Climate change is recognized as one of the environmental challenges with disastrous consequences for the human well-being. Hence, there is no doubt that climate change is not only a great environmental concern, but also a developmental challenge that overlaps at many levels. Accordingly, the global community sees climate change and sustainable development as two major challenges of the 21st century that require urgent collective action. The aim of the study was to investigate and analyse South Africa’s policy response in addressing climate change, also considering the added dynamics and imperatives presented by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (AfSD) that enshrines 17 interwoven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. In order to fulfil this task, five research objectives were developed; namely: (i) to determine the extent to which the South African government has been involved in domesticating and localizing the SDGs agenda (in general) since its birth in January 2016, (ii) to identify policies and institutions dealing with climate change mitigation (including sustainable consumption and production) and document the provisions of such policies, (iii) to determine policy coverage and institutional spread regarding the addressing of climate change adaptation and adaptive capacity, (iv) to audit and present an inventory of institutions and major financial arrangements existing as means of implementing climate change policy in South Africa, and (v) to establish measures in place to improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity development on climate mitigation and adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. A research methodology was adopted which took the form of evaluation research. This research approach is mostly used in large bureaucratic organizations such as government to determine the extent to which a programme or policy is effective. The research design followed a Mixed-Methods Research (MMR), which combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. Primary data was collected from purposefully selected respondents, who participated in the online survey and face to face interviews. The analysis of data entailed the reduction and display of data. Data reduction and display made it possible to code, create themes and concepts; as well as enable the study to make cogent inferences and rational conclusions. In addition, primary data was complemented by document analysis that scrutinized relevant documents to climate change and sustainable development. The study concluded that South Africa has taken reasonable steps to achieve the SDGs because the National Development Plan (NDP) which is aligned to the SDGs was already being implemented. The study also showed that South Africa has put in place institutional mechanisms to implement the SDGs, even though it took longer to put them in place and have them operationalised. The study concluded that South Africa has policies and strategies designed to respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, there are several challenges inherent in the policies and strategies that make them ineffective, including policy implementation inertia. While the study confirmed that there are institutions in place to implement climate change policies and strategies; it emerged that capacity is concentrated at the national level, as opposed to the provincial and local government levels, and relies on few experts which makes the system vulnerable and fragile. Regarding funding for both climate change and the SDGs, it emerged that South Africa does not budget enough money, and relies heavily on international donations. The study further revealed that there is dissatisfaction with the public’s involvement in climate change management in the country. It also highlighted the need to improve early warning systems and preparedness to respond to extreme weather events. Hence, the study suggests that there is a need for a serious introspection with regard to the implementation model to ensure that the issues raised by the study are resolved. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Management)

Aid is an important topic in development sector current discussions are polarised thereby creating a need for further research. This essay assesses the role that Malawi and Zambia plays in realising its development outcomes including in the area of health. There is a need to appreciate the variables that contribute to the inability of most countries in sub-Saharan Africa to finance their domestic expenditure related to healthcare. In this situation, foreign aid which has received marked interest by scholars over the past decade and is used to supplement incomes of developing countries like Malawi and Zambia. Debate on the effectiveness of aid is polarised, while highly concerned scholars see aid as ineffective and a contributor to the poor performance of economies in developing countries, others see it as essential in the achievement of development outcomes. This thesis explores the extent to which development assistance contributes to dependency in Malawi and Zambia. It further examines the link between aid and the Malawian and Zambian health sectors. The study similarly considers the role of development assistance for health in realising outcomes related to maternal health in line with SDG 3.1. By identifying two countries in sub-Saharan Africa, this essay underscores the similarities between Malawi and Zambia analysed through a historical context, health systems structures, child and maternal mortality rates and health programme models. The essay concludesthat social, political and economic barriers present challenges in financing healthcare in Malawi and Zambia. Aid contributes to dependency in the study countries.

