Marine salmon farming is a new and fast-growing industry in Iceland after decades of uncertainties within aquaculture development in the country. While growing at a tremendous speed in the last few years, the development has been challenged by different social groups in regard to its socio-economic and environmental effects. Research has shown that there is a lack of knowledge on the perceptions on different stakeholders involved in the farming. This study aims to investigate how different stakeholders perceive the marine salmon farming industry being established in Bíldudalur, in the Westfjords of Iceland, by conducting a case study. Semi structured interviews were carried out with different stakeholders as well as an online survey was distributed to the residents of Bíldudalur, following a focus groupdiscussion. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that current aquaculture regulations have not held up with the expanding industry which has created tension amongst stakeholders. The results show that many worry about the wild salmon stock and that with current regulations, it is hard to predict how much marine farmed salmon will be bred in Iceland, due to weak regulations. Simultaneously, the local community of Bíldudalur has experienced a lot of positive changes in their rural community following the establishment of fish farming in their community. On this basis, further research is needed to compare the findings to other rural communities involved in fish farming in Iceland as well as further research on Iceland´s current changes in regulation and policies and how aquaculture development is promoted in Iceland.

Water is the source of all life, but unfortunately, the water quality is getting only worse due to many factors like overuse, contamination, indifference and even by nature itself. By identifying the problem, we are one step closer to solving the problem, and that is why an intelligent water quality device is required to examine water and detect impurities within it. In this project, we are developing a device that uses an entirely new method to measure water quality. Even though the theory behind the device is very advanced, the device is still primitive in its functions and needs development to increase the usefulness and accuracy of the measurements! / Vatten är grunden till allt liv, men tyvärr blir vattenkvaliteten bara sämre på grund av många faktorer som överanvändning, förorening, likgiltighet och till och med av naturen själv. Genom att identifiera problemet är vi ett steg närmare att lösa problemet, och detta är därför en intelligent vattenkvalitetsenhet behövs för att undersöka vattnet och hitta orenheter i det. I detta projekt utvecklar vi en apparat som använder en helt ny metod för att mäta vattenkvaliteten. Även om teorin bakom apparaten är väldigt avancerad så är apparaten fortfarande primitiv i sina funktioner och behöver utveckling för att öka användbarheten och noggrannheten i mätningarna!

Det här är en stuide om externa effekter som kan uppstå vid etablering av solcellsparker och om hur sådana effekter kan påverka samhällsbeslut. Förnybara energikällor spelar en nyckeroll för att skapa en hållbar framtid, där storskaliga soclellsparker kan ses som ett hållbart alternativ till energikällor. Det finns en risk att Solcellsparker kan medföra globala och lokala negativa externa effekter och är därför intressant att studera. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod, där intervjuer med fya sakägare som har goda kunskaper och insikter om solcellsparker genomförts. Empiriskt material från fysisk planering, miljöbedömningar och andra pålitliga källor har använts för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Resultaten visar att anläggningen av en solcellspark kan leda till en så kallad green vs. green-konflikt, där det finns olika intressen och åsikter. Genom att jämföra tre befintliga solcellsparker har vi sett vilken roll externa effekter spelar i beslutsfattande när det gäller att anlägga en solcellspark och hur väsentliga samhällintressen, till exempel livsmedelsförsörjning, också kan påverka beslut om att anlägga solcellsparker. Resultaten visar också att lokaliseringsprinicipen spelar en stor roll, genom att påverka vilka externa effekter som kan uppstå lokalt på platsen. / This study examines the external effects that can arise from the establishment of solar parks and how these effects can influence societal decisions. Renewable energy sources play a key role in moving towards a sustainable future, where solar parks can be viewed as a sustainable energy source alternative. There is a risk that solar parks can lead to global and local negative externalitiets, which makes it very interesting to study. The study is based on a qualitative method, where interviews were conducted with four stakeholders, containing existing knowledge and insights about solar parks. Empirical materials were also utilized, which consisted of various materials from, environmental assessments, and other reliable sources, to answer our study questions. The results show that the establishment of solar parks can lead to a so called green vs. green- conflic, where there are contradicting interests and opinions. By comparing three existing solar parks, we were able tol understand what role external effects play in the decision making of establishing a solar park, and how public interests, such as food management can also influence this decision.  The results also show that the localization prinicple plays a huge role in influencing what external effects that might arise int that specific location.

