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.
Photographer: 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.
Photographer: 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.
Photographer: 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

a man in a suit walks in the forest.

GROWL: Greening of Working Life

To reach Sweden’s political climate goals, working life needs to undergo a transformation. This research program focuses on people, organizations, and policies in the green transformation in industry and forestry.

Stones at the Swedish westcoast.

Just transformation: The places, politics and ethics of fossil free society

In 2017 the Swedish Parliament adopted a new climate policy framework that lays the foundations for an ambitious decarbonization of all sectors in Swedish society. The aim is to turn Sweden into the first fossil-free welfare state by 2045.

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.

Publications

Latest publications

2024

Azam Akhbari (2024) Book title: Material and Energy Recovery from Solid Waste for a Circular Economy: Chapter 12: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprint Analysis of Waste Treatment Facilities Material and Energy Recovery from Solid Waste for a Circular Economy: Chapter 12: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprint Analysis of Waste Treatment Facilities (Chapter in book) Continue to DOI
Rinata Kazak, Mariia Turchina, Svitlana Hotsuliyak (2024) Regulation of antimicrobial resistance in Ukraine: literature and legislation review Transformation of the legal system and human rights protection under the influence of martial law, p. 321-348 (Chapter in book) Continue to DOI
Sivakiruthika Balathandayuthabani, Balathandayuthabani Panneer Selvam, Magnus Gålfalk, P. Saetre, S. Peura, U. Kautsky, L. Klemedtsson, L. Arunachalam, G. Vellingiri, David Bastviken (2024) Methane in Two Stream Networks: Similar Contributions From Groundwater and Local Sediments While Oxidation Was a Large Sink Controlling Atmospheric Emissions Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, Vol. 129, Article e2023JG007836 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Wenjuan Zhang, Yuxin Wang, Ling Wang, Mengxi Cao, Huiming Cao, Maoyong Song, Yun Qian, Thanh Wang, Yong Liang, Guibin Jiang (2024) COPD-Like Phenotypes in TBC-Treated Mice Can be Effectively Alleviated via Estrogen Supplement Environmental Science and Technology (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Eduardo Pinela, Anna Schnurer, Anna Neubeck, Jan Moestedt, Maria Westerholm (2024) Impact of additives on syntrophic propionate and acetate enrichments under high-ammonia conditions Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 108, Article 433 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Andrii Paramonov, Iryna Ablieieva, Iryna Vaskina, Anna Lysytska, Nataliia Makarenko (2024) The efficiency of organic pollutants degradation in the process of anaerobic digestion of feedstocks with different origin Ecological Safety and Balanced Use of Resources, Vol. 15, p. 24-38 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Chen Luo, Gustav Pajala, Sepehr Shakeri Yekta, Sayantan Sarkar, J. Val Klump, Paras Pujari, Joyanto Routh (2024) Soil contamination caused by fly ash from coal-fired thermal power plants in India: Spatiotemporal distribution and elemental leaching potential Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 170, Article 106080 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Jan-Olof Drangert, Karin Tonderski (2024) Greening urban sanitation: A way back to recycle urban-derived organic waste to food production CITY AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS, Vol. 23, Article 100149 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

News

News

Alex Enrich Prast in Amazon forest.

Woody surfaces of trees remove methane from the atmosphere

It is well-known that trees help the climate by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. But it is now clear that trees have another important role to play.

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.

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