Cities are growing at unprecedented rates and are expected to be home to 70% of the world’s population in 2050. In this process, they face challenges such as densification, rapid population growth and loss of land and ecosystem services. Cities also have to remain livable and accessible to all. In 2014, the Swedish Public Health Agency declared that it would aim to close all avoidable health inequalities within one generation. In order to reach these objectives while also complying with the Sustainable Development Goals, urban green infrastructure (UGI) has been increasingly viewed as a powerful instrument that cities can utilize to help them meet their sustainability and human health targets. As nature-based solutions, UGI can greatly contribute to building resilience in urban areas by providing a number of ecosystem services. Simultaneously, UGI have also been shown to possess equigenic functions – the capacity to support the health of the least advantaged population groups equally or more so than the most privileged. This study has therefore aimed to operationalize a methodology to help identify optimal locations for developing and managing UGI in Stockholm with the aim of prioritizing health and minimizing impacts on existing ecosystems. This was done by drawing on 3 spatial datasets (land-cover, health and healthcare consumption, socioeconomics) and combining them using a GIS. The resulting maps are made for individual as well as aggregated health indicators. They display multiple optimal location clusters that were often located in the outer parts of the city, notably in the north-western and south-eastern boroughs. The inner-city however, showed little need for equigenic UGI improvements. The results and the implications of this methodology are discussed in relation to several aspects of UGI, including quality, quantity and accessibility, gentrification and UGI’s role in the smart city. Suggestions for future research building on this methodology are also provided.

The increase of global average temperature depends linearly on the amount of carbon dioxide that is accumulating in the atmosphere. Consequently, the determination of a temperature target that should not be exceeded, corresponds to an amount of carbon dioxide that can still be emitted. This is referred to as a carbon budget. With the Paris Agreement, a global commitment to such a target exists. The signatories have pledged to hold “the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C […] and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C”. Although the wording leaves room for interpretation, the Paris Agreement can hence be translated into a remaining global carbon budget. The distribution of this budget amongst countries can be a way to close the gap between the committed target and Nationally Determined Contributions, which are submitted by each country but currently expected to lead to a warming of more than 2°C. Taking the concept of national carbon budgets further and sharing them out on a smaller scale can support municipalities in framing their mitigation targets and planning measures accordingly. In this regard, the aim of this thesis was to calculate a Paris-compliant carbon budget for the city of Rostock, Germany. This was done by sharing out the remaining global carbon budget amongst countries based on the notion of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’, which is part of the Paris Agreement. To reflect on this notion two different country classifications were applied which resulted in carbon budgets for Germany of 4 450 and 6 200 MtCO2 respectively up from 1st January 2021. For a share between German municipalities, the grandfathering principle was applied. It allocates a budget to a municipality depending on the proportion in national emissions. An inventory, which was prepared for this purpose, revealed that Rostock’s territorial emissions accounted for 0.12% of all-German emissions in 2017. Based on this share, Rostock would receive a budget of 5 500 to 7 600 ktCO2 up from 2021, depending on the country classification. The thesis found further that current mitigation targets were falling short of complying with the Paris Agreement. Currently, both Germany and Rostock are basing their efforts on budgets two to three times larger than what can be considered a fair contribution.

The research aims at reviewing how mobile phone producers in the EU are approaching individual obsolete phone collection from private households in terms of the information provided on their websites, in addition to the collective schemes that they may be part of for complying with the WEEE Directive. In this study, competitive benchmarking was used to differentiate the accessibility level of take-back offers among the selected producers. The availability of the take-back offer and the penetration rate in the EU states are examined into a five-level metrics. The results reveal that producers have extreme offers on the availability aspect and diverging information coverage in different countries. It is inferred that a producer’s attitude toward the product take-back affects the accessibility of their take-back offers, which can be explained by several economic concerns; however, different methods in future research is needed to further investigate the reasons behind different producers’ choices.

