Businesses have historically had a negative impact on the environment by contributing to pollution, the increase of greenhouse emissions, neglection of responsible waste disposal, and deforestation among other things. Governments around the globe have been trying to align to goals and principles to decrease the negative impacts of humans, and it is now time for companies to step up and contribute to a more sustainable society. The research question for this study is “what can be the challenges when working with sustainability frameworks as an IT consultant firm?”. To answer this, research within Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), green ICT, and sustainable business have been conducted. In addition to this, the relation of two sustainability frameworks within IT consultant strategies have been assessed. Other than that, a case study have been carried out at an IT consultant firm. A result of this case study is a mapping of processes and their work with digital sustainability and sustainability frameworks. Two of the greatest challenges discussed in this study are about measuring and communicating the sustainability impact of projects. / Historiskt har företag haft en negativ påverkan på miljön genom att bland annat bidra till föroreningar, ökade växthusgasutsläpp, försummelse av ansvarsfull avfallshantering och avskogning. Regeringar runt om i världen har försökt att justera sina mål och principer för att minska människans negativa påverkan på klimatet, och det är nu hög tid för företag att börja bidra till ett mer hållbart samhälle. Forskningsfrågan för denna studie är “vilka utmaningar kan uppstå när en IT-konstulfirma arbetar med hållbarhetsramverk?. För att besvara denna fråga har forskning inom Informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT), grön IKT, hållbart företagande kombinerats och redovisats. Utöver detta har integrationen av två hållbarhetsramverk i en IT-konsultfirmas arbetsprocess undersökts. Studien har genomförts hos en IT-konsultfirma, och deras processer och arbete med digital hållbarhet och hållbarhetsramverk har kartlagts genom efterforskningar och intervjuer. De två största utmaningarna som diskuteras i denna studie är att mäta och kommunicera projekts hållbarhetseffekter.

Sustainability, a multidimensional concept, consist of various environmental, social, and economic factors. Its fundamental principle is to fulfill the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. One popular approach to measure sustainability is the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) measurement. However, a global standardized ESG rating system is currently lacking, leading to variations in scores and methodologies used by different agencies to evaluate a companies' ESG performance. Recognizing the need for a standardized approach, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has emerged as a framework for evaluating sustainability. By adopting the SDGs as a standardized framework, investors, companies, and financial institutions can align their effort and process towards a sustainable future.  Although previous research has explored the relationship between ESG and financial performances, little research has been conducted on the standardized framework of SDGs and its relationship with biodiversity impact. This while it has been proven that biodiversity is the primary driver of sustainability. The objective of the study is to fill the research gap by examining the relationship between SDG commitments and their impact on biodiversity. To achieve this, eight equity funds with varying commitments to SDGs were selected as a sample. The sample comprises 396 companies allocated to 42 countries and 87 industries, with data collected of the year 2022. To align with biodiversity data availability, the time frame was adjusted to match the biodiversity data from the year of 2011.  The study focuses on assessing the annual species loss as an indicator of biodiversity impact for four different levels of SDG commitments. The primary findings indicates that there is no significant relationship between the amount of SDG commitments and the annual species loss. Furthermore, a weak relationship was observed between the cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation) and annual species loss. The secondary findings suggests that the factors of country of operation and industries contributes to biodiversity impact, this while it revealed a high variation of the effecting ecosystem. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the relationship between SDG commitments and biodiversity impact, providing insights into the complex dynamics between sustainability efforts and their environmental consequences.

Abstract This study aims to carefully and thoroughly examine how private housing companies in Malmö consciously work towards promoting sustainability within areas facing socio-economic challenges. To gain an in-depth understanding of this subject, a qualitative research methodology was used, collecting empirical data through interviews with representatives from four prominent private property companies in the region. The study was analyzed and evaluated using a theoretical framework thoughtfully designed to encompass the comprehensive aspects of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic. This provided an opportunity to study how these companies actively contribute to and promote sustainability within these specific domains.   The results of the investigation reveal a clear and significant insight - private housing companies in Malmö prioritize ensuring economic sustainability as their primary objective, primarily seeking to maximize returns on their investments. It is evident that the economic dimension dominates the decision-making process and guides the investment strategies of these companies. Social and environmental sustainability receive less attention and are not given the same priority as economic profit. This challenges the overarching goal set forth in Agenda 2030 to provide affordable housing for all, where social and environmental considerations are fundamental components.

