Advancing Sustainable Solutions
Welcome to the podcast 'Advancing Sustainable Solutions', produced by the IIIEE at Lund University. The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) is an interdisciplinary research and education institute located in Lund, Sweden with activities focusing on the transition to low-carbon and resource efficient economies. In this podcast, we will share ongoing research and activities through engaging conversation that is relatable and applicable to our daily lives. In essence, we wish to support listeners in their journey towards sustainability. Look for a new episode at the end of each month!
Episodes
E6: Dispelling myths about sustainable consumption
Which myths persist about sustainable consumption, where do they come from, and how can they be dispelled? These questions are explored in this latest podcast episode with researchers in the Mistra-funded project Sustainable Consumption – from Niche to Mainstream: Oksana Mont, Matthias Lehner, Josefine Henman, Jessika Richter, Marianne Ekdahl, and Mikael Klintman. Together with the host,
E5: Women in Power
Why are women still underrepresented in Sweden’s energy sector, despite the country leading the EU in gender equality? This episode hosted by Philipp Montenegro explores Women in Power, a research project led by Daniela Lazoroska with Jenny Palm and Anna-Riikka Kojonsaari from the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University’s. The project, running fro
E4: Voices from SCORAI- part 2: Interview with keynote speaker Manisha Anantharaman
In this episode of Advancing Sustainable Solutions which is part 2 on the SCORAI (Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative) conference, hosts Ella Alfredsson Jofs and Lilly Diamant had the wonderful opportunity to interview keynote speaker Manisha Anantharaman. We discuss Manisha’s research on sustainable consumption, her book “Recycling Class: The contradictions of inclusio
E3: Voices from SCORAI - part 1: Behind the scenes with Matthias Lehner
In this episode, hosts Ella Alfredsson Jofs and Lilly Diamant discuss the SCORAI (Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative) conference which took place in Lund earlier this year. Join us as we discuss the behind the scenes of the conference with our colleague Matthias Lehner, Senior lecturer at the IIIEE and Conference Chair. We talk about what goes into planning a conferenc
E2: JustHeat: Researching the Swedish heating transition with Jenny von Platten
In this episode host Philipp Montenegro talks with Jenny von Platten about her research as part of JustHeat research project exploring the social and cultural history of heating in Sweden. She also highlights her non-traditional qualitative research approach including art and her hopes for more transdisciplinary perspectives in research.Feel free to connect with Jenny on LinkedIn or to f
E1: Policies and Tools for Mainstreaming 1.5° Lifestyles
What is a more sustainable lifestyle, and what are strategies and motivations for living within the 1.5-degree target? In this episode, we explore barriers to making this switch and discuss policies that could increase acceptance. The EU 1.5 Lifestyles project, featuring researchers from the IIIEE, addresses these critical questions. Join us as we hear from Andrius Plepys, Anna Elfström,
Intro to Season 5
We are happy to announce a new team of podcasters at the IIIEE. Andrea, Ella, Lilly and Philipp are hosting Season 5 of Advancing Sustainable Solutions. In this short intro episode we introduce ourselves and discuss our upcoming episodes and topics and plan for the year.
Sustainable Business Model Design – Patterns to Make Sustainability Work
Businesses are an essential driver for sustainability, yet managers struggle to make decisions about their business model that actually improve their sustainability performance. In this episode, we meet Florian Lüdeke-Freund, Henning Breuer, and Lorenzo Massa, authors of the new book called ‘Sustainable Business Model Design’. They introduce the concept of sustainable business model patte
It’s not just a concept: a holistic approach to implement nature-based solutions
There is a clear and urgent need to accelerate the implementation of sustainability solutions. We must move beyond simple conceptual understanding of solutions, instead experimenting with collaborators in contexts in order to improve effectiveness, share learnings with others, and avoid future mistakes that waste time.
In this episode, we discuss nature-based solutions as a holistic app
Goals, targets, and indicators – Applying the Sustainable Development Goals in cities
Today, more than half of the world’s population live in cities, and by mid-century it is predicted that more than two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This sees cities at the forefront of sustainability, needing to meet social needs within our ecological boundaries. An overarching guiding roadmap to consider sustainability is the United Nations’ Sustainable Devel
Exploring the role of AI in sustainability
Artificial intelligence - AI - is being applied throughout society to a wide array of sustainability-related challenges, where it can help to effectivize and optimize systems to save both energy and resources. AI can also be used to analyse enormous amounts of data, faster than any human ever could. However, AI is very energy demanding, and comes with ethical concerns as it may require s
Renewable Energy Adoption: Is current growth enough to meet future climate targets?
