Environmental Change (TEMAM)

Tema M – Environmental Change is a platform for highly topical, problem-oriented and critical interpretive environmental research and education. At a time when almost the entire nature bears traces of human activity, the state of the environment is strongly linked to the development of society. Today, environmental problems are no longer perceived as ‘problems in nature’ but also as complex social problems that set new standards for scientific breadth, integration and problem-solving.

Environmental Change meets this challenge through a strong combination of analysis traditions and methods for natural science, social sciences, and the humanities. Among these included are analysis of biogeochemical processes and material flows, policy studies developed in close collaboration with user groups, as well as analytical studies of ideas and debates within the environmental and climate field. By promoting interdisciplinary cooperation in the borderland between these different analytical traditions, Tema M ensures that environmental change as a concept, process and political point at issue is not taken for granted but instead subject to constant review and transparency.

Tema M builds on a strong tradition of interdisciplinary environmental studies that have permeated the unit since 1980 and the Center for Climate Science and Policy Research (CSPR) since 2004. At Tema M, these studies are further developed and profiled in relation to contemporary environmental science and environmental policy development.

Strategic Research Areas

A park bench in water.
Pixabay

Climate Change

We study challenges posed by climate change, their implications around the world and actions that could lead to fossil free societies that are robust to the effects of climate change.

Insjö skog around.

Contaminant and Element Cycling

We study natural and human-induced changes using observational, experimental and modeling approaches. From major and trace elements to contaminants, we focus on biogeochemical processes driving their distribution and cycling in ecosystems.
People holding up signs.
Pixabay

Knowledge politics and communication 

We study how knowledge about current environmental and developmental challenges is represented, legitimized, problematized and made sense of in education, research practices, media and policy processes.

Lab environment.
Anna Nilsen

Earth resources 

We study challenges associated with sustainable use and management of resources with focus on waste, water, land, ecosystems, nutrients as well as renewable energy. We co-create knowledge through interactions with societal actors to assess and develop processes, technologies, analytical tools, and frameworks.  

Research Project

Norrköping Decision Arena.

Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, CSPR

CSPR is a platform for knowledge production to trigger and promote societal changes towards safe and just climate futures for all. Our goal is to create knowledge and methodological approaches that can support and advance climate actions.

Small boat on a river in Amazonas.

Sustainable management of Amazon forest: a win-win for resource utilization and climate mitigation

The project explores how different management strategies affect both gas emissions and the assimilation of trees and nearby soil.

Virtual Worlds: digital technologies in climate and biodiversity governance

Virtual Worlds explores the role of digital technologies in managing climate change and biodiversity loss. The program reviews how technology can improve environmental governance and include local knowledge for sustainable development.

Publications

Latest publications

2024

Alexandra Buylova, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Andreas Duit, Gunilla Reischl, Pelle Lejon (2024) Paper tiger or useful governance tool? Understanding long-term climate strategies as a climate governance instrument Environmental Science and Policy, Vol. 159, p. 103811-103811, Article 103811 Continue to DOI
Siyu Li, Mourad Harir, David Bastviken, Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, Michael Gonsior, Alex Enrich Prast, Juliana Valle, Norbert Hertkorn (2024) Dearomatization drives complexity generation in freshwater organic matter Nature, Vol. 628 Continue to DOI
Bo Sha, Eliana Ungerovich, Matthew E. Salter, Ian T. Cousins, Jana Johansson (2024) Enrichment of Perfluoroalkyl Acids on Sea Spray Aerosol in Laboratory Experiments: The Role of Dissolved Organic Matter, Air Entrainment Rate and Inorganic Ion Composition Environmental Science and Technology Letters Continue to DOI
Giacomo Carraro, Roozbeh Feiz, Karin Tonderski, Alex Enrich Prast (2024) Unaccounted energy saving from the nitrogen output of biogas plants Resources, Conservation and Recycling Continue to DOI
Fredrik Envall, Daniel Andersson (2024) Vägar till rättvis omställning: energigemenskaper i skärningspunkten mellan systemoptimering och demokratiskt deltagande
J. Cunha de Castro, E. Resende, Igor Taveira, Alex Enrich Prast, F. Abreu (2024) Nanotechnology boosts the production of clean energy via nanoparticle addition in anaerobic digestion FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY, Vol. 6, Article 1406344 Continue to DOI
Tina-Simone Neset, Lotta Andersson, Magnus Matteo Edström, Katerina Vrotsou, Clara Greve Villaro, Carlo Navarra, Kostiantyn Kucher, Fredrik Schück, Caroline Rydholm, Jonas Unger, Björn-Ola Linnér (2024) AI för klimatanpassning: Hur kan nya digitala teknologier stödja klimatanpassning?
Elias Elmquist, Kajetan Enge, Alexander Rind, Carlo Navarra, Robert Höldrich, Michael Iber, Alexander Bock, Anders Ynnerman, Wolfgang Aigner, Niklas Rönnberg (2024) Parallel Chords: an audio-visual analytics design for parallel coordinates Personal and Ubiquitous Computing Continue to DOI

News

News

A woman in lab clothes in a lab.

What does a research engineer do?

"We often call ourselves problem solvers," says research engineer Susanne Karlsson. It all started with studies in chemistry. 32 years later, she looks at her workplace and her job as "a fantastic environment where no day is ever the same."

Portrait of man under a tree.

Pathway to a renewable and more democratic energy system

The EU requires member states to facilitate local renewable energy production through so-called energy communities. But in Sweden, the system is structured in a way that counteracts such solutions, conclude researchers from LiU.

CO2 written in cloud letters on a blue sky.

Risky path to meeting climate targets for Stockholm

Stockholm aims to capture more carbon dioxide than is emitted by 2030. Therefore, the city is investing in new technology. But it is a strategy that has been adopted without sufficient discussion of the risks, says researchers at LiU.

PhD Programme

Education

Contact

Staff

Staff

Visit us in Tema Building, Campus Valla

Postal adress
Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies/Environmental Change, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Organisation