In this thesis I argue that access to an adequate quantity and quality of safe water in sustainable ways is a basic moral human right, one that has been legally recognized by the international community through UN Resolution 15/9. As a result of water’s being a basic moral human right, governments, institutions, and individuals are obligated to avoid depriving, protect from deprivation, and aid those deprived of access to safe drinking water. Using this as a foundation, I examine the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals, and water pricing as strategies used to fulfill the right to safe drinking water. I also provide arguments in favour of (national and international) tax schemes that cover the cost of providing 50L of safe water per person per day. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

In a rapidly changing world, sustainability is becoming more and more of a priority for organizations. This paper evaluates the possibility of using the Doughnut Economics Model (DEM) as a tool to implement sustainability within an organization on the firm-level, highlighting the potential opportunities and limitations that it poses. Through case studies conducted with two organizations (Apotea AB & Proton Group), both common and firm-specific gaps within sustainability strategies are identified, and the applicability of the DEM is appraised as a tool to help fill these gaps. A qualitative research method was employed, and interviews were held with sustainability managers from Apotea AB and Proton Group. A qualitative thematic analysis process led to the generation of initial codes, themes, and patterns that emerged throughout the interviews held. The results from this study highlighted the illustrative and visual nature of the DEM, and how it could help firms view sustainability from different perspectives. The visualisation of the model helps stimulate conversations about sustainability within the firm, and raising awareness on the topic of sustainability, promoting it within organizational culture. This study additionally concluded that the implementation of the DEM in only a firm-specific, directly impacted area, could help the firm with pinpointing niche areas where the enterprise can make its largest contribution towards a safe and just space for humanity. On the other hand, this study found and supported existing claims through past research on the model’s limitations in terms of its downscaling, as the planetary boundaries are designed for a global scale. Moreover, the model lacks in defining policies, indicators, or measurements regarding areas of improvement. The opportunities that lie in the DEM are plentiful, however, the downscaling process on a firm-scale is extremely challenging, and little-to-no existing research or literature exists on the topic.

学位プログラム名: 京都大学大学院思修館 / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(総合学術) / 甲第21233号 / 総総博第5号 / 新制||総総||1(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院総合生存学館総合生存学専攻 / (主査)特定教授 林 信夫, 教授 濵本 正太郎, 教授 山敷 庸亮 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy / Kyoto University / DGAM

The bioeconomy is a worldwide used strategy to cope with ecological, social, and economic sustainability challenges. However, we analyze current bioeconomy strategies and trends to point out potential sustainability conflicts and transition challenges. Our analysis shows that the bioeconomy is not sustainable per se, as mere input substitution may entail welfare losses. Instead, it requires further debates and actions to avoid exacerbation of ecological and social strains. Sustainability has to be the key concept behind the bioeconomy and predominantly requires (1) sustainability of the resource base and (2) sustainability of processes and products, especially by (3) circular processes of material fluxes, not least to gain consumer acceptance for bio-based products. Otherwise, the bioeconomy would only entail the substitution of fossil resources for bio-based resources potentially lacking the generation of additional societal and ecological benefits and contribution to climate mitigation. As markets alone will not suffice to fulfil this path transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, we argue that innovative governance is necessary to reduce competitive drawbacks compared to fossil resources (enabling function) and to secure ecological, social, and economic sustainability requirements (limiting function).

