Filetype
During the years 1951–2002, an amount of 2600–5000 tons of PFAS was released into the environment. The widespread occurrence of PFAS substances can have negative consequences for microbial species and communities within ecosystems, which is ex-pected to have negative effects also for higher trophic levels. Therefore, the purpose of this literature study was to compile information on which identifi
The EU is reforming its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to increase the price on emissions, phase out free carbon allowances and thus accelerate decarbonization. Alongside these reforms, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has been introduced to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage, imposing tariffs on carbon-intensive products imported to the EU. While CBAM will be beneficial for many EU-
Wind power is crucial for achieving climate and energy targets, but prolonged permitting processes can impede its expansion. This thesis examines whether Sweden’s permitting process is an unreasonable obstacle to wind power development, with the new (2023) EU requirements under the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) as the benchmark. The research identifies RED III’s demands on permitting, e
The textile industry generates large amounts of waste, most of which is incinerated or landfilled. To enhance circular practices, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation will introduce digital product passports (DPPs) in the EU. The passports will collect data on textiles throughout their value chain and are expected to become mandatory by 2027. The existing research on the DPP usability
A key for the wellbeing of all humans is to have a reliable and lasting clean water source. This source would ideally not negatively impose on the environment and its ecology. This is one of the Swedish environment quality goals, to minimize the environmental impact of the drinking water extraction. Vombsjön is a drinking water source lake in southern Swe-den, supplying 25% of Skåne county with wa
Grayling, Thymallus thymallus, became locally extinct in Lagan around the 1950s due to human activity. Now, 70 years later, The Swedish Anglers Association is trying to re-establish a popula- tion in Lagan by releasing the fish in a tributary river, Krokån. This paper investigates the eco- logical challenges that this project faces. I conclude that the water temperature could pose a big problem
The aim of this study was to explore the potential of using existing environmental moni-toring data as a basis for environmental certification of farms within primary agricultural production. Three research questions guided the work: which indicators of agricultural environmental impact can be identified in available monitoring data, which criteria these data must meet to be applicable in a certif
Saltwater intrusion into coastal groundwater is an increasing concern due to climate change, as drought and declining groundwater levels can allow seawater to infiltrate groundwater aquifers. This study investigates chloride concentrations in eight municipal wells in Fågelmara, Karlskrona, from 2003 to 2025, and groundwater levels in wells nearby from 2019 to 2025, to assess signs of saltwater int
Urban green spaces provide important ecosystem services that support human well-being and climate adaptation in cities. As urbanisation and densification increases, municipalities face chal lenges in promoting and safeguarding these areas. This study investigates the current methods and tools used by municipalities in southern Sweden to assess urban green spaces with regard to ecosystem service
Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has driven major changes in the global climate through increased greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, the EU has introduced several regulatory instruments, including the CSRD and the accompanying ESRS, which require companies to report on environmental and social impacts, risks, and opportunities. As part of these obligations, companies are req
The coast is an ever-changing environment, and due to climate change, coastal research is becoming more challenging. To detect changes in the coastline, such as erosion, researchers need large amounts of data over long periods of time. Part of the solution could be the citizen science project CoastSnap – a global community beach monitoring program. The aim of this study was to examine factors that
This study aimed to investigate how a Swedish standard, developed by the Swedish Institute for Standards, can support local governments in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. Local authorities have been identified as key actors in the transition towards sustainable development, making the standard a potentially valuable tool. To achieve this aim, interviews were conducted with local govern
Environmental protection supervision is an important instrument for limiting and controlling the negative effects that environmentally hazardous activities can have on human health and the envi-ronment. Fuel facilities (“gas stations”) are one of these hazardous activities, supervised by envi-ronmental protection inspectors at the municipal level. To ensure legal compliance, inspectors use tools s
Sweden has long been seen as a leader in environmental policy. However, after the reorganization of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment in 2023, concerns have been raised about how this change affects the country’s climate work. This study investigates how the merger of the Ministry of Climate with the Ministry of Enterprise has influenced the political priorities between renewable energy and
Global biodiversity is declining, which threatens ecosystems as well as essen-tial ecosystem services. The corporate sector is an important part of the solu-tion. Companies covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are required to disclose their impacts on biodiversity according to the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS) E4 if their impacts are determined to
We are at a critical point where the carbon emissions worldwide must cease. One way to do so is to switch to renewable energy and become less dependent on fossil fuels. Solar power is an energy source which can be expanded rather quickly, and has become more common in the past years. The issue with large scale solar power plants is that they take up a lot of space, which leads to conflict of inter
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of highly persistent synthetic chemicals that have raised growing concern due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential health effects. This study focuses on Lake Bolmen, one of southern Sweden’s most important sources of drinking water, and investigates how PFAS enter and accumulate in the lake. A total of 23 PFAS compound
The Swedish forest is subject to significant pressure from the forestry industry. As a consequence, biodiversity is negatively affected. Sustainability reporting serves as a means for consumers and stakeholders to gain insight into companies' sustainability ef- forts. Reporting on biodiversity is relatively new compared to climate reporting and poses greater challenges in terms of quantificati
The public sector is responsible for 28 percent of the average Swedish citizen’s consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). Looking at purchasing categories with the highest GHGe, consumables – products like paper and single use items – play a significant role. The first step in becoming more circular and reducing waste is often to completely refrain from purchases when possible. However,
In the context of the current climate crisis and a growing need for electricity, renewable energy plays an important role. Repowering means upgrading existing renewable energy production with new, more efficient technology to increase production in older sites. Wind-power technology has developed significantly in the last few years and upgrading wind parks in the most suitable locations is relevan
