SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:27:28 +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 What the One Big Beautiful Bill reveals about the fragility of American governance https://www.sei.org/perspectives/one-big-beautiful-bill/ On July 4, US President Donald Trump passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that addresses most of the current administration’s legislative priorities in healthcare, taxation, energy incentives, and social benefits. Sara K. Phillips, SEI US scientist and a licensed attorney, weighs in on the implications of this piece of legislation and what it means for the future of climate policy in the US. On July 4, US President Donald Trump passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that addresses most of the current administration’s legislative priorities in healthcare, taxation, energy incentives, and social benefits. Sara K. Phillips, SEI US scientist and a licensed attorney, weighs in on the implications of this piece of legislation and what it means for the future of climate policy in the US.

]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:00:36 +0000 Sara K. Phillips https://www.sei.org/perspectives/one-big-beautiful-bill/ Perspective Q&A with SEI’s William Babis: the promise and peril of AI https://www.sei.org/features/artificial-intelligence-and-supply-chains/ On 4 June, the National Academy of Sciences hosted the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability workshop, where SEI Scientist William Babis presented on the impact of AI on supply chains. Here, he discusses the potential environmental benefits and risks of AI. On 4 June, the National Academy of Sciences hosted the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability workshop, where SEI Scientist William Babis presented on the impact of AI on supply chains. Here, he discusses the potential environmental benefits and risks of AI.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:40 +0000 William Babis https://www.sei.org/features/artificial-intelligence-and-supply-chains/ Feature Choudhury in The National Interest: “Energy justice requires policy, technology, community, and financial integration” https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/energy-justice-requires-policy-integration-choudhury/ In her op-ed for The National Interest, Ananya Choudhury emphasizes that addressing energy poverty requires a comprehensive approach that combines policy initiatives, technological advancements, community involvement, and financial solutions. In her op-ed for The National Interest, Ananya Choudhury emphasizes that addressing energy poverty requires a comprehensive approach that combines policy initiatives, technological advancements, community involvement, and financial solutions. 

]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:20:37 +0000 Ananya Choudhury https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/energy-justice-requires-policy-integration-choudhury/ Press Shifting the aquaculture regime toward gender equity? Case studies of women’s entrepreneurial niche innovations in Bangladesh https://www.sei.org/publications/shifting-aquaculture-gender-equity-bangladesh/ Efforts to promote women’s participation, benefits, and empowerment in aquaculture entrepreneurship face persistent challenges rooted in patriarchal norms, policy frameworks, and local contexts. This article investigates how women’s entrepreneurship, supported by targeted programs, can help address these entrenched barriers. Efforts to promote women’s participation, benefits, and empowerment in aquaculture entrepreneurship face persistent challenges rooted in patriarchal norms, policy frameworks, and local contexts. This article investigates how women’s entrepreneurship, supported by targeted programs, can help address these entrenched barriers.

]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:00:44 +0000 Cynthia McDougall https://www.sei.org/publications/shifting-aquaculture-gender-equity-bangladesh/ Publication Achieving Indonesia’s vision to expand and enhance active mobility in its cities https://www.sei.org/publications/expanding-active-mobility-in-indonesian-cities/ By investing in needed infrastructure and adopting key policies, Indonesia can achieve its goal of increasing the use of non-motorized transport in urban areas to help tackle key challenges: road congestion, air pollution, and health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles.A case study of Medan, Indonesia’s fourth-largest city, reveals the key barriers that urban areas must address for Indonesia to achieve the goals set out in its National Vision of Non-Motorized Transport Infrastructure,... By investing in needed infrastructure and adopting key policies, Indonesia can achieve its goal of increasing the use of non-motorized transport in urban areas to help tackle key challenges: road congestion, air pollution, and health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles.

A case study of Medan, Indonesia’s fourth-largest city, reveals the key barriers that urban areas must address for Indonesia to achieve the goals set out in its National Vision of Non-Motorized Transport Infrastructure, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable urban mobility.

Infrastructure for active travel in Medan is inadequate, particularly for people with disabilities. Pedestrian and cycling networks are fragmented, and connections to essential locations such as schools and public spaces are poor.

Efforts to boost non-motorized transport have been hampered by infrastructure issues, inefficient budgeting, safety concerns, weak enforcement of related regulations, and low levels of public awareness about the benefits of active travel.

