Director General of the Swedish EPA presented for the students
Johan Kuylenstierna, Director General of the Swedish EPA, spoke to Master’s students at Sustainability Day: Global Transitions about the urgent climate challenges we face, and the opportunities emerging from transformative change, leadership shifts, and innovation. His message: every student has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.
What did you talk about during the Sustainability Day: Global Transitions?
"Climate and environmental changes represent growing system challenges, both for the planet and for societies. Words such as crisis and dystopia tend to dominate the debate, and current developments together with the latest research can instill a sense of hopelessness. Record breaking temperatures, severe weather events and impacts on the environment, people and economy signals a challenging future for policy and decision makers. "
While the political system struggles to formulate and implement necessary decisions, we can note a shift in leadership.
"Climate and environmental changes are also becoming increasingly geopolitical in nature, both through direct effects on society but also because of the societal transitions they drive. We are amid transformative changes, ranging from energy and transport systems to urban development and food systems. While the political system struggles to formulate and implement necessary decisions, we can note a shift in leadership. The business sector, regions, cities and other key stakeholders are stepping forward and their commitments are increasingly driven by potential opportunities that emerges when the climate and environmental crisis are to be mitigated. It's about the development of new technologies but also new business models and collaboration where, not least, increased resource efficiency and circular economy are at the center. "
"During the lecture, I shared personal insights from more than 30 years of international work on environment-development issues. The narrative will be formed around the current situation where we find ourselves in the middle of polycrisis but also in a setting where new opportunities may emerge."
What do you hope the students took with them from the session?
"That they, regardless of the career they may chose to have, can play an important role in addressing climate change and environmental challenges. That skills and competences they acquire through their education can be applied in so many different ways and settings, and that opportunities may emerge in times of great, geopolitical turmoil. "