In the past decades, there has been an alarming increase in the amount of toxicity on earthdue to pollution and consumerism and the natural environment is faster than everdisappearing due to the extensive activity of humans on planet earth (Nations United,2020; United Nations, 2020). The increased amount of rubbish and non-natural waste hasbeen identified as a major issue in the supply chain and waste management inhumanitarian organizations across the board. This thesis has reviewed existing academic research and identified the five commonthemes: Management – training and standardization – stakeholders and donors -transparency - climate change and development, in which the ability to become moresustainable is present. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hasbeen showing environmental accountability and for that reason, its environmental policyand supply chain have been addressed to understand its waste management and if it issupporting the three sustainable dimensions. Plastic pollution is addressed as a humanitarian crisis and arguing that the devastatingeffects that microplastics are having on our ecosystem and it is clearly showing that it iscausing harm to the environment, the economy, and the social effect. Haiti has since theearthquake in 2010 received a variety of aid, majority from USAID but the sustainableaccountability in their action have been hard to identify. Reviewing the work of USAID and their collaboration with environmental protectioncompanies makes you likely to say that they are supporting the three sustainabledimensions but with further assessment, it is obvious, that humanitarian waste is doingharm and there must be improvements within the organization’s perspective onwaste/plastic while attending a crisis.

This thesis investigates brownification in Lake Bolmen, Sweden, focusing on the precipitation's effect on water colouration in 3 tributaries to the lake. This study uses long-term meteorological data from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and the water samples collected over more than one year from Lake Bolmen and its three major tributaries Storån, Lillån, and Önnekvarn. Water colour was measured using spectrophotometric techniques. The key findings show a significant positive link between the amount of precipitation per month and water colour, used as a proxy for dissolved organic carbon. The study found that monthly precipitation did not show an immediate effect, but rather that the effect of precipitation on colour was visible with one-month delay. The study finds significant geographical variability in brownification intensity across different streams, indicating that localised effects are also important. The study highlights the crucial role of environmental factors in the organic matter movement and the necessity for specific conservation measures to reduce the negative effects of brownification on water quality. To develop effective Lake Bolmen management techniques, recommendations include continual monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach. This study advances our understanding of the dynamic interplay between freshwater ecosystems hydrology, meteorological, and organic matter processes.

Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att genom fokusgruppintervjuer undersöka vad elever i årskurserna 5-6 kan och  resonerar om begreppen källsortering, nedskräpning och miljöförstöring Studien tar upp hur hållbar utveckling är upplagt i läroplanens inledande delar och kursplaner, hur de tre dimensionerna av hållbarhet definieras samt tidigare forskning inom ämnet. I det resultat som visualiseras framkom det hur 20 elever på en Grön Flaggskola och en icke Grön Flaggskola ser på nedskräpning och källsortering. Undersökningens resultat indikerar att eleverna är väl insatta i dagens miljöproblem och de vet hur de ska motverka dessa. Anmärkningsvärt visade eleverna på Grön Flaggskolan inte mer kunskap om till exempel hållbarhet. Dock påvisas det att majoriteten av eleverna på båda skolorna innehar en nonchalant inställning till problemen, lägger dessa på andra individer och skjuter problemen framför sig. I studien framförs slutligen en diskussion om införandet av ett nytt ämne i läroplanen, vem som bär ansvaret och hur lärarna kan engagera sina elever att arbeta för en bättre planet. / The purpose of this qualitative study is, through focus group interviews investigate what pupils in grades 5-6 can and reason about waste sorting, littering and pollutions. The study examines how sustainable development is presented in the curriculum's introductory parts and curricula, how the three dimensions of sustainability are defined and previous research within the subject. The result that emerged visualizes how 20 pupils at an Eco-School and a non-Eco-school look at littering and sorting waste. The results of the survey indicate that the pupils are well acquainted with today's environmental problems, and they know how to counteract with these. The pupils on the Eco School did remarkably not show more knowledge about for example sustainability. However, it is demonstrated that the majority of the pupils at both schools hold a nonchalant approach to the problems, place these on other individuals and postpone the problems before them. Finally, the study discusses the introduction of a new topic in the curriculum, who carries the responsibility and how the teachers can engage their students to work for a better planet.

