SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:53:50 +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 Competition and climate policy in the steel transition: comparing costs and subsidies in the US and the EU https://www.sei.org/publications/competition-and-climate-policy-in-the-steel-transition/ Extensive subsidies are provided for green steelmaking in the US and the EU.Subsidies significantly reduce the cost of green steelmaking.Subsidies can have a larger impact on green steelmaking costs than renewable energy.Green steelmaking subsidies are larger than labour cost differentials.Jurisdictions can both strengthen their own industries and speed up the transition. Extensive subsidies are provided for green steelmaking in the US and the EU.

Subsidies significantly reduce the cost of green steelmaking.

Subsidies can have a larger impact on green steelmaking costs than renewable energy.

Green steelmaking subsidies are larger than labour cost differentials.

Jurisdictions can both strengthen their own industries and speed up the transition.

]]> Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:44:27 +0000 Jonas Algers; Jindan Gong; Björn Nykvist; Max Åhman https://www.sei.org/publications/competition-and-climate-policy-in-the-steel-transition/ Publication Global Leadership Training Programme for Sustainable Development in Africa https://www.sei.org/projects/global-leadership-training-programme-for-sustainable-development-in-africa/ The GLTP course is designed for postgraduate students in international development and sustainability to deepen their understanding of the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in Africa. Participants will learn from leading scholars and practitioners from governments, academia, the private sector and civil society about innovative leadership, governance, public policy, development and sustainability in Africa. The GLTP course is designed for postgraduate students in international development and
sustainability to deepen their understanding of the challenges and opportunities for sustainable
development in Africa. Participants will learn from leading scholars and practitioners from
governments, academia, the private sector and civil society about innovative leadership,
governance, public policy, development and sustainability in Africa.

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:17:01 +0000 https://www.sei.org/projects/global-leadership-training-programme-for-sustainable-development-in-africa/ Project The economics of soil organic carbon: multi-benefits from sustainable land management for smallholders in Western Kenya https://www.sei.org/publications/economics-soil-organic-carbon-western-kenya/ This report provides clear evidence for the benefits of adopting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices in smallholder farming systems in Western Kenya. This report provides clear evidence for the benefits of adopting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices in smallholder farming systems in Western Kenya.

]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:25:43 +0000 Alphayo Lutta; Thomas Wehinger https://www.sei.org/publications/economics-soil-organic-carbon-western-kenya/ Publication Las narrativas sobre la producción de petróleo y gas en Colombia y Nigeria después del Acuerdo de París https://www.sei.org/publications/narrativas-produccion-petroleo-gas-colombia-nigeria/ Los casos de Colombia y Nigeria ilustran cómo los discursos sobre la producción de petróleo y gas, incluidos los roles que los gobiernos les asignan en términos de desarrollo, seguridad energética, influencia regional y las transiciones energéticas, contribuyen a afianzar la dependencia de actividades económicas con altas emisiones de carbono.Muchos de los argumentos y conceptos en los que se basan estos discursos son parciales, inexactos, están desfasados o se han simplificado en exceso.Las ... Los casos de Colombia y Nigeria ilustran cómo los discursos sobre la producción de petróleo y gas, incluidos los roles que los gobiernos les asignan en términos de desarrollo, seguridad energética, influencia regional y las transiciones energéticas, contribuyen a afianzar la dependencia de actividades económicas con altas emisiones de carbono.

Muchos de los argumentos y conceptos en los que se basan estos discursos son parciales, inexactos, están desfasados o se han simplificado en exceso.

Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil pueden rebatir estos discursos cuestionando las pruebas con que se sustentan, abogando por la transparencia en la producción de los combustibles fósiles y respaldando el desarrollo de narrativas sólidas, y fundamentadas en evidencias sobre un futuro próspero y equitativo más allá de los combustibles fósiles.

Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y los investigadores pueden abogar por políticas climáticas más ambiciosas en países con menor dependencia y mayor capacidad para abandonar la producción de combustibles fósiles.

]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:53:31 +0000 Claudia Strambo; Daria Ivleva; Elisa Arond https://www.sei.org/publications/narrativas-produccion-petroleo-gas-colombia-nigeria/ Publication Focus Iraq: SEI’s water tools and training enhance water resilience https://www.sei.org/features/iraqs-water-challenges/ Iraq faces severe water challenges due to climate change and regional issues from prolonged conflict. SEI trains Iraqi officials and researchers in water resource management to boost water resilience. A recent workshop in Amman, the capital of Jordan focused on tools like SEI WEAP and circularity and included field trips to Jordanian facilities to provide real-world context. The training supports ongoing work on Iraq’s Al-Adhaim watershed, aiming to improve water access. Iraq faces severe water challenges due to climate change and regional issues from prolonged conflict. SEI trains Iraqi officials and researchers in water resource management to boost water resilience. A recent workshop in Amman, the capital of Jordan focused on tools like SEI WEAP and circularity and included field trips to Jordanian facilities to provide real-world context. The training supports ongoing work on Iraq’s Al-Adhaim watershed, aiming to improve water access.

