Press release -

40 million SEK to fair environmental research in collaboration with trade unions and business

“It is absolutely crucial that the measures used to make the transition are socially accepted and perceived as fair,” says Stephan Barthel, professor of sustainability science at University of Gävle and one of the research programme leaders.

Mistra and Formas allocate SEK 40 million to research to involve civil society in speeding up a fair adaption to climate change. Stephan Barthel at University of Gävle will be one of two research programme leaders.

Together with academia, civil society and other actors, the programme will develop a carbon budget, compatible with the Paris Agreement, which is to be perceived as fair, justified and effective.

Socially accepted climate measures

To enable a faster transition, the research programme will, in dialogue with actors from all sides, translate scientific knowledge into action. Political and economic frameworks must be designed in collaboration with business, trade unions, and other popular movements, and a significant part of the programme is about developing climate measures that are socially accepted.

“The hub of our program is that research meets the outside world, so that we can turn conflicts into synergies together. This is our way to contribute to a viable planet and to a fair future,” says Stephan Barthel at University of Gävle.

The research programme “Societal transformation with a focus on climate” shows a strong ability to advance the crucial transition to a fair fossil-free future. The consortium is very competent and includes a strong commitment from various civil society organizations, according to Mistra.

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The FAIRTRANS programme “Societal transformation with a focus on climate” is awarded a total of SEK 40 million over four years; Mistra and Formas invest SEK 20 million each.

Stockholm University will host the program and it will be carried out in an interdisciplinary consortium together with University of Gävle, KTH, Uppsala University, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Lund University and the think tank Global Utmaning.

Dialogue and collaboration will take place with the central trade unions LO, TCO and Saco and with their respective unions, Fossil-free Sweden, Naturskyddsföreningen, KF (Kooperativa förbundet), Hyresgästföreningen, AI Sweden, Företagarna, Svenskt Näringsliv and SISD (Swedish Investors for Sustainable Development). Other actors also participate in the programme.

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Contact:

Stephan Barthel, professor in sustainability science and research director for urban sustainability at University of Gävle
Phone: 076-360 57 05
E-mail: stephan.barthel@hig.se

Text: Douglas Öhrbom

Topics

  • Environmental politics

Categories

  • research
  • sustainable development
  • sustainable cities
  • mistra
  • climate crisis
  • carbon budget
  • university of gävle
  • stephan barthel
  • urban studio
  • the paris agreement

Education and Research at a Scenic Campus.
The University of Gävle has approximately 17 000 students, more than 50 study programmes and second-cycle programmes, about 1 000 courses in humanities, social and natural sciences and technology.

Research Profiles
Built Environment and Health-promoting Working Life are the general research profiles of the higher education institution. Important parts included are Spatial Planning with a specialisation in Sustainable Built Environment and Musculoskeletal Disorders with the purpose to prevent work-related injuries. In 2010, the higher education institution received permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in the profile area of Built Environment.
The higher education institution has applied for permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in technology, humanities and social sciences.