Since 1750, human emissions of greenhouse gases have created a temperature increase, affecting the whole world. Diatoms, single-celled microscopic algae that lives in waters all over the world, have different environmental preferences such as the water depth at which the thrive, salinity, nutrients, pH-values and more. Diatoms also responds quickly to changing circumstances, which makes the suitable as environmental indicators. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the abundance and composition of diatoms has changed during the last 200 years in lake Ensjön, located just south of Norrköping, and to relate those changes both to climate change and known events and environmental factors in the area.  The survey is conducted by subsampling sediment cores from which each diatom sample was prepared in accordance with the scheme of Battarbee (1984). The diatoms in the samples were counted under a microscope and the results were analyzed and related to the Cyclotella-Aulacoseira-Fragilaria-theory (CAF) and documented historical events in the local environment. The result of the analysis shows that the composition and abundance of diatoms has changed during the last 200 years, and that this change is due to both climate change (temperature and precipitation increase) and the land-use history of Ensjön. The cahnges in composition of Aulacoseira spp. and Cyclotella spp., where Aulacoseira spp. is expected to decrease, and Cyclotella spp. is expected to increase with a rising temperature, match the CAF-theory for the most part. The change in composition also coincides with several documented environmental factors in the area, especially the change in use of fertilizers and herbicides in agriculture. / Människans utsläpp av växthusgaser har sedan år 1750 skapat en temperaturökning som går allt snabbare, och påverkar hela världen. Kiselalger, encelliga mikroskopiska alger som lever i vatten över hela världen, har olika miljöpreferenser såsom bland annat på vilket vattendjup de trivs, optimal halt av salt, näringsvärden, pH-värden, samt reagerar snabbt på förändrade omständigheter, vilket gör dem lämpliga som miljöindikatorer. Syftet med studien är att studera förändringar i kiselalgernas sammansättning under de senaste 200 åren i den lilla sjön Ensjön belägen något söder om Norrköping och att relatera dessa förändringar till dokumenterade händelser och miljöfaktorer i sjöns avrinningsområde samt till de pågående klimatförändringarna.  Undersökningen är utförd genom provtagning av sedimentkärnor från vilka prover preparerades enligt Battarbees (1984) flödesschema. Proverna av kiselalger räknades under mikroskop och sammansättningen analyserades utifrån teorin Cyclotella-Aulacoseira-Fragilaria (CAF) och kända historiska händelser i närmiljön. Analysresultatet visade att kiselalgssammansättningen har förändrats under de senaste 200 åren, och att denna förändring sannolikt kan kopplas både till klimatförändringar (en ökad temperatur) och Ensjöns markanvändningshistoria. Förändringen hos Aulacoseira spp. och Cyclotella spp. följer till stor del CAF-teorin om att det första släktet skulle minska och det andra skulle öka vid en temperaturökning. Vid flera tillfällen sammanfaller förändringar i kiselalgssammansättningen med kända miljöfaktorer i närmiljön, främst i samband med utvecklingen i användningen av mineralgödsel och växtskyddsmedel.

This master thesis explores the shifting paradigm in conservation, moving away from the myth behind the preservationist approach that separates humans from nature towards a more inclusive conservationist approach. The study focuses on the role of Indigenous Peoples in this evolving paradigm and examines factors that influence their ability to participate in and influence conservation debates and policies. The research draws on qualitative exploratory methods, including interviews with Indigenous Peoples and experts in the conservation field. Thirteen factors emerged from the thematic analysis, namely: legal recognition, law enforcement, political representation, awareness, external support, community building, capacity-building, connection across Indigenous communities, economic inclusion, public attention, protests, advocacy, and intimidation. The findings emphasize the need for a systemic and inclusive approach to conservation policymaking that incorporates cultural diversity and respects the rights, perspectives and agency of Indigenous Peoples. Ultimately, the conservationist approach, and particularly the effective inclusion of cultural diversity in conservation debates and policies, can enhance society's capacity to protect and sustain natural resources and biodiversity for current and future generations, aiding our sustainability journey in its ecological and social sides.