Företag är idag ständigt granskade och kravet på att visa transparens blir mer och mer efterfrågat från företagets intressenter. Intressenters efterfrågan på kommunikation om hur företag arbetar med hållbarhet är inget undantag. Hållbarhetsredovisning är enligt svensk lagstiftning inte en speciellt detaljerad lag utan företag har stora möjligheter att kommunicera ut det som deras intressenter efterfrågar samt det som de själva önskar kommunicera. Under 2015 skapade FN Agenda 2030 som täcker vår världs stora ekonomiska, sociala och miljömässiga problem. Agenda 2030 grundas i 17 globala miljömål (SDG) som kan användas av företag och andra aktörer som ett redovisningsverktyg för att kommunicera deras ekonomiska, sociala och miljömässiga påverkan. Med detta som utgångspunkt har denna studie i syfte att undersöka hur företagens egenskaper samverkar med i vilken omfattning företagen redovisar SDG. Studien är en kvantitativ studie som med hjälp av en utformad bedömningsmall kodar 100 hållbarhetsrapporter hos företag noterade på Stockholmsbörsens mid och large caps listor. Med hjälp av bedömningsmallen skapades den beroende variabeln SDGpoäng som har använts för att testa samverkan med företagets egenskaper. Egenskaperna som testades var företagens storlek, lönsamhet, kapitalstruktur, könsfördelningen inom styrelsen och bransch. Genom statistiska tester kunde de givna hypoteserna besvaras och resultatet visar att egenskaperna storlek och bransch samverkar med i vilken omfattning företag redovisar SDG. Resultatet visar att branschen råvaror och material redovisar SDG i högst omfattning samtidigt som branscherna finans och hälsovård redovisar SDG i lägst omfattning. Studiens resultat bidrar till teorin om hur företagens egenskaper samverkar med redovisningen av frivillig hållbarhetsinformation. / Companies today are constantly audited and the requirement to show transparency is becoming more and more in demand from the stakeholders. The external demand for communication from the companies about how they work with sustainability is no exception. Sustainability reporting is, according to Swedish legislation, not a particularly detailed law so companies have a great opportunity to communicate what the stakeholders demand and what they themselves wish to communicate. In 2015, the UN created Agenda 2030, which covers our world's major economic, social and environmental problems. Agenda 2030 is based on the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that can be used by companies and other organizations as an accounting tool to communicate their economic, social and environmental impact. With this as a starting point, this study aims to investigate how the companies' characteristics interact with the extent to which the companies report SDG. This study is a quantitative study that, with the help of a designed assessment template, encodes 100 sustainability reports from companies listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's mid and large caps lists. By using the assessment template, the dependent variable SDGpoäng was created, which has been used to test collaboration with the company's characteristics. The tested characteristics were the size of the companies, profitability, capital structure, gender distribution within the board and industry. Through statistical tests, the given hypotheses could be answered and the results show that the characteristics size and industry interact with the extent to which companies report SDG. The results show that the industry Basic materials reports SDG to the highest extent, while industries of finance and healthcare report to the lowest extent. The results of the study contribute to the theory of how companies' characteristics interact with the reporting of voluntary sustainability information. The study is written in Swedish.

There are directives for how public procurement should be conducted, in terms of quality,price, non-discrimination, transparency, equal treatment, reasonable requirements and how environmental, social and labor law considerations should be taken into account. Public procurement must also solve societal problems with the aim of achieving the global goals, but despite these guidelines, environmental ethical problems still remain for how a purchaser should prioritize and evaluate between the social, ecological and economic responsibility in public procurement. The purpose was to investigate whether environmental ethics could make a significant contribution in highlighting and understanding the environmental ethical challenges, conflicts, gaps and considerations that public procurement faces and provide answers to how public procurement should ethically value different tenders in order to be able to choose the supplier that makes the greatest social, ecological and economic benefit to society with the aim of achieving the global goals. The conclusion is that doctor Olle Torpman's environmental ethical sub-issues make the ethical challenges, as conflicts, gaps and considerations that public procurement faces visible and comprehensible. The application of the ethics of sustainable development, specified by professor Mikael Stenmark, solves the environmental ethics problems and shows that an environmental ethics theory makes a significant contribution when it comes to providing answers to how public procurement should ethically value the social, ecological and economic responsibility in public procurement. The procurement authority has been commissioned by the government to amend the law on public procurement so that it is in line with the new climate law. I hope that this thesis can provide an environmental ethical perspective on public procurement. Keywords: sustainable purchases, sustainable public procurement, environmental ethics, evaluate sustainability in purchasing, sustainable development goals, public procurement shall solve societal problems.