To achieve long-term goals to increase non-motorized transport, Indonesia must adopt a coordinated approach to upgrade infrastructure, enforce related policies and regulations, and provide financial incentives.

]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:22:52 +0000 Jana Busch; Kate O'Reilly; Gary Haq https://www.sei.org/publications/expanding-active-mobility-in-indonesian-cities/ Publication Finding the cracks: How do frontline officials maneuver state institutions to advance Indigenous rights to land and environment? https://www.sei.org/publications/finding-the-cracks/ Government organizations maintain a broadly colonial agenda.State officials sometimes manage to advance decolonizing actions.Institutional braiding is agency that enables co-existence of normative orders. Government organizations maintain a broadly colonial agenda.

State officials sometimes manage to advance decolonizing actions.

Institutional braiding is agency that enables co-existence of normative orders.

]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:22:07 +0000 Rasmus Kløcker Larsen; Mikkel Funder; Cortney Golkar-Dakin; Maria-Therese Gustafsson; Carol Hunsberger; Martin Marani; Almut Schilling-Vacaflor https://www.sei.org/publications/finding-the-cracks/ Publication Citizen Science in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums: SEI at the Digital Humanities Conference https://www.sei.org/events/dh2025/ As citizen science is increasingly used in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAMs) sector, it’s important to understand why it is being used and how to ensure projects are inclusive. Sarah Laptain has explored the use of citizen science in archive digitization, focusing on opportunities for inclusive project design. Watch a recording of Sarah presenting her findings at the Digital Humanities Conference 2025 in Lisbon in July. As citizen science is increasingly used in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAMs) sector, it’s important to understand why it is being used and how to ensure projects are inclusive. Sarah Laptain has explored the use of citizen science in archive digitization, focusing on opportunities for inclusive project design. Watch a recording of Sarah presenting her findings at the Digital Humanities Conference 2025 in Lisbon in July.

]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:12:02 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/dh2025/ Event Comparative Environmental Law https://www.sei.org/publications/comparative-environmental-law/ SEI US Scientist Sara K. Phillips contributed to Comparative Environmental Law, which is a part of the Research Handbooks in Comparative Law series from Edward Elgar publishing. SEI US Scientist Sara K. Phillips contributed to Comparative Environmental Law, which is a part of the Research Handbooks in Comparative Law series from Edward Elgar publishing.

]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:00:42 +0000 Sara K. Phillips https://www.sei.org/publications/comparative-environmental-law/ Publication Attributing deforestation-driven biodiversity decline in the Gran Chaco to agricultural commodity supply chains https://www.sei.org/publications/biodiversity-decline-gran-chaco/ Pasture expansion had a greater biodiversity impact than cropland expansion.Biodiversity decline from consumption depended on location and quantity of volumes.Domestic consumption risked driving greater biodiversity decline.Differing results based on facet of biodiversity considered. Pasture expansion had a greater biodiversity impact than cropland expansion.

Biodiversity decline from consumption depended on location and quantity of volumes.

Domestic consumption risked driving greater biodiversity decline.

Differing results based on facet of biodiversity considered.

]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:07:38 +0000 Michael Lathuillière; Vivian Ribeiro https://www.sei.org/publications/biodiversity-decline-gran-chaco/ Publication Viability over volume: from mobilizing capital to making projects bankable https://www.sei.org/perspectives/viability-over-volume-from-mobilizing-capital-to-making-projects-bankable/ On the heels of the recent international conference on financing for development conference in Seville, SEI’s Maximilian Bruder and Carly Evaeus see a possible blueprint for mobilizing sustainable finance at scale in the face of challenging times. On the heels of the recent international conference on financing for development conference in Seville, SEI’s Maximilian Bruder and Carly Evaeus see a possible blueprint for mobilizing sustainable finance at scale in the face of challenging times.

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 20:44:50 +0000 Maximilian Bruder; Carly Evaeus https://www.sei.org/perspectives/viability-over-volume-from-mobilizing-capital-to-making-projects-bankable/ Perspective SEI to support micro and small bioeconomy enterprises in Kenya through Kenya-Sweden collaboration https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/bioeconomy-enterprises-in-kenya/ Stockholm Environment Institute’s Africa centre (SEI-Africa), in collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), has embarked on a process of identifying small and micro enterprises in Kenya’s bioeconomy sector to participate in the advancing bio economy development in Kenya (ABDK) project. Stockholm Environment Institute’s Africa centre (SEI-Africa), in collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), has embarked on a process of identifying small and micro enterprises in Kenya’s bioeconomy sector to participate in the advancing bio economy development in Kenya (ABDK) project.