Buildings account for 39 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions, therefore the way buildings are constructed and utilized plays an important role in the transition to a sustainable future. Environmental Certification Systems (ECS) functions as a catalysator for sustainable solutions within the building industry and is seen as a hygiene factor for property owners today. The market offers numerous environmental certifications for buildings to choose from, and Swedish property owners are frequently users of them. However, most of the environmental certification systems does not cover the social aspects of sustainability that directly include human health and wellbeing in the building. This has led to the creation of the sustainability certification WELL Building Standard – a global certification system for buildings that exclusively addresses the users in the building, in terms of health and wellbeing. There are currently 298 WELL-certified projects around the world, and in Sweden there are six property companies that have registered different project for the certification. Due to the Swedish property owners’ relatively modest efforts regarding the social sustainability work, this paper explores what the drivers is for these six companies into working with a WELL-certification. By exploring that, this study aims to contribute to the understanding on what can drive the willingness of corporations to invest in sustainability certifications in general, and in what ways a WELL-certification can fill a potential gap in the Swedish property market. The findings reveal that a WELL-certification has a unique selling point due to its human-centred approach. It can be a beneficial tool, both for property companies, who may attract new clients, as well as for the tenants that are renting their space, in terms of increasing their own employer brand and corporate reputation. According to Herzberg’s two-factor theory, this human centred approach can be used as motivation factor for the property owners, rather than a hygiene factor. The findings also reveal that there is a need in society for addressing health issues, due to the increasing numbers of sick leave in Sweden the past years. Furthermore, the study reveals that there have been a “competence gap” in the built environment for addressing this kind of issues and that a WELL-certification is therefore helpful in addressing areas of the built environment that the property owners never have thought of before.

The transportation sector is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as air and noise pollution in urban areas. City planners and policy makers increasingly recognize the importance of changes in transportation systems that would decrease the use of private motor vehicles and promote more sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling and walking. While public policies recognize the effects that such changes can have on the urban environment and physical health of city dwellers, it rarely considers the overall quality of urban life (QOUL), which includes subjective indicators such as satisfaction with living conditions and mental wellbeing. Lack of a universal definition of QOUL and its relationship with urban planning and transportation planning in particular further complicate our understanding of the ways in which implementation of new transportation policies affects quality of life of city residents. This study examines the meaning of QOUL in relation to urban transportation planning and policies that aim to make transportation in cities more sustainable and friendly to the environment. It analyzes definitions of QOUL in the context of urban planning and investigates the effects that new policies can have on QOUL indicators.

