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 meet climate goals, the world of work must undergo a transformation. The GROWL research group focuses on the people, organizations, and policies involved in the green transition of working life.

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.

People sitting near industrial plant in Oulu, Finland.

Linköping University Negative Emission Technologies (LUNETs)

An increasing number of climate targets require net negative emissions of carbon dioxide. Here we study the methods bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar in the Nordic and Tanzania.

Publications

Latest publications

2025

Azam Akhbari (2025) Emerging opportunities of Biox in wastewater treatment BiOX-based photocatalysts for dual applications: Water Treatment and Energy Storage (Chapter in book)

2024

Karin Bäckstrand, Jens Marquardt, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Oscar Widerberg (2024) The Politics and Governance of Decarbonization: The Interplay between State and Non-State Actors in Sweden The Politics and Governance of Decarbonization: The Interplay between State and Non-State Actors in Sweden (Chapter in book)
Thuane M. Anacleto, Nathalia B. Soares, Diego-Caetano C. de Lelis, Vinicius P. de Oliveira, Alex Enrich Prast (2024) Opportunities for biogas production from algal biomass Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Tina-Simone Neset, Katerina Vrotsou, Lotta Andersson, Carlo Navarra, Fredrik Schück, Magnus Mateo Edström, Caroline Rydholm, Clara Greve Villaro, Kostiantyn Kucher, Björn-Ola Linnér (2024) Artificial Intelligence in Support of Weather Warnings and Climate Adaptation Climate Risk Management, Vol. 46, Article 100673 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Jana Johansson, Damien Bolinius, Johan Strandberg, Jing-Jing Yang, Jonathan P. Benskin, Raed Awad (2024) Emission of Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Unidentified Organofluorine from Swedish Municipal Waste Incineration Plants Environmental Science and Technology Letters (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Azam Akhbari, Lilik Jamilatul Awalin, Low Chin Wen, Mohd Syukri Ali, Shaliza Ibrahim (2024) Evolution of microbial community structure during biohydrogen production process of palm oil anaerobic sludge Renewable energy, Vol. 237, Article 121677 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Stephen Woroniecki, Victoria Wibeck, Kristin Zeiler, Björn-Ola Linnér (2024) The lived experiences of transformations: The role of sense-making and phenomenology analyses Environmental Science and Policy, Vol. 159, Article 103797 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Alexandra Buylova, Aron Larsson, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Afzal Siddiqui (2024) Understand Stakeholder Perceptions and Implementation Possibilities for Energy Efficiency Measures and Policy Through Multicriteria Modelling Strengthening European Energy Policy, p. 131-143 (Chapter in book) Continue to DOI

News

News

Researchers in front of a tree in a forest

LiU researchers explore sustainable forest management in the Amazon

Can climate action go hand in hand with the needs of local Amazonian communities? A research team from Linköping University is investigating this question through interdisciplinary work with communities in the Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil.

Researcher at a archeological excavation site.

Ancient seeds give clues on climate change

Thousand-year-old seeds, and traces hidden in the soil for more than 5,000 years, provide clues to how people and their crops were affected by climate change. This knowledge may help us adapt to changes in our lifetime and in the future.

Rinata Kazak looking down at her jacket.

LiU researcher ahead of UN climate summit - "I’m optimistic"

Azerbaijan will host the International Climate Summit this year. Although the country is heavily dependent on its oil production, holding the meeting there could actually be an advantage, according to Rinata Kazak, who will represent 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