Sustainable planet
Environmental and sustainability challenges
We have a responsibility to leave our planet in a state that ensures a good life for future generations. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the problems around us, but also to solving current and future environmental and climate crises.
At Lund University, researchers are coming together to tackle issues such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Researchers focus on issues such as sustainable consumption and production, nanotechnology, urban development, habitat degradation, nature-based solutions and many other interdisciplinary research areas. Much of the research is carried out in close collaboration with national and international experts, industry, the public sector and other actors.
This knowledge contributes to better urban air quality, circular construction, renewable fuels, and energy-efficient water treatment and components.
Other innovation examples are advanced climate models, the results of which are used in IPCC reports at the UN, and models for more diverse land use. These models can respond to increasing demands for food and energy security, as well as enhance biodiversity and a range of valuable ecosystem services.
Researchers are also analysing different policy processes and incentives, the transition to a climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy, and how to make materials, manufacturing processes and recycling more sustainable.
Solving challenges together
Researchers are developing new solutions in close collaboration with organisations inside and outside academia in areas such as:
Many of today's building materials and construction processes require large amounts of resources and energy. A sustainable and circular building sector is essential for a successful transition to a climate neutral and resource efficient economy
Researchers are working with industry to break new ground in areas such as reusable building materials and the use of energy in the production of materials and structures.
Malmö, Helsingborg and Lund aim to become climate-neutral cities by 2030. Through research and collaboration, Lund University, Malmö University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Alnarp) will support the cities in their goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.
Energy-efficient electronics with better performance, new tools for cells and molecules in biomedicine. Nanotechnology is revolutionising several areas. But the same properties that make nano-sized materials unique can also be harmful to animals, plants and humans.
Researchers are therefore working with industry to help them develop effective nanotechnology-based products that are safe for people and the environment. This includes identifying which materials may be harmful and developing analytical methods to measure long-term effects in nature.
What is a sustainable organisation? How can sustainability performance be measured, compared and understood?
The current absence of standardised processes makes it difficult to ensure quality and integration efforts in this area. This makes it difficult for companies to evaluate themselves and link their performance to results and long-term sustainable development.
At Lund University, researchers are collaborating nationally and internationally to develop proposals for performance indicators and standardised measurement processes in sustainability for organisations.
Long-term sustainable land use is central to securing food and energy production, creating a bio-based economy, tackling climate change, preserving biodiversity and meeting the Global Sustainable Development Goals.
Researchers at Lund University are working across sectors and disciplines to provide expertise on land use and how intensively land can be farmed. They are also looking at tools and policies needed to achieve long-term sustainable land use.
More research environments
These links take you to other websites.
- Aerosols
- Agrifood economics (AgriFood)
- Biodiversity data (SBDI)
- Carbon cycle research (ICOS Sweden)
- Circular biobased economy
- Energy transition
- Environmental and climate science
- Industrial environmental economics
- Innovation research
- Narrating climate futures
- Polar research (Icebreaker Oden)
- Public transport (K2)
- Sustainable enterprise development
- Sustainable finance and biodiversity (BIOPATH)
- Sustainability studies
- Sustainable tourism
- Sustainable water use
Sustainability Forum
Do you want to collaborate with us or want to know more about how the university works with sustainability issues? Contact our Sustainability Forum.