Experiences working with Agenda 2030 at GMV

Jan PetterssonGothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development, GMV

GMV –knowledge and cooperation for

a sustainable world

Agenda 2030

• UN resolution signed by 193 countries

• 17 goals that balance social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development

• A holistic perspective - the goals are universal and strongly linked

How are we going to reach the goals?Rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes are required in

all aspects of society

(TWI2050 report)

Needs for research and development:• Synergies and trade-offs between goals; spill-over effects• Transformative change

The important roles of universities

Adapted from ”Getting started with the SDGs at universities”

How do universities help the SDGs?• Educate current and future SDG

implementers• Create knowledge and innovations of

relevance to the SDGs• Develop and demonstrate solutions in

cooperation with society

How do the SDGs help universities?• Promote education in sustainable

development• Provide a framework for the definition

of a responsible university• Support cross-boundary collaboration

with new internal and external partners• Create new funding streams

• Joint centre at Chalmers University and Technology and University of Gothenburg

• GMV’s mission: Create collaboration in order to generate and utilize knowledge about sustainable development

• GMV embraces Agenda 2030 and the SDGs

• Approx 60 employees

• Turnover approx 90 MSEK

Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development, GMV

Offices at Aschebergs-

gatan 44, Gothenburg

International networks

• SDSN Northern Europe

• SDSN Northern Europe Youth

• Mistra Urban Futures

• IAU, GU Champion for SDG 8

National and regional networks

• Focali – Forest, climate & livelihood

research network

• KNEG – Climate neutral road

transportation

• GAME – hosts Agenda 2030 in Western

Sweden

• Mistra Urban Futures (Gothenburg Node)

Networks mostly within Chalmers and GU

• GMV research network

• GMV student network (starts in 2019)

• GAC Gothenburg Air and Climate Network

• WE – Work and Employment Research

Centre

Centra, networks, program, awards and more at GMV

Prizes and Funds

• Win Win Gothenburg

Sustainability Award

• Renovas miljöpris

• University of Gothenburg

Climate Fund

Some important programs

• Mistra Carbon Exit

• Vinnova Agera

• AgriFoSe

Other important activities

• SIDA Helpdesp for environment

and sustainable development

• GU Environmental

management system

• Act! Sustainable - a

sustainability week for students

and personnel at GU and

Chalmers

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) • International network initiated by the UN, approx 40 international nodes• GMV hosts SDSN Northern Europe• Four focus areas: SDGs in Universities, Solution initiatives (SI), Solution

initiative Forum (SIF), SDSN Youth

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GAC – Gothenburg Air and ClimateNetwork

Approx 250 members from ca 20 research groups, institutes, society

Exemple of upcoming event:The European Aerosol Conference in Gothenburg 2019 (ca 1000 delegates)

Gothenburg Action for Management of the Environment (GAME)

• Hosts the forum for Agenda 2030 in Western Sweden• Collaboration between universities, businesses and civil society

Forest, Climate, and Livelihood research network (Focali) and Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI)

• Forestry and agriculture in the global south• Collaboration GU, Chalmers, SLU, SEI and more

Mistra Urban Futures

https://www.mistraurbanfutures.org/en

University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of TechnologyNew agreement to establish a joint platform focusing on

sustainable development in low and middle income countries: Global Sustainable Futures

Countries where GU and Chalmers have ongoing collaborations

https://gmv.gu.se/forskning---policy

Guide: Stakeholder Interaction in Research Processes

The SDG Impact Assessment Tool

https://sdgimpactassessmenttool.org/

A few thoughts on sustainable development, MERGE and BECC

• We have common goals for sustainable development, but we do not yetknow how to reach them

• Traditional research is still required; we need precise answers to guide policy

• We need to contribute to actual solutions; close the gap betweenresearchers, practioners and policy-makers

• We need to identify, characterize and implement transformative processes (and avoid incremental steps)

• We need to improve communication across traditional boarders; inter-and multidisciplinary work, co-production, co-creation