Every year, the world adds more renewable energy production capacity than the year before. But, looking historically, is this growth enough to achieve our climate targets? According to a recent publication in ‘Nature Energy’, the short answer is “no” – to meet the climate goals requires decades of growth in renewables at rates higher than those observed historically in most countries. In
Degrowth: Challenging infinite growth in a finite world
Degrowth is a critique of infinite economic growth, recognising continued consumption of scarce resources will inevitably result in exhausting them completely. In this episode, we present the challenges of living within an economic system governed by infinite growth on a planet with finite resources. We discuss key vocabulary to understand degrowth, and its three goals: 1) reduce environm
Coping with Climate Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural emotional response to stress, fear, or danger. Then, it is no wonder why some are experiencing anxiety in the face of the climate crisis. Although not a clinical diagnosis, climate anxiety – and related terms like eco-anxiety, ecological grief, and solastalgia – describes the distress, grief, or anger caused by environmental destruction occurring now, or presumed to o
Sharing Economy Business Models for Sustainability
The sharing economy is not sustainable by default – search for images of bikesharing graveyards. But, with careful design of the business models that facilitate access over ownership, the sharing economy can increase intensity of use and material efficiency, contributing to sustainable consumption. In this episode, co-host Steven Curtis shares with us his research on sharing economy busin
Evaluating for a Sustainability Transition
All kinds of public policies are being proposed to address our climate and sustainability challenges, for example, emission standards, substance bans, aviation taxes, energy efficiency labels, and even communication campaigns. However, global carbon dioxide emissions keep going up! Are these policies working? Under what circumstance? And, at what cost to other systems in society? To answe
The "Brainy" Bunch: The journey of a PhD student
What happens when you take a bunch of people from different cultural and geographical backgrounds, ask them to integrate under one discipline or department, and share a profound and life-changing experience? In this episode, we unpack some of these stories as we look at the journey of a PhD Student at Lund University. We interview our colleagues Emma Johnson, who is at the start of her Ph
Sustainable Finance: Investing in Our Future
Sustainable finance, non-financial disclosures, ESG, oh my! The world of sustainable finance may seem dark and scary. But, in this episode, we introduce many key concepts through dialogue as well as discuss how sustainable finance contributes to wider sustainability objectives. The finance sector is playing an ever growing role in supporting the transition to a Paris-aligned world by inco
Storytelling for Sustainability
If we want to imagine a more sustainable future, we need to be emotionally connected with that vision. Providing the latest facts and figures alone won’t do the trick. We suggest storytelling can be a great way to convey these facts in a compelling way to envision and connect with a possible future. Stories are an effective narrative device, because they activate areas of the brain respon
Energy Communities: a transition towards a more just energy system?
We use energy in almost every aspect of our lives. Yet, often, we do not know the source of electricity that powers our homes or heats our food. In this episode, we explore energy communities as a form of decentralised and democratic energy production. Community energy sees people coming together to take control of their energy needs, by finding alternative ways to organise and govern the
Missions - A Small Step, Or A Giant Leap?
Missions are being discussed widely within the European Union and beyond as a tool to steer policy, innovation, and research. Similar to other missions – to the moon, to cure cancer, and to eradicate smallpox – the missions-oriented approach seeks to set bold and radical goals to tackle our pressing environmental and social challenges. In this episode, we discuss the missions-oriented app
Tips and Tools for Teleworking
Working from home? We have you covered with several tips and tools for teleworking and virtual meetings. Building on decades worth of research and experience in teleworking for sustainability, we share with you some suggestions to make the sudden transition working from home easier. We discuss with Peter Arnfalk and Charlotte Leire their experience advising organisations and individuals o
Research for Agenda 2030: Values of Our Economic System
Our economic systems are shaken as a result of COVID-19 and the global impact the virus will have on individuals, organisations, and economies. Prior to the global pandemic, we recorded this episode to discuss ongoing research at Lund University about our economic systems to support the Sustainable Development Goals. In this episode, we collaborate with the Lund University Agenda 2030 Gra
Intellectual Property Rights for Sustainability
What do sheep have to do with intellectual property rights for sustainability? In this episode, we explore the ‘tragedy of the commons’, which often justifies the introduction of property rights to support conservation and reduced environmental impact. However, when it comes to ‘innovations of the mind’, do property rights help or hinder the transition towards more sustainable economies?
