Climate change and land degradation, which is defined as the decline in the productive capacity of the land, have profound implications for resource-based livelihoods and food security. In this dissertation, I use remote sensing to improve understanding of how climate variability affects the productivity of global pasturelands and to quantify the spatial and temporal patterns of land degradation in the Southern Cone region (SCR) of South America. In the first chapter, I characterize the sensitivity of global pastureland productivity to climate variability by analyzing the relationship between MODIS enhanced vegetation index and gridded precipitation data. Results show that pasturelands are least capable of withstanding precipitation deficits in Australia, while pasturelands in Latin America recover more slowly after drought compared to other regions. In the second chapter, I use Landsat observations to measure the magnitude, geography, and rate of change in the amount of bare ground, herbaceous and woody vegetation in the SCR since 1999. Paraguay experienced the highest proportional increase in herbaceous cover as a result of agricultural expansion and intensification, while Uruguay experienced the highest proportional increase in woody cover as a result of afforestation. Argentina, the largest and most heterogeneous country in the SCR, experienced widespread land cover changes from deforestation, reforestation, afforestation, and desertification, each of which varied in extent and magnitude by ecoregion. In the third chapter, I assess patterns of land degradation in the SCR using the United Nations Sustainable Development framework. My results show that 67.5% of the SCR experienced changes in land cover properties in the 21st century, with widespread improvement (i.e., increased productive capacity), along with substantial hotspots of degradation caused by expansion of agriculture and systematic decreases in precipitation. Monitoring degradation is necessary to assess ecosystem services, ensure food security, and develop land use policies designed to increase the resilience of land systems to the joint stresses imposed by climate change and a growing global population. The methods, datasets, and results from this dissertation provide an improved basis for creating such policies in some of the world’s most vulnerable and food insecure regions.

Climate change is one of the hottest topics on the globe as of right now. The deadline of reaching both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement is getting closer, and actions are needed. This thesis focus on how two countries, Sweden and the United Kingdom are working towards achieving goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Policies, implementations of policies and actions are assessed. The study is a comparative case study that is based on secondary data presented by each country in official reports, the annual Sustainable Development Report as well as the Nationally Determined Contribution report by each country. The International Regime Approach is the theoretical framework used for consideration and comparison between the actions and non-actions by the two countries, where the relationship to the European Union plays an important role. The findings of the study shows that both Sweden and the United Kingdom is passionately working towards achieving the climate goals and has pointed out relevant policies and actions to meet the SDGs. Progress has been made in both countries as emission rates has been radically reduced but despite their devotion, both countries are far from reaching the climate goals as the overall progress of implementation of policies are not on satisfactory levels.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第20594号 / 地環博第165号 / 新制||地環||33(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎環境マネジメント専攻 / (主査)教授 星野 敏, 教授 柴田 昌三, 准教授 西前 出 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

In this study we focus on how Swedish youth organizations influenced formulation of anational agenda 2030 policy, contributing enhanced understanding how independent,representative and youth-led organizations can facilitate young people's participation insocietal change. A secondary query concerns what challenges and opportunities to a highlevel of youth participation can be found, aiming to learn from a crucial case of youthparticipation in formulation of national policy under favorable conditions in the supposedlyinclusive Agenda 2030-framework. This case study was designed inspired by process tracingmethod and an attributed influence approach using semi structured interviews to supplementrecords and reports from the Agenda 2030-committee. Through this study we conclude thatyouth organizations are seen as important and influential actors, and often invited as experts.But evidence of large degree of effect on final policy is lacking. Related to this we find thatthe Agenda 2030-committee largely wielded a form of communicational influence towardsthe Swedish government which for the most part ignored its conclusion andrecommendations. We therefore conclude that this unclear relation between the dialoguestructure and formal decision-making process contributes a considerable challenge toqualitative participation. Even as the consultation have been designed to facilitate organizedinterests we find that government officials stress the importance of reaching “real” youthrather than members of youth organizations, effectively creating a dichotomy betweenorganized and non-organized youth.

Background: As the Earth heads towards the zone of exceedance, there is a highlighted importance in contributing towards sustainable development. The sustainable development goals (SDGs), introduced by the United Nations, act as guidance to integrate environmental, social, and economic aspects, to ensure a sustainable future.  However, research is missing on the interconnection between the need to engage stakeholders in the Port and the SDGs. Researching the port of Le Havre is used as an example to demonstrate an in-depth analysis of the actors’ activities and their level of engagement regarding sustainability. Purpose: This thesis aims to analyze the sustainability strategies taken by the stakeholders in the port industry based in the port of Le Havre and identify the key elements to achieve the SDGs by engaging the stakeholders.  Method: The study aligns with an interpretive analysis, where qualitative multiple exploratory case studies were carried out. Through semi-structured interviews, the researchers were able to assess the sustainable activities realized by the stakeholders. By analyzing the data using a coding procedure, five aggregate dimensions emerged. Conclusion: This study suggests that the stakeholders and their awareness of sustainability are essential to achieve the SDGs. In addition to this conclusion, the findings also suggest they should act collectively towards meeting the SDGs, to ensure a holistic and long-lasting strategy towards sustainability.

