Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:
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Sustainable Development:
Agriculture
Atmosphere
Biodiversity
Climate change
Consumption and production patterns
Disaster management and vulnerability
Energy
Freshwater
Information for decision-making and participation
Integrated decision-making
Poverty
Protecting and managing the natural resources
Rural Development
Sanitation
Science
Sustainable development for Africa
Sustainable development in a globalizing world
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Geographic scope: |
International
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Country of activity: |
Sweden
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Colombia
Kenya
Thailand
Estonia
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Millennium Development Goals: |
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop global partnership for development
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Mission statement: |
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Year established: |
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Year of registration: |
1996 |
Organizational structure: |
SEI is an independent international research institute, engaged in environment and development issues at local, national, regional and global policy levels. The Institute was formally established in 1989 by the Swedish Government. Since then SEI has established a reputation for rigorous and objective scientific analysis to support policy change for sustainable development around the world. SEI was conceived following the publication of the Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, prepared by the World Commission on Environment and Development. The report brought the concept of sustainable development into the mainstream and SEI was given an open mandate to explore and discover methods to help equip the world with new and innovative ways to tackle this challenge. SEI has around 250 employees. The headquarters are in Stockholm, but SEI maintains a global distributed structure, with Centers in York, Boston, Seattle, Davis, Nairobi, Oxford, Bangkok, Tallinn and Bogotá. We combine the qualities of: • a non-profit and non-partisan research institute • an honest broker in handling complex environmental, developmental and social issues • a research institute committed to rigorous and objective scientific analysis to support improved policymaking • an agent for change that promotes transitions to a more sustainable world. To effectively take on the next decade’s key environment and development challenges SEI’s research is grouped into four integrated themes that tackle overarching issues like climate change, energy systems, vulnerability and governance, as well as specific problems such as water resources and air pollution. Common to all themes, we have identified four linked fields of activity: • Analysing pathways of biophysical and behavioural transformation by understanding the technical, social and ecological processes underlying systems change • Understanding the governance of change and the ways in which states and civil society interact and deploy processes and instruments to steer change • Providing the technical tools needed to advance problem-solving capacities in different societies • Developing analysis, capacity and networks to support policy making and implementation Each Theme works across North and South contexts, across science, policy engagement and capacity building, and across social and natural-science disciplines. Managing environmental systems Growing populations, rapid urbanization and increased consumption put unprecedented pressure on land, water and air resources. Our research addresses how to manage these resources to enhance food security for our planet’s six billion people, to reduce the health impacts of air pollution and poor sanitation, and to protect ecosystem services through sound management of land and water resources. Reducing climate risk The goal of this theme is to contribute to a safer climate for all. We help design, develop and implement effective and fair strategies for adaptation and mitigation in developing and developed countries, taking into account the broader challenges and policy objectives of sustainable human development. Transforming governance Sustainable development is essentially about giving people the opportunity to build resilience by providing them with more options in their lives and livelihoods. We advance new insights into good governance for sustainable development in the face of social and ecological change. Rethinking development The global economy has brought welfare and prosperity to many in the world. But it has also depleted natural resources and vital ecosystem services. Our research shows the benefits of a low carbon future and describes how we can get there. We set out alternatives for sustainable futures, from the planetary scale down to local, on-the-ground solutions. |
Number and type of members: |
Approximately 250 staff Academic researchers and science communicators |
Funding structure: |
Donations and grants from domestic sources
Foreign and international grants
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