It's not just a tree: a story about nature-based solutions
A tree is so much more than just a tree! Trees provide habitat to support biodiversity, remove carbon dioxide and particulate matter from our air, cool our cities during summers, and inspire enjoyment by all. A tree planted deliberately to provide any of these services is considered a nature-based solution. In this episode, we present the concept of nature-based solutions as an approach t
Policies for a Circular Economy: Part 3
Policies are needed to ensure a circular economy. In the final episode of our mini-series on the circular economy, we explore the role of policy and the need for research to ensure policies like the European Green Deal promote a circular economy for sustainability. We discuss the trade-offs of slowing resource loops and energy efficiency, for example, knowing when to exchange your LED lig
Circular Resource Flows in Cities: Part 2
The global population living in cities is expected to reach nearly 70% by 2050. This trend in urbanisation will require massive amounts of infrastructure to be built from concrete and other natural and manufactured materials. In the second episode of our miniseries on the circular economy, we explore the business case for circular resource flows - such as concrete, wood, and glass - in th
Circular Business Models for Sustainability: Part 1
The circular economy is promoted by government and industry as an approach to reduce resource consumption while maintaining a high standard of living. In this episode, we explore circular business models that leverage strategies of closing, narrowing or slowing resource loops. This episode is the first of three episodes part of our mini-series on the circular economy. We invite PhD Candid
Joining Forces for Sustainability: The value of interdisciplinary education
Our global sustainability challenges are complex and require partnerships and collaboration across disciplines and sectors. As such, as a society, we must value interdisciplinary perspectives and work together to address these challenges. In this episode, we discuss the value of interdisciplinary education to address our complex sustainability challenges. We share the experience from our
“Is anyone listening?” Reflections on Evaluating Research Impact
There is growing interest among funding agencies, governments, and society in general to understand the impact of research conducted within academia. However, evaluating research impact is tricky and finding as well as leveraging impact pathways can be daunting without first considering the desired impact early in the research planning process. This is especially relevant when considering
Scooters, Sharing & Sustainability
Given the global sustainability challenges that we face, we need new forms of production and consumption. However, will the sharing economy be a part of the solution? Or, part of the problem? In this month's episode, Sofie and Steven discuss the sharing economy broadly before elaborating on business models in the sharing economy. Speaking critically, they elaborate on aspects of the shari
A Town Of Ice And Fire
Kiruna, a small and industrious mining town in the arctic north of Sweden, is facing a unique challenge - the mine has expanded so far under ground that it is weakening the town’s foundations and will eventually pose a threat to inhabitants. City leadership and the mining company decided that much of the town would have to be demolished and moved. While many might see this as a problem,
Crash Course On COP + Youth Action
Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old young person from Sweden, has inspired a generation to take action on climate change. In this episode, we acknowledge and appreciate the actions of youth, like Greta, around the world in demanding action on climate change. Reflecting on our own experiences, fear and our own perceived lack of knowledge often hinders us. Therefore, together with guest host and
Flying Free in the New Year
There is growing urgency within the academic, political and public spheres to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in order to lessen or mitigate the impacts of climate change. To do so, many online are voicing their commitments by making a New Year’s Resolution to reduce their flying or to not fly at all in 2019. In this episode, we explore the reasons why many are making this New Year’s Reso
Gift-Giving This Holiday Season
Like so many, have you waited until the last minute to buy gifts for your family and friends this holiday season?? In this episode, we will provide some specific suggestions for those among us still in need of gift ideas, which are also applicable for all gifting occasions. Furthermore, we will discuss with our colleagues, researching sustainable consumption, the notion of gift-giving, th
The Circular Economy and You
Individuals have their part to play in the transition towards a circular economy. In this episode, we will introduce the circular economy and strategies to facilitate a transition from our linear to a more circular economy. Furthermore, we visit a repair cafe and illustrate how you can extend product lifetimes. The episode is produced in connection to a new Massive Open Online Course (MOO
Experimenting in the City
New ways of governing our cities are emerging. Urban experimentation offers opportunities to test sustainability solutions in context and learn from these successes or failures. Citizen engagement and participation is a prerequisite. In this episode, we will discuss experimentation as a form of urban governance and suggest ways you can engage and participate in the governance of your city
"What is Science?"... and its role in society
What is science? In this episode, we explore science in order to build a foundation for exploring sustainability research in future episodes. Then, we showcase a scientific workshop to illustrate the role fo science in supporting policy-makers.
Introduction to the Podcast!
In this episode, will introduce listeners to the podcast 'Advancing Sustainable Solutions'. You will learn more about the hosts, our organisation, and our vision for the podcast.