]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:44:28 +0000 Kim Andersson; Annette Huber-Lee; Jennifer Aghaji https://www.sei.org/features/iraqs-water-challenges/ Feature العراق في دائرة التركيز: أدوات معهد ستوكهولم للبيئة، والتدريب لتعزيز صمود الموارد المائية https://www.sei.org/features/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a%d8%b2-%d8%a3%d8%af%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88/ يواجه العراق تحديات مائية حادة نتيجة التغير المناخي والعوامل الإقليمية الناجمة عن الصراعات المستمرة. ويعمل معهد ستوكهولم للبيئة على تدريب المسؤولين والباحثين العراقيين في إدارة الموارد المائية لتعزيز قدرتهم على مواجهة هذه التحديات. وقد ركزت ورشة عمل حديثة في الأردن على تقديم أدوات مثل نموذج WEAP (تقييم وتخطيط الموارد المائية) التابع لمعهد ستوكهولم للبيئة ومفاهيم الاقتصاد الدائري، إلى جانب زيارات ميدانية لمنشآت مائية أردنية، مما أتاح للمشاركين فهماً عملياً لتطبيقات هذه الأدوات. يواجه العراق تحديات مائية حادة نتيجة التغير المناخي والعوامل الإقليمية الناجمة عن الصراعات المستمرة. ويعمل معهد ستوكهولم للبيئة على تدريب المسؤولين والباحثين العراقيين في إدارة الموارد المائية لتعزيز قدرتهم على مواجهة هذه التحديات. وقد ركزت ورشة عمل حديثة في الأردن على تقديم أدوات مثل نموذج WEAP (تقييم وتخطيط الموارد المائية) التابع لمعهد ستوكهولم للبيئة ومفاهيم الاقتصاد الدائري، إلى جانب زيارات ميدانية لمنشآت مائية أردنية، مما أتاح للمشاركين فهماً عملياً لتطبيقات هذه الأدوات.

]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:32:05 +0000 Kim Andersson; Annette Huber-Lee; Jennifer Aghaji https://www.sei.org/features/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a%d8%b2-%d8%a3%d8%af%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88/ Feature What happened to the driver? Implications of electrification, digitalization, and automation on truck and taxi drivers https://www.sei.org/publications/what-happened-to-the-driver/ Drivers perceive positive and negative impacts of electrification, digitalization and automation on their working life quality.Challenges for drivers can vary by age, gender and operating geography.Institutional and societal shifts can shape positive or negative impacts on drivers.Drivers' perceptions raise distributional, procedural and recognition concerns.Policy should include drivers' views to improve quality of working life and dignity. Drivers perceive positive and negative impacts of electrification, digitalization and automation on their working life quality.

Challenges for drivers can vary by age, gender and operating geography.

Institutional and societal shifts can shape positive or negative impacts on drivers.

Drivers' perceptions raise distributional, procedural and recognition concerns.

Policy should include drivers' views to improve quality of working life and dignity.

]]> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:34:29 +0000 Jindan Gong; Maria Xylia; Claudia Strambo; Björn Nykvist; Sirin Celik https://www.sei.org/publications/what-happened-to-the-driver/ Publication Gore capitalism and necropolitics in Brazil’s malgovernance of the COVID-19 pandemic https://www.sei.org/publications/brazils-malgovernance-covid-19/ In this article, the authors analyze Brazil’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic through a critical analytical lens, utilizing the concepts of necropolitics and gore capitalism to identify its underlying social and politico-economic approach, which they argue are more persistent problems than the pandemic itself. In this article, the authors analyze Brazil’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic through a critical analytical lens, utilizing the concepts of necropolitics and gore capitalism to identify its underlying social and politico-economic approach, which they argue are more persistent problems than the pandemic itself. 