Agenda 2030 är en global utvecklingsagenda för att utrota fattigdom, skapa fredliga och trygga samhällen samt stoppa klimatförändringar. Världen står för många utmaningar när det gäller vårt klimat och hur snabbt vi förbrukar jordens resurser. Därför är det mer aktuellt än aldrig att jobba såväl lokalt som globalt med hållbar utveckling, demokrati och att minska fattigdom. Syftet med denna rapport är att samla kunskap om hur kommuner och regioner i Sverige strategiskt arbetar för att nå målen för Agenda 2030 och identifiera faktorer om hur detta arbete framgångsrikt kan implementeras för att lyckas nå målen och en kvalitativ metod har valts för att utröna detta. Författarna använde sig av en webbaserad enkät som skickades via mail till 55 kommuner och regioner i Sverige. Resultatet påvisade att nyckelbegrepp som ledarskap, utbildning och engagemang var avgörande för implementeringen av målen. Olika strategier och quality-managementverktyg används för att implementera målen i organisationerna, däremot visade resultatet att de flesta kommuner och regioner i undersökningen inte hade en uttalad strategi för att uppnå målen i Agenda 2030. Kunskapsgap uppmärksammas i samband med rapporten och mer forskning med syfte att undersöka strategier och verktyg som organisationer kan använda för att implementera målen i Agenda 2030 är relevant. / The Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, is a global agenda that provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for the people and the planet. Our world is facing multiple challenges on stopping climate change and how we’re taking care of each other and our nature worldwide. Therefore, it is more relevant than ever to work locally and globally with sustainable development, democracy, and poverty reduction. The purpose of this report is to gather knowledge on how municipalities and regions in Sweden strategically work to reach the SDGs and identify factors taken by these organizations on how they succeed in their work. A qualitative method has been chosen to determine this. A web-based survey has been sent by e-mail to 56 municipalities and regions across Sweden. The result points out that key concepts such as leadership, education, and engagement are vital for the organizations in order to implement the SDGs in their daily work. Some quality management tools are used in the organizations to accomplish this, but the result also points out that the organizations do not have an explicit strategy for accomplishing the SDGs. The knowledge gap is tangible in Commented [LJ1]: Denna rubrik ligger på fel sida. 3 connection with the report. More research with the aim of examining strategies and tools that organizations can use to implement the goals in the 2030 Agenda is relevant. / <p>2021-06-05</p>

By 2020, Thailand ensured 100% electricity access to its 72 million inhabitants. This was partly done by promoting off-grid energy systems in rural areas instead of using costly grid extensions. Although electricity is ensured for all, future challenges and objectives include- increasing the share of renewable energy and decreasing energy dependence while simultaneously meeting the increasing demand. Off-grid energy solutions for rural areas have been studied in many previous projects. The most optimal energy system concerning cost, resilience, and emissions can be found by quantifying natural resources, estimating electricity consumption, and comparing technologies. This project aims to evaluate how an existing off-grid system can be complemented in the future. This was done by using the optimization program HOMER. The village Ban Wangwon, located in Prachuap Khiri Khan, was for a long time without electricity access due to a law obstructing them from connecting to the grid. This changed when in 2018, households were mounted with PV and BESS. Energy demand in the village was determined in three scenarios based on the World Banks tier system for rural energy and the previous population growth. In addition, the availability of meteorological and natural resources, energy load profile, and price of technology were determined based on the literature review and a field study. According to the results, the most optimal energy system for today's electricity use, Scenario 1, regarding both cost and emissions, was a PV/BESS system. In scenarios 2 and 3, a PV/BESS/Bio configuration proved the most cost-effective, although not optimal regarding emission rates for future energy demand. However, this system sees much lower emissions compared to when diesel generators were included, which makes this suitable for reaching Ban Wangwons requirements. Using a bio generator optimally requires a centralized energy system, requiring settlements with landowners. The biomass fuel considered in this work was pineapple crowns due to the abundance of pineapple factories and farms in the area. After a sensitivity analysis, the most impactful variables proved to be fuel prices, bio generator efficiency, and discount rate. Only