that the decisions we make about what – and how much – we buy can have profound implications for the species we share the planet with and the ecosystems they inhabit. With an increasing range of data, methods and tools now available, SEI is at the forefront of research to understand how these embedded biodiversity losses flow through global supply chains to the countries, sectors and consumers driving them.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 11:12:17 +0000 Jonathan Green; Chris West https://www.sei.org/perspectives/addressing-biodiversity-losses-in-global-commodity-trade/ Perspective Haciendo frente a las pérdidas de biodiversidad por el comercio mundial de productos básicos https://www.sei.org/perspectives/perdidas-biodiversidad-comercio-mundial-productos-basicos/ Cada vez hay más consciencia de que las decisiones que tomamos sobre lo que compramos -y cuánto- pueden tener profundas implicaciones para las especies con las que compartimos el planeta y los ecosistemas que habitan. Con una gama cada vez más amplia de datos, métodos y herramientas, SEI está a la vanguardia de la investigación para entender cómo estas pérdidas de biodiversidad fluyen mediante las cadenas de suministro globales hasta llegar a los países, sectores y consumidores que las impulsan. Cada vez hay más consciencia de que las decisiones que tomamos sobre lo que compramos -y cuánto- pueden tener profundas implicaciones para las especies con las que compartimos el planeta y los ecosistemas que habitan. Con una gama cada vez más amplia de datos, métodos y herramientas, SEI está a la vanguardia de la investigación para entender cómo estas pérdidas de biodiversidad fluyen mediante las cadenas de suministro globales hasta llegar a los países, sectores y consumidores que las impulsan.

]]> Mon, 14 Feb 2022 01:54:35 +0000 Jonathan Green; Chris West https://www.sei.org/perspectives/perdidas-biodiversidad-comercio-mundial-productos-basicos/ Perspective 20 companies responsible for most single-use plastic waste https://www.sei.org/features/20-companies-responsible-for-most-single-use-plastic-waste/ Analysis released this week shows that a small handful of companies and banks are behind the production of most single-use plastics. Only 20 companies are responsible for producing over 50% of the “throwaway” single-use plastic that ends up as waste worldwide. Analysis released this week shows that a small handful of companies and banks are behind the production of most single-use plastics. Only 20 companies are responsible for producing over 50% of the “throwaway” single-use plastic that ends up as waste worldwide.

]]> Thu, 20 May 2021 11:39:30 +0000 Ylva Rylander; Toby Gardner https://www.sei.org/features/20-companies-responsible-for-most-single-use-plastic-waste/ Feature Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport: lessons from Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam https://www.sei.org/publications/mainstreaming-gender-urban-public-transport-nairobi-kampala-dar-es-salaam/ Africa is the world’s fastest urbanizing continent, but the growth of its cities has not been matched by an expansion of adequate transport infrastructure, with significant implications for gender inequality. Using examples from three East African cities, this paper explores gender issues in public transport and how gender mainstreaming could help to build sustainable and inclusive urban centres. Africa is the world’s fastest urbanizing continent, but the growth of its cities has not been matched by an expansion of adequate transport infrastructure, with significant implications for gender inequality. Using examples from three East African cities, this paper explores gender issues in public transport and how gender mainstreaming could help to build sustainable and inclusive urban centres.

]]> Wed, 19 May 2021 07:35:17 +0000 Cassilde Muhoza; Anna Wikman; Rocio A. Diaz-Chavez https://www.sei.org/publications/mainstreaming-gender-urban-public-transport-nairobi-kampala-dar-es-salaam/ Publication How to leverage the power of digital participatory tools in urban planning https://www.sei.org/perspectives/digital-participatory-tools-for-urban-planning/ Stakeholder engagement is crucial in sustainable urban planning, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging, as traditional participatory methods can pose a health risk to those involved. This has raised questions over the extent to which digital tools and platforms can bridge the gap, and what else practitioners need to be aware of when planning urban green infrastructure. During the Nature of Cities Festival 2021, we set out to crowdsource the answers. Increasing use of digital tools... Stakeholder engagement is crucial in sustainable urban planning, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging, as traditional participatory methods can pose a health risk to those involved. This has raised questions over the extent to which digital tools and platforms can bridge the gap, and what else practitioners need to be aware of when planning urban green infrastructure. During the Nature of Cities Festival 2021, we set out to crowdsource the answers.

Increasing use of digital tools to support online participatory engagement was seen during the pandemic. Photo: Gabriel Benois / Unsplash.

]]> Fri, 21 May 2021 09:53:37 +0000 Heidi Tuhkanen https://www.sei.org/perspectives/digital-participatory-tools-for-urban-planning/ Perspective Large-scale collective action to avoid an Amazon tipping point: key actors and interventions https://www.sei.org/publications/large-scale-collective-action-amazon-tipping-point-actors-interventions/ This article examines the often overlooked behavioural and institutional drivers of change when it comes to tackling deforestation in the Amazon. Presenting the issue as a large-scale collective action problem, the authors investigate its drivers and suggest ways to address them. This article examines the often overlooked behavioural and institutional drivers of change when it comes to tackling deforestation in the Amazon. Presenting the issue as a large-scale collective action problem, the authors investigate its drivers and suggest ways to address them.