]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:42:41 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/bioeconomy-enterprises-in-kenya/ Press La restauración de corales como clave para futuros resilientes en el gran Caribe https://www.sei.org/features/la-restauracion-de-corales-como-clave-para-futuros-resilientes-en-el-gran-caribe/ ¿Cómo puede la restauración de ecosistemas mejorar la resiliencia climática y los medios de vida de las comunidades locales? La investigación del SEI sobre este tema está atrayendo mayor atención de responsables políticos en distintos países que desean aprender de pruebas prácticas de diversos enfoques. Una delegación de parlamentarios suecos visitó recientemente Varadero, Colombia, donde el proyecto ha establecido un nuevo laboratorio vivo centrado en la restauración de arrecifes de coral. ¿Cómo puede la restauración de ecosistemas mejorar la resiliencia climática y los medios de vida de las comunidades locales? La investigación del SEI sobre este tema está atrayendo mayor atención de responsables políticos en distintos países que desean aprender de pruebas prácticas de diversos enfoques. Una delegación de parlamentarios suecos visitó recientemente Varadero, Colombia, donde el proyecto ha establecido un nuevo laboratorio vivo centrado en la restauración de arrecifes de coral. 

]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 03:18:50 +0000 Lucia Victoria Licero Villanueva https://www.sei.org/features/la-restauracion-de-corales-como-clave-para-futuros-resilientes-en-el-gran-caribe/ Feature Coral restoration key to resilient futures in the Greater Caribbean https://www.sei.org/features/coral-restoration-resilient-futures-greater-caribbean/ How can ecosystem restoration strengthen climate resilience and local livelihoods? SEI’s research on this issue is gaining attention from policymakers across different countries who want to learn from practical tests of diverse approaches. A delegation of Swedish parliamentarians recently visited Varadero, Colombia, where the Resilient Coasts project has established a new “living lab” focused on coral reef restoration. How can ecosystem restoration strengthen climate resilience and local livelihoods? SEI’s research on this issue is gaining attention from policymakers across different countries who want to learn from practical tests of diverse approaches. A delegation of Swedish parliamentarians recently visited Varadero, Colombia, where the Resilient Coasts project has established a new “living lab” focused on coral reef restoration.

]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:49:34 +0000 Lucia Victoria Licero Villanueva https://www.sei.org/features/coral-restoration-resilient-futures-greater-caribbean/ Feature Integrated guide for business greenhouse gas and air pollutant emission assessment https://www.sei.org/publications/integrated-guide-for-business-greenhouse-gas-and-air-pollutant-emission-assessment/ The Integrated Guide for Business Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emission Assessment, or Guide 2.0, updates the 2022 Practical Guide. Developed in collaboration with the SEI at the University of York, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Clean Air Fund, and other partners, this initiative helps businesses quantify greenhouse gases, short-lived climate pollutants, and heavy metals across their value chains. The Integrated Guide for Business Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emission Assessment, or Guide 2.0, updates the 2022 Practical Guide. Developed in collaboration with the SEI at the University of York, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Clean Air Fund, and other partners, this initiative helps businesses quantify greenhouse gases, short-lived climate pollutants, and heavy metals across their value chains.

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:59:55 +0000 Eleni Michalopoulou; Ananya Choudhury; Gaurav Tomar; Chris Malley; Johan C. I. Kuylenstierna https://www.sei.org/publications/integrated-guide-for-business-greenhouse-gas-and-air-pollutant-emission-assessment/ Publication Assessing the affordance, equity and wellbeing implications of mobility provision, governance and operation in East African cities https://www.sei.org/publications/equity-wellbeing-mobility-east-africa/ Research on mobility options must take a holistic, intersectional approach to understand how the quality of urban environments impacts urban residents’ wellbeing. In this paper, the authors examine infrastructure provision in two Kenyan cities, focusing on socio-economic equity. They compare the specific mobility and wellbeing experiences of vulnerable road users, those who are typically excluded from transport planning processes. Research on mobility options must take a holistic, intersectional approach to understand how the quality of urban environments impacts urban residents’ wellbeing. In this paper, the authors examine infrastructure provision in two Kenyan cities, focusing on socio-economic equity. They compare the specific mobility and wellbeing experiences of vulnerable road users, those who are typically excluded from transport planning processes.