one type of solar panel and battery was considered, and the load was assumed to be constant, which hindered the credibility of the results. Future projects could investigate more thoroughly how pineapple waste can be utilized in energy production, how price changes in renewable energy affect the outcome, and how a microgrid would be constructed. The results were considered beneficial in achieving SDGs 1 No poverty, 7 Affordable and clean energy, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, and 13 Climate action. / År 2020 säkerställde Thailand tillgång till el för 100% av sina 72 miljoner invånare. Detta gjordes delvis genom att främja fristående energisystem på landsbygden istället för att använda dyra elnätsförlängningar. Även om el finns tillgängligt för alla, inkluderar framtida utmaningar och mål att öka andelen förnybar energi samt minska energiberoendet samtidigt som efterfrågan på energi ökar. Fristående energilösningar för landsbygden har studerats i många tidigare projekt. Det mest optimala energisystemet gällande kostnader, resilliens och utsläpp kan bestämmas genom att kvantifiera naturliga resurser, uppskatta elförbrukning och jämföra teknologier. I detta projekt utvärderas hur ett redan befintligt fristående system kan kompletteras i framtiden. Detta gjordes med hjälp av optimeringsprogrammet HOMER. Byn Ban Wangwon, belägen i Prachuap Khiri Khan, var länge utan elektricitet på grund av en lag som hindrade dem från att ansluta till nätet. Detta ändrades när hushåll utrustades med PV och BESS år 2018. Energibehovet i byn bestämdes i tre scenarier baserat på the World Banks tier-system för energi på landsbygden samt den tidigare befolkningsökningen. Meteorologiska och naturliga resurser, energianvändningsprofil och teknikpris bestämdes baserat på en litteratur- och fältstudie. Enligt resultaten var det mest optimala energisystemet för dagens elanvädning, Scenario 1, ett PV/BESS system, avseende både kostnader och utsläpp. För de två övriga framtidsscenariorna, Scenario 2 och 3, visade sig en PV/BESS/Bio-konfiguration vara mest kostnadseffektiv, trots att den medför utsläpp. Detta system har dock mycket lägre utsläpp jämfört med dieselelgeneratorer, vilket gör det bra för att nå Ban Wangwons krav. Tillämpning av en biogenerator skulle kräva ett centraliserat energisystem, vilket skulle kräva överenskommelser med markägare. Biomassan som användes i detta arbete var ananasrester på grund av den stora mängden ananasfabriker och plantager i området. Efter en känslighetsanalys visade sig de mest påverkande variablerna vara bränslepris, bio-generatorns effektivitet och diskonteringsräntan. Endast en typ av solpanel och batteri togs i åtanke och elbehovet antogs vara konstant, vilket hindrar trovärdigheten i resultaten. Hur ananasavfall kan användas i energiproduktionen, hur prisförändringar inom förnybarenergi påverkar resultatet och hur ett microgrid skulle kunna konstrueras är alla relevanta frågor för framtida projekt. Resultaten ansågs vara fördelaktiga för att uppnå FN:s hållbarhetsmål 1 Ingen fattigdom, 7 Hållbar energi för alla, 11 Hållbara städer och samhällen och 13 Bekämpa klimatförändringarna.

This study aims at exploring the connections between nonviolence and sustainability in two cases. The relationship between nonviolence and sustainability is identified and discussed in light of the theories on nonviolence of Johan Galtung and theories of the ethical framework of ecocentrism. The theories are positioned in contrast to the two cases Swedish Muslims for Peace and Justice and The Sámi Parliament that are explored with connections to nonviolence and sustainability. The notion of peace and nonviolence and sustainable development is a relatively unexplored territory. So, through the first analysis of the two cases, I found three concepts of knowledge, cooperation and environment that appeared relevant. Therefore, I did my analysis with focus on these three concepts as helpful tools for the analysis and further discussion. These were used throughout the work in the study, in the light of the theories and vice versa, the material was then accessible. Then I could read between the lines and make the connections between nonviolence and sustainability, more explicit. The first conclusion made from this study is that nonviolence and sustainability are two realms that can and should be understood in terms of each other. Nonviolence and sustainability are both highlighted by understanding them in relationship to each other. There is a need to promote long-lasting peace. We also need to consider both people and nature to reduce our environmental footprints. We need to consider needs for all living beings, including nature. The study also concluded with a need for knowledge and cooperation to fight against structural and cultural violence. Furthermore, there is need to consider the earth and people, everything, and everyone in cooperation in the communal struggle´s, with focus on sustainable peace at every level of society.