Over the past decades, evidence show that the anthropogenetic greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are the main drivers behind global warming and are becoming stronger. Globally, hydropower is among the main sources of renewable energy and the popular notion that hydropower electricity is carbon neutral has been under debate as evidence from measurements in different regions of the globe show significant and highly variable carbon emissions from hydropower reservoirs. But these global estimates are still highly uncertain since they are restricted to a few locations in the south of Europe, North America, and South America, and lack both the temporal and spatial variability in addition to some of the flux pathways (often downstream emission and degassing). This study assesses the CH4 and CO₂ emissions from reservoirs associated to three small hydropower stations in the south of Sweden and aims to understand potential spatial and temporal variability in the temperate region. The study performed flux measurements of CH4 and CO₂, an analysis of CH4 and DIC concentration in the water, and a depth profile of temperature, DO, CH4 and DIC at the hydropower station’s reservoirs. In summation this study finds significant CH4 and DIC concentrations, as well as CH4 and CO₂emissions from the studied reservoirs. The findings of this study underline the notion that hydropower might be a `blind spot` in the Swedish GHG budget report, and if so, the carbon emissions from hydropower electricity need to be re-evaluated.

With rapid urbanization, climate change and population growth in the 21st century, the development of eco-cities, especially in those fast-growing populated countries such as China and India, is important to minimize human impact on the planet. Nevertheless,  despite that there is a very well-designed eco-city, if residents living in an eco-city are not environmentally conscious, the eco-city is sustainable only in its tangible part – technologies and infrastructure, but not in its intangible part – environmental attitudes and behavioral patterns of residents. The intangible part is important since HUMANS are the root cause of current climate change (IPCC, 2014). When the policy makers decide to build an eco-city, this thesis thus argues that they should consider not only the tangible part of the city, but also consider the intangible part of eco-city – environmental attitudes and behavioral patterns of residents. This thesis provides a survey of environmental attitudes of 150 Stockholm residents living in three districts: Hammarby Sjöstad, Östermalm and Bromma. It also reports on a well-developed environmental project which is led by residents living in the Stockholm eco-district of Hammarby Sjöstad. The scope of this research is the City of Stockholm (Swedish: Stockholms kommun / Stockholms stad). The objectives of this research are: (1) to find out the environmental attitudes of residents living in three selected districts of Stockholm; (2) to understand the development of Hammarby Sjöstad and find out if residents living in Hammarby Sjöstad are particularly environmentally conscious; (3) to provide suggestions for the policy makers (e.g. Chinese and Indian) of how to take environmental attitudes of residents into consideration when planning and developing projects such as eco-cities. Among the findings of the research are: (1) in the high income, educated, and political conservative Stockholm districts where I conducted my surveys, respondents in general report high levels of environmental concerns and environmentally friendly behavior; (2) however, concerns questions relating to cars (parking restrictions, limiting or banning cars from their districts or Stockholm as a