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:11:38 +0000 Steve Cinderby; Rachel Pateman; Romanus Opiyo; Howard Cambridge; Cassilde Muhoza https://www.sei.org/publications/equity-wellbeing-mobility-east-africa/ Publication Tracking pollution for urban health: How integrating air quality and early warning systems can benefit cities in Africa https://www.sei.org/features/tracking-pollution-for-urban-health-how-integrating-air-quality-and-early-warning-systems-can-benefit-cities-in-africa/ The integration of early warning systems with air quality management is becoming increasingly crucial in addressing the growing challenge of air pollution, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like Africa. This was the key takeaway during a science policy dialogue on air pollution and early warning for Africa at the regional consultative meeting of UNEP major stakeholder groups in Africa. The integration of early warning systems with air quality management is becoming increasingly crucial in addressing the growing challenge of air pollution, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like Africa. This was the key takeaway during a science policy dialogue on air pollution and early warning for Africa at the regional consultative meeting of UNEP major stakeholder groups in Africa. 

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:54:47 +0000 Pauline Macharia https://www.sei.org/features/tracking-pollution-for-urban-health-how-integrating-air-quality-and-early-warning-systems-can-benefit-cities-in-africa/ Feature Science Day 2025: Unlocking tomorrow’s solutions, today https://www.sei.org/events/science-day-2025-unlocking-tomorrows-solutions-today/ Science Day 2025 offers an independent space for decision-makers, scientists, and stakeholders to reflect on science’s role in advancing the SDGs and envisaging the future of sustainable development. As a stocktaking and forward-looking moment, it will showcase solutions, foster dialogue, and spark ideas to drive transformative, evidence-informed change. Science Day 2025 offers an independent space for decision-makers, scientists, and stakeholders to reflect on science’s role in advancing the SDGs and envisaging the future of sustainable development. As a stocktaking and forward-looking moment, it will showcase solutions, foster dialogue, and spark ideas to drive transformative, evidence-informed change.

]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 02:14:12 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/science-day-2025-unlocking-tomorrows-solutions-today/ Event Assessing the importance of gender transformative WASH: evidence from a gender-mainstreamed WASH programme in Bangladesh https://www.sei.org/publications/importance-of-gender-transformative-wash/ This study explores how gender-transformative Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions can contribute to women’s empowerment and broader social change, using evidence from a WASH programme in Bangladesh. This study explores how gender-transformative Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions can contribute to women’s empowerment and broader social change, using evidence from a WASH programme in Bangladesh.

]]> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:05:54 +0000 Sarah Dickin; Sabiha Siddique; Carla Liera; Gin Dupont; Elijah Bisungd https://www.sei.org/publications/importance-of-gender-transformative-wash/ Publication Global wood fuel production estimates and implications https://www.sei.org/publications/wood-fuel-production-estimates-implications/ Data on wood fuel and charcoal production are important for policymaking and understanding the trends of the forest industry. However, data reported by individual countries and territories may vary in quality. This article details a model for producing estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production, updating previous estimates and bringing new clarity to the scope of wood harvesting for energy production. Data on wood fuel and charcoal production are important for policymaking and understanding the trends of the forest industry. However, data reported by individual countries and territories may vary in quality. This article details a model for producing estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production, updating previous estimates and bringing new clarity to the scope of wood harvesting for energy production.

]]> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:05:38 +0000 Rob Bailis https://www.sei.org/publications/wood-fuel-production-estimates-implications/ Publication SEI signs memorandum of understanding to support air quality monitoring in Togo https://www.sei.org/features/sei-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-to-support-air-quality-monitoring-in-togo/ Stockholm Environment Institute’s Africa centre (SEI Africa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalizes its collaboration with the government of Togo in air quality monitoring. Stockholm Environment Institute’s Africa centre (SEI Africa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalizes its collaboration with the government of Togo in air quality monitoring.   

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:04:06 +0000 Pauline Macharia https://www.sei.org/features/sei-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-to-support-air-quality-monitoring-in-togo/ Feature