]]> Tue, 18 May 2021 12:05:06 +0000 Mairon G. Bastos Lima https://www.sei.org/publications/large-scale-collective-action-amazon-tipping-point-actors-interventions/ Publication The politics of bioeconomy and sustainability: lessons from biofuel governance, policies and production strategies in the emerging world https://www.sei.org/publications/politics-bioeconomy-sustainability-biofuel-governance-policies-production-strategies-emerging-world/ Using three case studies, this book examines the often overlooked political dimensions of bioeconomy promotion and explores how a fairer future for the biomass-based economy might be built. Using three case studies, this book examines the often overlooked political dimensions of bioeconomy promotion and explores how a fairer future for the biomass-based economy might be built.

]]> Tue, 18 May 2021 10:25:12 +0000 Mairon G. Bastos Lima https://www.sei.org/publications/politics-bioeconomy-sustainability-biofuel-governance-policies-production-strategies-emerging-world/ Publication Report identifies 20 companies responsible for over half of single-use plastic waste https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/20-companies-responsible-plastic-waste/ CNBC Correspondent Sam Meredith interviews SEI’s Toby Gardner on the results of The Plastic Waste Makers Index, published by The Minderoo Foundation with support from SEI researchers. CNBC Correspondent Sam Meredith interviews SEI’s Toby Gardner on the results of The Plastic Waste Makers Index, published by The Minderoo Foundation with support from SEI researchers.

]]> Thu, 20 May 2021 07:59:29 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/20-companies-responsible-plastic-waste/ Press The spatial politics of energy conflicts: How competing constructions of scale shape pipeline and shale gas struggles in Canada https://www.sei.org/publications/spatial-politics-energy-conflicts-scale-shape-pipeline-shale-gas-canada/ This paper compares the spatial politics of three contested fossil fuel projects in Canada to explore how actors construct space and scale for their own strategic purposes. This paper compares the spatial politics of three contested fossil fuel projects in Canada to explore how actors construct space and scale for their own strategic purposes.

]]> Mon, 17 May 2021 09:38:36 +0000 Rasmus Kløcker Larsen https://www.sei.org/publications/spatial-politics-energy-conflicts-scale-shape-pipeline-shale-gas-canada/ Publication For sustainable transformation, education must address how to live responsibly https://www.sei.org/features/education-for-sustainable-lifestyles/ In April 2020, as societies worldwide locked down in response to the spread of COVID-19, Google Trends reported a 4,500% increase in searches on how to live a sustainable lifestyle. One year into the pandemic the urgency and importance of living a healthy lifestyle within the planetary boundaries has only been amplified. In April 2020, as societies worldwide locked down in response to the spread of COVID-19, Google Trends reported a 4,500% increase in searches on how to live a sustainable lifestyle. One year into the pandemic the urgency and importance of living a healthy lifestyle within the planetary boundaries has only been amplified.

]]> Mon, 17 May 2021 05:15:43 +0000 Aina Virginia Bituin Eriksson https://www.sei.org/features/education-for-sustainable-lifestyles/ Feature Para una transformación sostenible, la educación debe abordar cómo vivir de forma responsable https://www.sei.org/features/educacion-estilo-vida-sostenible/ En abril de 2020, mientras las sociedades de todo el mundo se bloqueaban en respuesta a la propagación del Covid-19, Google Trends informó de un aumento del 4.500% en las búsquedas sobre cómo llevar un estilo de vida sostenible. Un año después de la pandemia, la urgencia y la importancia de llevar un estilo de vida saludable dentro de los límites del planeta no han hecho más que aumentar. En abril de 2020, mientras las sociedades de todo el mundo se bloqueaban en respuesta a la propagación del Covid-19, Google Trends informó de un aumento del 4.500% en las búsquedas sobre cómo llevar un estilo de vida sostenible. Un año después de la pandemia, la urgencia y la importancia de llevar un estilo de vida saludable dentro de los límites del planeta no han hecho más que aumentar.

]]> Mon, 14 Feb 2022 04:32:16 +0000 Aina Virginia Bituin Eriksson https://www.sei.org/features/educacion-estilo-vida-sostenible/ Feature Equity in climate scholarship: a manifesto for action https://www.sei.org/publications/equity-in-climate-scholarship-a-manifesto-for-action/ The editors of Climate and Development react to the “Hot List” of 1,000 influential scholars in climate change published by Reuters on 20 April 2021. The editors of Climate and Development react to the “Hot List” of 1,000 influential scholars in climate change published by Reuters on 20 April 2021.

]]> Fri, 14 May 2021 15:13:51 +0000 Jon Ensor; Zoha Shawoo https://www.sei.org/publications/equity-in-climate-scholarship-a-manifesto-for-action/ Publication