The dispersion of contaminants deriving from landfills poses a risk to the surrounding environment and human health. Old landfills are treated with extra precaution, due to their poorer construction, less stringent operation and lack information regarding the waste content. Vetlanda municipality has identified 48 old landfills. One of them is Rösaberg inerta massor. It is one of the largest landfills in the region and is located close to numerous sensitive environmental receptors (such as the river Emån). During a phase 1 investigation (MIFO 1) in 2017, the landfill was designated the highest risk classification, class 1, and is considered a very high risk to environment and human health. No sampling was conducted during this time, but the level of contaminants was assumed to be very high.   The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of contaminants by determining the pollution levels in soil and groundwater in the landfill. Samples was obtained by completing a site investigation, involving trial pits examination and installing of monitoring wells. National as well as site-specific guideline values were used to determine the effects of the contaminant levels of the site. In the software Groundwater Modeling system (GMS) was used to study if the contaminant plumes reach the river Emån. A 50-year scenario was set up in GMS to investigate likely concentrations in the future. Finally, a new risk assessment of the site was done, based on the obtained results.   The results indicated that the landfill does not pose such a large environmental risk that initially was expected in the phase 1 investigation. The level of contaminants was higher in the groundwater than in the soil. High concentrations of PAH-Hs and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide were found in two of the groundwater samples. However, the risk assessment using the information obtained from the study indicated a lower risk than what was estimated in the MIFO 1 assessment 2017. In this study, the risk of the landfills current properties was evaluated to a risk 2. The 50-year scenario indicated that contaminants in the uppermost groundwater layer will have dispersed in a higher rate than the contaminants in the lower layer. The risk was estimated to a risk 3 in 50 years. It should be noted that no samples was conducted in river Emån which needs to be done before ruling out the necessity for remediating the groundwater. No remediation action for the soil was assessed to be necessary. / Spridning av föroreningar som härrör från deponier riskerar att påverka den omgivande miljön och människors hälsa negativt. Framför allt gamla, nedlagda deponier bör behandlas med extra försiktighet då de ofta ackompanjeras av otillräckliga sluttäckningskonstruktioner och bristande kunskap om deponins innehåll och utbredning.  Det finns i nuläget 48 kända nedlagda deponier i Vetlanda kommun, där en av dem är Rösaberg inerta massor. Den är bland de största deponierna i området och ligger nära ett flertal skyddsvärda objekt i området, såsom Emån. Under en MIFO 1-undersökning som utfördes 2017, ansågs deponin uppnå den högsta riskklassningen (riskklass 1) som innebär att området betraktas som en mycket hög risk för människors hälsa och omkringliggande natur. Inga prover genomfördes under denna undersökning, men föroreningsnivån antogs vara hög då liknande deponier i närheten uppvisat höga föroreningshalter.   Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka förekomsten av föroreningar och dess halter i området för att kunna dra slutsatser om deponins effekter på närliggande miljö och människor. Data för föroreningsförekomst och halter i mark och grundvatten erhölls genom att genomföra en platsundersökning där provgropar grävdes samt grundvattenrör installerades. För att kunna uppskatta effekterna som föroreningsnivåerna skulle ha på platsen togs generella såväl som platsspecifika riktvärden fram och jämfördes med de uppmätta halterna. För att kunna fastställa vilken risk som deponin utgör för Emån studerades föroreningsplymernas flödesmönster i grundvattnet i datorprogramvaran GMS. Spridningsgraden och den sannolika föroreningshalten i framtiden undersöktes genom att inrätta ett 50-årigt scenario i GMS. Slutligen gjordes en ny riskbedömning av området baserat på de erhållna resultaten.   Resultaten visade att deponin inte innehåller de höga föroreningshalter som initialt befarades. Generellt visade sig föroreningsnivåerna vara högre i grundvattnet än i marken. En riskbedömning genomfördes med hjälp av resultaten erhållen från studien och gav indikationer på en lägre risk än den ursprungliga klassningen. Klassningen resulterade i en riskklass 2 med strikt bedömning då några föroreningar stack ut från den generellt annars låga föroreningshalten, såsom PAH-H:er samt pesticiden 2,6-diklorbensamid i grundvatten. Scenariot för föroreningssituationen i ett 50-årsperspektiv visade att föroreningar från det övre grundvattenlagret sprids och minskar mer i halt än det undre skiktet. Riskklassningen för detta scenariot uppskattades till en riskklass 3. Det bedömdes att en åtgärd inte är nödvändig för mark på grund av dess låga föroreningshalt. För grundvatten rekommenderas vidare undersökningar på Emåns påverkan av föroreningar från deponin innan en avskrivning av åtgärder kan göras.

The importance of single-tree-based information for forest management and related industries in countries like Sweden, which is covered in approximately 65% by forest, is the motivation for developing algorithms for tree detection and species identification in this study. Most of the previous studies in this field are carried out based on aerial and spectral images and less attention has been paid on detecting trees and identifying their species using laser points and clustering methods. In the first part of this study, two main approaches of clustering (hierarchical and K-means) are compared qualitatively in detecting 3-D ALS points that pertain to individual tree clusters. Further tests are performed on test sites using the supervised k-means algorithm in which the initial clustering points are defined as seed points. These points, which represent the top point of each tree are detected from the cross section analysis of the test area. Comparing those three methods (hierarchical, ordinary K-means and supervised K-means), the supervised K-means approach shows the best result for clustering single tree points. An average accuracy of 90% is achieved in detecting trees. Comparing the result of the thesis algorithms with results from the DPM software, developed by the Visimind Company for analysing LiDAR data, shows more than 85% match in detecting trees. Identification of trees is the second issue of this thesis work. For this analysis, 118 trees are extracted as reference trees with three species of spruce, pine and birch, which are the dominating species in Swedish forests. Totally six methods, including best fitted 3-D shapes (cone, sphere and cylinder) based on least squares method, point density, hull ratio and slope changes of tree outer surface are developed for identifying those species. The methods are applied on all extracted reference trees individually. For aggregating the results of all those methods, a fuzzy logic system is used because of its good reputation in combining fuzzy sets with no distinct boundaries. The best-obtained model from the fuzzy system provides 73%, 87% and 71% accuracies in identifying the birch, spruce and pine trees, respectively. The overall obtained accuracy in species categorization of trees is 77%, and this percentage is increased dealing with only coniferous and deciduous types classification. Classifying spruce and pine as coniferous versus birch as deciduous species, yielded to 84% accuracy.