whole), opinions were very divided. There seemed to be much reluctance among many to put severe restrictions on the use of cars; (3) in the eco-district Hammarby Sjöstad, the expression of environmental consciousness did not appear particularly different from the other districts. Many respondents in the district moved into the area for diverse reasons other than environmental ones; (4) however, a well-developed environmental project which is led by residents living in Hammarby Sjöstad has emerged in the eco-district, where comparable projects were not found in the other districts in Stockholm. / I och med den snabba urbaniseringen, klimatförändringen och befolkningstillväxten under 2000-talet, är utvecklingen av eko-städer i de snabbväxande befolkade områdena som Kina och Indien viktig för att minska den mänskliga påverkan på planeten. Emellertid, om en eko-stads invånare inte är miljömedvetna så kommer en väldesignad eko-stad endast vara hållbar på sin materiella del (teknik och infrastruktur) men inte på sin immateriella del (miljöattityder och beteendemönster hos invånare). Den immateriella delen är viktig eftersom MÄNNISKOR är grundorsaken till den nuvarande klimatförändringen (IPCC, 2014). När beslutsfattarna bestämmer sig för att bygga en eko-stad, hävdar den här uppsatsen att de inte bara bör överväga den materiella delen av staden, utan också överväga den immateriella delen av staden - miljöattityder och beteendemönster hos invånare. Den här uppsatsen bygger på en undersökning om miljöattityder hos 150 boende som bor i tre olika områden i Stockholm: Hammarby Sjöstad, Östermalm och Bromma, samt beskriver ett välutvecklat miljöprojekt som leds av invånare i eko-distriktet - Hammarby Sjöstad. Målen för denna forskning är: (1) att ta reda på miljöattityder hos invånare i tre utvalda områden i Stockholm; (2) att förstå utvecklingen av Hammarby Sjöstad samt ta reda på om invånare i Hammarby Sjöstad är särskilt miljömedvetna; (3) att ge förslag till beslutsfattare (t.ex. kinesiska och indiska) om hur man tar hänsyn till miljöattityder hos invånare när de planerar och utvecklar projekt som eko-städer. Bland forskningsresultaten finns följande: (1) i de politiskt konservativa Stockholmsdistrikten med många välutbildade invånare med hög inkomst där jag utförde mina undersökningar rapporterar respondenterna generellt en hög nivå av miljöhänsyn och miljövänligt beteende; (2) när det gäller frågor som rör bilar (parkeringsrestriktioner, begränsning eller förbud mot bilar i deras distrikt eller Stockholm som helhet), var åsikterna emellertid mycket uppdelade. Det föreföll att många svarande inte är villiga att sätta stränga restriktioner på användningen av bilar; (3) invånare i eko-distrikt, Hammarby Sjöstad, verkade inte som om de var särskilt miljömedvetna. Många svarande flyttade in i distriktet på grund av olika orsaker än miljö; (4) ett välutvecklat miljöprojekt som leds av invånare i Hammarby Sjöstad har emellertid uppstått i eko-distriktet. Jämförbara projekt hittades inte i övriga distrikt i Stockholm. / 随着21世纪迅速的城市化，气候变化和人口增长，尤其在中国和印度等拥有庞大人口及急速发展的国家，生态城的建设对于减低人类对地球的影响至为重要。然而，即使生态城的设计完善，如果生态城的居民不具环保意识，生态城的可持续性只能在其有形的部分（技术和基础设施），而不在其无形的部分（居民的环保态度和行为模式）。生态城的无形部份是重要的因为人类是当前气候变化的根本原因（IPCC，2014）。当决策者建设生态城时，本文认为决策者不仅要考虑生态城的有形部分，还要考虑生态城的无形部分 - 居民的环保态度和行为模式。 本文提供了一个瑞典斯德哥尔摩三个地区150位居民的环保态度调查：哈马比生态城（Hammarby Sjöstad），Östermalm和Bromma。本文还探讨了一个具规模并由哈马比生态城居民领导的环保项目。 本研究的目的： （1）了解斯德哥尔摩三个地区居民的环保态度; （2）了解哈马比生态城的发展情况和探讨哈马比生态城的居民是否特别具有环保意识; （3）为决策者（如中国和印度）在规划和开发生态城等项目时如何考虑生态城居民的环保态度提供建议。 研究结果包括： （1）在斯德哥尔摩高收入，高教育和政治保守的地区，受访者总体上显示高水平的环保意识和环保行为; （2）然而，受访者在涉及汽车的问题上（如泊车限制，限制或禁止在区内或斯德哥尔摩内使用汽车）意见是非常分歧的。许多人似乎抗拒限制使用汽车; （3）在哈马比生态城，居民的环保意识显现与其他地区没有什么特别的区别。除了环保因素外，受访者迁入该地区有多种原因; （4）然而，哈马比生态城有一个具规模并由当区居民领导的环保项目。在斯德哥尔摩其他地区并没有发现类似的项目。