This thesis aims to evaluate Sweden’s policies on nuclear proliferation and create a better understanding of how these policies affect Sweden’s work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Amid global concerns about nuclear weapons and their impact on peace, security and sustainable development, Sweden stands as a global leader both regarding disarmament and non-proliferation and sustainable development. In this thesis, Swedish policies and statements both from the Swedish government and parliament have been evaluated along with a few laws relating to the topic. An evaluative qualitative content analysis was employed, which with coding and categorisation has delved deep into these dynamics to create a better understanding of the connection between policies on nuclear proliferation and the SDGs in Sweden. From the coding, seven categories emerged; Alignment with the SDGs, Positive Impacts on the SDGs, Negative Impacts on the SDGs, International Collaboration, Adaptive Capacity, Global Leadership Role and Disarmament Efforts.    To provide more perspectives and create a deeper understanding of the connection between nuclear proliferation and the SDGs and the findings from the coding, an analytical framework, realism and the security-development nexus, were employed. These two frameworks were put next to each other to give two different views of how nuclear proliferation affects the SDGs. Sweden is not a country typically examined from the perspective of realism as it is peaceful and not one of the world’s great powers. The same goes for the security-development nexus, which often focuses on conflict-ridden countries or countries that are underdeveloped. This thesis has therefore provided a new perspective of both Sweden and these frameworks that will benefit policymakers and academics in the future when similar studies or studies on similar issues are conducted.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, known as Industry 4.0, has ushered in a new era of technological advancement and disruption across Manufacturing Industries. As organizations embrace digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation, the workforce faces profound changes in job roles, skill requirements, and training needs. Several challenges are faced by industries during this Industrial transformation. This research begins by focusing on Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, understanding there evolving concept. Through comprehensive literature review, the challenges and practices faced during this Industrial transformation and SDGs are discussed. Following the literature review, survey and interview questions were drafted trying to dug deeper into aspects that the literature could not fully capture. Furthermore, the relation between this Industrial Transformation and SDGs were established. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between technology, the workforce, and sustainable development. This thesis report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, educators, and researchers seeking to navigate the transformative landscape of Industrial Transformation and its implications for a rapidly evolving workforce and sustainabledevelopment. / Den fjärde industriella revolutionen, känd som industry 4.0, har introducerat en ny era av teknologisk framsteg och förändringar inom tillverkningsindustrin. När organisationer omfamnar digitala teknologier, artificiell intelligens och automation står arbetskraften inför djupgående förändringar i arbetsroller, kompetenskrav och utbildningsbehov. Under denna industriella omvandling möter företag flera utmaningar. Denna forskning börjar med att fokusera på industry 4.0 och industry 5.0 och förstå deras utvecklande koncept. Genom en omfattande litteraturgenomgång diskuteras de utmaningar och metoder som möter denna industriella omvandling samt deras koppling till hållbarhetsmålen (sdgs).Efter litteraturgenomgången utformades enkät- och intervjuförfrågningar för att fördjupa förståelsen för aspekter som litteraturen inte kunde fånga helt. Vidare etablerades sambandet mellan denna industriella transformation och hållbarhetsmålen. Denna forskning bidrar till en djupare förståelse av den dynamiska relationen mellan teknologi, arbetskraften och hållbar utveckling.Denna avhandling tjänar som en värdefull resurs för beslutsfattare, företagsledare, utbildare och forskare som söker navigera i det föränderliga landskapet av industriell transformation och dess konsekvenser för en snabbt utvecklande arbetskraft och hållbar utveckling.

Predicting the passenger flow inside a city is a vital component of the intelligent transportation management system. The proposal for a new residential area, an office space, post­pandemic policy implications for work from home, behavioral changes for revised traffic patterns, infrastructural improvements, require a visual and analytical backing which can be provided through a macro simulation model. This research explores the performance of the Machine learning (ML) based transport model against the predictions provided by the traditional Spatial Interaction Models (SIM) for the city of Oslo. The transport models and their parameters are analyzed for sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis to derive city character. Furthermore, the derived model is deployed over an interactive dashboard for analytical and their practical visualizations through infographics. The results show that the ML model outperforms the SIM. Although the traditional SIM has a clear advantage of being interpreted by design and requiring a few parameters, it suffers from its inability to accurately capture the structure of real flows and greater variability as compared to the ML model. Extensive statistical analyses are conducted to obtain significant results and realize the pros and cons of both the models which question the validity of results for the ML model over SIM. With this thesis, we discuss the potential of ML model detected trends of passenger flows, andtheir capacity to simulate city development­related scenarios for the traffic flows within the city.