In the face of climate change, our planet is going through unprecedented changes, making international governance and cooperation on this issue a necessity. Recent studies indicate that the window to act to stay within the 1.5 °C target of the Paris Agreement has narrowed, and that strong and urgent action is needed. Furthermore, there are indicators that Sweden will not reach its national emission reduction goal of net zero emissions by 2045. Many researchers point to the Paris Agreement's increased focus on non-state actors as contributors to climate change governance, and their ability to 'bridge the gap' between current actions and the actions needed to limit global warming. Businesses and the private sector are prominent non-state actors because of their financial and technological power. Hence, this study investigated how Swedish climate change initiatives that gather companies can assist with the transition to net zero emissions by 2045. Utilizing a mixed methods research design, this study has conducted both a survey as well as several in-depth interviews to investigate how climate change initiatives are perceived to affect member companies to reduce their emissions. It also explored the larger impact of climate change initiatives on non-members and society. The findings show that the main influence of climate change initiatives happens through lobbying. Lobbying is both described as one of the main reasons behind companies joining an initiative, as well as where climate change initiatives are perceived to have the largest impact. Furthermore, the study found that participation in initiatives may lead companies to reformulate their internal reduction targets into being more ambitious. It is, however, difficult to determine whether participation leads to actual emission reductions. Finally, climate change initiatives may also lead to impact further down the value chain of a company and facilitate knowledge sharing both internally and externally.

To remedy the negative effects of wetland drainage activities that took place in Sweden during the 1800s, measures to create, restore and recreate wetlands have gained increased attention as nature-based solutions. While wetlands provide cost-effective long-term solutions and co-benefits that help achieve national and international environmental objectives, targets relating to wetland measures have fallen short. The study aim was to investigate drivers, policy influence and barriers to wetland implementation on the local level and to discuss potential success parameters. Local stakeholder experiences were collected using survey design with open, closed, and partially close-ended questions, analysed with thematic analysis. The findings identified drivers relating to ecological and social benefits, climate change, and multifunctionality- and indicated that policy objectives on the national level influence drivers on the local level. Furthermore, barriers towards wetland implementation were identified, fuelled by a lack of communication, policies that rely on one-size-fits-all approaches, and a lack of resources for administration. Potential success parameters to address the barriers include improved collaboration between and within wetland projects, financial incentives for landowners and administration, maintenance plans, systems for follow-up outside of the policy instruments, and increased flexibility for wetland projects that take into account the natural variability of wetlands. The findings can lay the foundation for further research exploring more in-depth the identified barriers and success parameters to help set new policy directives and suggestions for how wetland measures could be implemented at a larger scale in the future.

Solar energy is one type of the most commonly used renewable energy sources. It can produce electricity and heat without creating any Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Sweden has set up the goal of 100% electricity generated by the renewable energy source by 2040 and chosen Gotland as a pioneer project for self-electricity supply by renewable energy sources by 2030. Taking the year 2017 as an example, the total electricity production of Gotland in 2017 was about 1080 GWh, a share of 621GWh imported from mainland Sweden, 457GWh produced by Gotland's local wind energy, 1.6GWh produced by local photovoltaic energy and a very small fraction produced by local hydropower. Gotland has a high potential for photovoltaic power. This quantitative research case study used data to collect and a building model to measure the potential electricity production by photovoltaic power at three locations in Visby, Höken, Castor and Skalbaggen. Further, an analysis of the current value of installing photovoltaic panels for a public housing company to increase the capacity of renewable energy to stimulate the target towards 100% electricity from renewable energy sources by 2040. The result indicated that the ratio of production/Consumption at Höken, Castor and Skalbaggen were 73%, 52% and 1000%. According to the calculation, the LCOE of Höken is around about 0.74 to 1.17 SEK/kWh. For Castor, it is from 0.73 to 1.16 SEK/ kWh due to the range of interest rates. For Skalbaggen, it is around 0.70 to 1.11 SEK/ kWh. However, since the current limitation from both technical and legislative sectors were not allowed to transfer electricity between the adjacent building. Further research is required on how to facilitate tenants' use of renewable electricity produced by public housing itself, as well as how to maximize the penetration of smart grids.