Sustainability Day Challenges

The day began with a conversation between researchers from various disciplines, including Economics, Business, Law, and Political Science. The central questions being addressed were: What will it take to move from words to action and create the necessary transition to meet the Sustainable Development Goals? Which roles do business and policy play in this transition, and how is this relevant to the students’ future professional roles?

After the joint session, the students could choose one of five different sessions in the afternoon. These sessions addressed topics such as Global Inequality, Antibiotic Resistance, sustainability challenges related to the production of antibiotics, Anti-Corruption, and potential existential risks associated with the development of AI.

The keynote speaker at the morning session was Björn Sandén, Professor, Environmental Systems Analysis, Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, and Vice President of Swedish Climate Policy Council.

After Björn’s presentation, there was a panel discussion with Lena Gipperth, Professor in law, Niklas Egels Zandén, Professor in Business Administration, Claes Ek, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Marcia Grimes, Professor in Political Science.

Björn, what do you think about the School's Sustainability days?

"They can be very important. I hope that I can be a kind of catalyst for starting to think in new ways. As the students get into more specific disciplines and studies and courses, I want them to keep in mind the large problems that need to be solved by them after they finish their studies and get out into society."

What advice do you have for students wanting to make an impact for a more sustainable development?

"To have that ambition. Having the ambition to do more good than evil is a good start."