]]> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:42:39 +0000 Mairon G. Bastos Lima; Katerina Hatzikidi; Karen da Costa https://www.sei.org/publications/brazils-malgovernance-covid-19/ Publication Strategic vision for Ukraine’s green transition: paving the path through collaboration with Sweden https://www.sei.org/features/strategic-vision-for-ukraines-green-transition/ Ukraine’s Green Transition Office (GTO) visited Stockholm for discussions with SEI’s Green Agenda project team and the Swedish Climate Policy Council. The talks focused on aligning Ukraine’s green transition strategies with its recovery and EU accession goals. Plans were made for a high-level Ukrainian delegation to explore Sweden’s support for implementing Ukraine’s National Energy and Climate Plan, highlighting a shared commitment to sustainable development and European integration. Ukraine’s Green Transition Office (GTO) visited Stockholm for discussions with SEI’s Green Agenda project team and the Swedish Climate Policy Council. The talks focused on aligning Ukraine’s green transition strategies with its recovery and EU accession goals. Plans were made for a high-level Ukrainian delegation to explore Sweden’s support for implementing Ukraine’s National Energy and Climate Plan, highlighting a shared commitment to sustainable development and European integration.

]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:03:24 +0000 Ilona Kazaryan https://www.sei.org/features/strategic-vision-for-ukraines-green-transition/ Feature Modelling long-term greenhouse gas mitigation pathways for Mongolia https://www.sei.org/publications/greenhouse-gas-mitigation-mongolia/ This paper is the first assessment of extending medium-term greenhouse gas mitigation assessments to long-term emission pathways for Mongolia. The authors aim to quantify the gap between possible future (2050) greenhouse gas emissions achievable from implementation of realistic policies and measures, and achieving full decarbonization. This paper is the first assessment of extending medium-term greenhouse gas mitigation assessments to long-term emission pathways for Mongolia. The authors aim to quantify the gap between possible future (2050) greenhouse gas emissions achievable from implementation of realistic policies and measures, and achieving full decarbonization. 

]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:15:53 +0000 Chris Malley https://www.sei.org/publications/greenhouse-gas-mitigation-mongolia/ Publication Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland https://www.sei.org/publications/unlocking-better-future-framework-scotland/ The research project reported here was commissioned by the Scottish Government to guide the development of a pathway toward one of the key goals of Scotland’s Environment Strategy: driving the societal changes required for Scotland to fulfil its role in addressing the climate and nature crises and achieve a “net-zero, nature-positive society”. The research project reported here was commissioned by the Scottish Government to guide the development of a pathway toward one of the key goals of Scotland’s Environment Strategy: driving the societal changes required for Scotland to fulfil its role in addressing the climate and nature crises and achieve a “net-zero, nature-positive society”.

]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:04:39 +0000 Fiona Lambe; Nina Weitz; Annika Hilgert; Eric Kemp-Benedict; Henrik Carlsen https://www.sei.org/publications/unlocking-better-future-framework-scotland/ Publication Lost in the unending glow: the hidden costs of a city that never sleeps https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/ Bangkok’s light pollution has unseen impacts on health, ecosystems, and sustainability. With skyglow levels among the highest in the region, Bangkok’s artificial illumination is disrupting ecosystems, affecting human health, and increasing energy consumption. Despite its significance, light pollution remains largely unregulated in Thailand. Bangkok’s light pollution has unseen impacts on health, ecosystems, and sustainability. With skyglow levels among the highest in the region, Bangkok’s artificial illumination is disrupting ecosystems, affecting human health, and increasing energy consumption. Despite its significance, light pollution remains largely unregulated in Thailand.

]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:37:10 +0000 Bibek Gautam; Rajesh Daniel https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/ Perspective LIFE at the edges of extinction https://www.sei.org/features/life-extinction-risk-metric/ A new metric reveals striking variations in global extinction risk: converting just 1 km2 of forest to arable land can have vastly different impacts on extinction risk depending on the location. For example, in South America, the effect may be significantly greater than in Europe. Published in Philosophical Transactions B, the Land-cover change Impacts on Future Extinctions metric, or LIFE metric, offers important applications for business, research and policy alike. A new metric reveals striking variations in global extinction risk: converting just 1 km2 of forest to arable land can have vastly different impacts on extinction risk depending on the location. For example, in South America, the effect may be significantly greater than in Europe. Published in Philosophical Transactions B, the Land-cover change Impacts on Future Extinctions metric, or LIFE metric, offers important applications for business, research and policy alike.

]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:18:26 +0000 Anjali Vyas-Brannick https://www.sei.org/features/life-extinction-risk-metric/ Feature Mistra Geopolitics Conference on Geopolitics of Sustainability https://www.sei.org/events/mistra-geo-conference/ On 4 February, the Mistra Geopolitics research programme will host distinguished thought leaders and academics in Stockholm to explore strategies for addressing urgent sustainability challenges in the context of rising geopolitical insecurity. The conference will focus on how we can collectively navigate towards a more secure and sustainable future. On 4 February, the Mistra Geopolitics research programme will host distinguished thought leaders and academics in Stockholm to explore strategies for addressing urgent sustainability challenges in the context of rising geopolitical insecurity. The conference will focus on how we can collectively navigate towards a more secure and sustainable future.