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In this thesis, a framework is constructed for a life cycle assessment within a civilengineering project. There are various methods available on how to conduct lifecycle assessments and this thesis explores one method related to civil engineeringworks. The assessment follows the structure based in related standards such asEN 15804 which describes how to declare construction products. A working copyof a possible upcoming European level standard for sustainability assessment ofcivil engineering works is also used in the process. The object of assessment arethe materials, concrete and steel, in the retaining walls that are constructed alongthe channel near Södertälje Harbour. This is a part of a larger project, called theMälar Project.The life cycle of these type of constructions often stretches over long periodsof time which leaves a lot of uncertainties while estimating the impacts during thelater life stages. The research problem is much about how to handle the differentmodules of the life cycle regarding civil engineering works.Example data were collected and presented for each module of the life stage.The results of the example data showed that most of the impact came from theproduct stage. The conclusions are that the collection of data should be an integratedpart in the operating procedures for the company for a more efficientprocess, Environmental Product Declarations are a good source of data and standardson European level gives good guidelines on how to conduct a life cycleassessment for civil engineering projects. / I detta examensarbete konstrueras ett ramverk för hur en livscykelanalys kan utförasinom väg- och vattenbyggnad. Det finns många olika riktlinjer för hur enlivscykelanalys kan utföras och i detta examensarbete utforskas en metod för projektinom väg- och vattenbyggnad. Arbetet följer strukturen ur EN 15804 sombeskriver hur man bedömer byggprodukter. Ett arbetsexemplar av en ny, möjligstandard på Europanivå för miljöbedömning av projekt inom väg- och vatten användsockså i processen. Det som bedöms via livscykelanalys i denna studie är deingående materialen, stål och betong, i hållväggarna som byggs längs med kanalenvid Södertälje Hamn. Detta är en del av ett större projekt, kallat Mälarprojektet.Livscyklerna för denna typ av projekt är oftast väldigt långa vilket skapar enosäkerhet i data då påverkan för senare delar av livscykeln behöver uppskattas.Problematiken som presenteras handlar mycket om hur modulerna för livscykelnska behandlas för denna typ av projekt.Exempeldata samlades in för de olika modulerna och presenterades i tabellersom täcker alla relevanta delar av livscykeln. Resultatet av exempeldatan visadeatt den mesta påverkan kom från produktstadiet. De slutsatser som dras är attinsamlingen av data bör vara en integrerad del av företagets arbetsmetod fören effektiv process, miljödeklarationer är en bra källa till data och standards påEuropanivå ger bra guidelinjer för hur en livscykelanalys kan utföras för liknandeprojekt.

Biowaste Valorization (BV) includes practices that capture the value of biowaste through its conversion to high-value products. BV practices can influence the progress of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) differently. BV can have several potential interactions with the SDGs (BV-SDGs interactions) that may take the form of either synergies or trade-offs. Therefore, the identification of BV-SDGs interactions is key to the successful achievement of SDGs. Sweden is a country at an advanced stage of BV implementation and can thus offer valuable insights. Through semi-structured interviews, relevant stakeholders evaluated the impact of BV on 15 selected SDGs targets in Sweden thus far. Both positive and negative effects were found, but synergies outnumbered the trade-offs with BV positively contributing to all 15 targets. However, this study also shows some potential trade-offs that require further investigation. The findings highlight the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to address BV-SDGs interactions comprehensively. The evidence provided in this study can inform the scientific community as well as other types of stakeholders towards better BV planning. The insights from the Swedish case can be valuable to Sweden and other countries in different stages in the transition to BV and a wider Circular Economy (CE). / Biowaste Valorization (BV) inkluderar metoder som fångar värdet av bioavfall genom dess omvandling till högvärdiga produkter. BV-praxis kan påverka utvecklingen av olika hållbara utvecklingsmål (SDG) på olika sätt. BV kan ha flera potentiella interaktioner med SDG (BV-SDG-interaktioner) som kan ta formen av antingen synergier eller avvägningar. Därför är identifieringen av BV-SDG-interaktioner nyckeln till ett framgångsrikt uppnående av SDG. Sverige är ett land i ett långt framskridet stadium av BV-implementering och kan därmed erbjuda värdefulla insikter. Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer utvärderade relevanta intressenter effekten av BV på 15 utvalda SDG-mål i Sverige hittills. Både positiva och negativa effekter hittades, men synergierna överträffade avvägningarna med BV som positivt bidrog till alla 15 målen. Men den här studien visar också på några potentiella avvägningar som kräver ytterligare utredning. Resultaten belyser behovet av tvärvetenskapligt samarbete för att ta itu med BV-SDG-interaktioner på ett heltäckande sätt. Bevisen som tillhandahålls i denna studie kan informera vetenskapssamhället såväl som andra typer av intressenter mot bättre BV-planering. Insikterna från det svenska fallet kan vara värdefulla för Sverige och andra länder i olika skeden av övergången till BV och en bredare cirkulär ekonomi (CE).