]]> Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:31:31 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/mistra-geo-conference/ Event Launch of the UK Maximising Adaptation to Climate Change Hub https://www.sei.org/events/launch-of-the-uk-maximising-adaptation-to-climate-change-hub/ The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub has launched! It is a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the urgent need for transformative climate adaptation across the UK. The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub has launched! It is a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the urgent need for transformative climate adaptation across the UK.

]]> Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:33:05 +0000 https://www.sei.org/events/launch-of-the-uk-maximising-adaptation-to-climate-change-hub/ Event The prospects of controlling open burning of crop residues in Thailand: a quantitative assessment of implementation barriers and costs https://www.sei.org/publications/open-burning-crop-thailand/ The authors of this paper quantified the impact of understudied barriers, revealing that implementation delays result in nearly double the level of PM2.5 emissions over a 10- to 20-year period relative to a scenario where policies are implemented effectively. The authors of this paper quantified the impact of understudied barriers, revealing that implementation delays result in nearly double the level of PM2.5 emissions over a 10- to 20-year period relative to a scenario where policies are implemented effectively.

]]> Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:00:26 +0000 Chris Malley https://www.sei.org/publications/open-burning-crop-thailand/ Publication Climate change, migration and justice: SEI’s research and pathways for overcoming challenges https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-migration-justice-pathways/ Climate change is reshaping global migration and mobility patterns, intensifying risks and deepening existing inequalities. While migration increasingly shapes global political landscapes, most policy oversimplifies the complexity of migration and mobility decisions. SEI’s research expertise and methodological strengths can contribute to identifying critical challenges surrounding climate-related mobility and advancing just, equitable and sustainable solutions. Climate change is reshaping global migration and mobility patterns, intensifying risks and deepening existing inequalities. While migration increasingly shapes global political landscapes, most policy oversimplifies the complexity of migration and mobility decisions. SEI’s research expertise and methodological strengths can contribute to identifying critical challenges surrounding climate-related mobility and advancing just, equitable and sustainable solutions.

]]> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:38:21 +0000 Sara Vigil; Clare Steiner; Dayoon Kim; Alphayo Lutta; Mario Cárdenas; Janne Parviainen; Raphaëlle Beaussart https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-migration-justice-pathways/ Publication What’s “holding back change”? Opportunities and challenges for the ‘participation’ and ‘inclusion’ of people with diverse SOGIESC in disaster risk reduction https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/ Using the inclusion of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity/expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) in DRR and humanitarian policy and action as a case in point, this paper intends to explore some of the opportunities and challenges for participatory projects to generate more sustainable and inclusive DRR practices. Using the inclusion of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity/expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) in DRR and humanitarian policy and action as a case in point, this paper intends to explore some of the opportunities and challenges for participatory projects to generate more sustainable and inclusive DRR practices.

]]> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 07:33:27 +0000 Albert Salamanca https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/ Publication Particulate matter pollution in central Bangkok: assessing outdoor workers’ perceptions and exposure https://www.sei.org/publications/particulate-matter-pollution-bangkok/ This study aims to explore how local residents and outdoor workers in central Bangkok experience air pollution in their daily life. This study aims to explore how local residents and outdoor workers in central Bangkok experience air pollution in their daily life.

]]> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 07:32:41 +0000 Diane Archer https://www.sei.org/publications/particulate-matter-pollution-bangkok/ Publication CHILI https://www.sei.org/projects/chili-hub/ Schools and nurseries make up 15% of carbon emissions from UK public buildings. To reach net zero, this needs to be reduced, through retrofit options and better insulation. However, such measures could have unintended effects on indoor air quality. Through CHILI, led by University College London, we will monitor how adapting school buildings for energy efficiency changes the indoor environment, model likely impacts on children’s health and education, and evaluate potential mitigations. Schools and nurseries make up 15% of carbon emissions from UK public buildings. To reach net zero, this needs to be reduced, through retrofit options and better insulation. However, such measures could have unintended effects on indoor air quality. Through CHILI, led by University College London, we will monitor how adapting school buildings for energy efficiency changes the indoor environment, model likely impacts on children’s health and education, and evaluate potential mitigations. 

]]> Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:25:11 +0000 https://www.sei.org/projects/chili-hub/ Project