Today sustainability is a broadly discussed concept all over the globe due to the threat of climate change driven by human activities. Therefore, collective efforts are needed to raise awareness to conserve environmental health and sustainability, and sustainable development is to be prioritized in all organizations. Sweden demonstrates a high commitment to developing sustainability in practice through the collective effort of Swedish society. China is Sweden’s largest international trade partner in Asia. This thesis explores the strategies, facilitators, and challenges for Swedish firms pursuing sustainability goals while collaborating with Chinese partners. A single case study on a SwedishMNC, IKEA is presented to conduct the thesis. IKEA demonstrates the strategy of sustainable collaboration with Chinese partners. The analysis determines that close collaboration to co-create value, regular audits, and balancing the three aspects of sustainable development, economic, social, and environmental, are needed for a Swedish firm to pursue its sustainability goals while collaborating with Chinese partners.

Costa Rica is in many aspects a well-developed country, but as many other countries there is still a lot of inequality between the genders. Which can take its form in violence towards minorities such as women and children. The region is also influenced heavily by very conservative gender norms. The aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth investigation of the occurrence of gender-based violence (GBV). As well as to understand the societal and cultural factors that serve as institutional mechanisms and how they impact the country's development. The study will focus on institutions as structural features of public policy, and the norms set by these institutions that affect laws and civil society. By identifying these institutional mechanisms through the help of our respondents and relevant theories, the study will analyze the legislation, policies and cultural norms that exist within Costa Rican society and compare them with the insights provided by the respondents. This will be achieved through first-hand experiences and observations obtained from in-depth interviews with women and professionals who work and live in Costa Rica. The responses from the interviews will serve as the primary source of data for analysis. The result will be analyzed using Hirdman gender theories: Bandura A. social learning theory, and new institutional theory. The analysis will be presented in different themes, focusing on the legislation and the implementation of laws. The second theme will discuss in more detail the institutional mechanisms and how they impact the development of the country. The study findings indicate that Costa Rica has an underrepresentation of women in the political sphere and society overall, and there is no priority on women's issues. The patriarchal structure perpetuates a damaging worldview for women, machismo, and cultural traditions are some of the examples of informal mechanisms of influence present in the society. In conclusion, GBV is a significant problem in Costa Rica that leads to a high number of women being hurt or killed each year and makes it harder to move forward when it comes to sustainable development. The study finds that institutionalized norms influence the country's politics and contribute to the rise in cases of GBV. Costa Rica is in a unique position concerning sustainable development, and it is essential to study this issue, especially given the country`s previously positive development trajectory. There is also a lack of studies and work by Sweden and Sida in Central and Latin America.

The EU Sustainable Development Goals have long been a resemblance of the urgent call forclimate action and sustainable development. With increasing attention for climate change anda subsequent call for action from states, consumers’ preferences have now also changedtowards opting for sustainable goods and services. The fact that sustainability has becomeincreasingly important to consumers has not gone unnoticed by manufacturers and sellers ofgoods and services. Consequently, trade marks are increasingly used to label goods asenvironmentally sound and to create a sustainable image. With trade marks, certification marksand geographical indications being a valuable source of information, capable ofcommunicating this green reputation, there is also a significant risk of consumer deceptionthrough greenwashing. Nevertheless, trade mark law is used as a means of fosteringsustainable development. Consequently, trade mark law is concerned with sustainability. Thisbegs the question to what degree EU trade mark law is tailored to achieve the EU SustainableDevelopment Goals. To answer this question, a thorough assessment is made of the currentlegal framework of EU trade mark law. Multiple aspects of this system are discussed with afocus on descriptive and deceptive marks, as well as the right to repair, certification marks andgeographical indications. The assessment comprises of a look into the influence on sustainabledevelopment, together with the discerning of shortcomings in the way the respective aspectsof EU trade mark law can add to the achievability of the EU Sustainable Development Goals.After the individual assessments it is argued that there are multiple points of improvement.Further, solutions are introduced to remedy these points of improvement. In specific, aguideline including a non-exhaustive list of terms that should be avoided when registering atrade mark, CJEU recognition of sustainability as a characteristic through which the public canbe deceived and the introduction of sustainable production standards for EU certificationmarks and GIs, possibly through governmentally issued certification marks and GIs, are the keyimprovements of the EU trade mark regulatory system to improve the achievability of the SDGs.It is concluded that EU trade mark law is to a great extent tailored to achieve the EU SustainableDevelopment Goals, but that with the help of the suggested remedies, EU trade mark law canbecome a true catalyst of sustainable development.

The Doughnut Economy integrates social and environmental sustainability into one holistic model. As sustainability becomes more relevant for multinational corporations, it is crucial to explore the possibilities of the Doughnut Economy as a tool for enhancing and visualising corporate sustainability efforts. Therefore, this study examines how multinational corporations' sustainability strategies align with the Doughnut Economy model and explores potential challenges and stakeholder benefits of alignment. Moreover, this interpretive study adopts an inductive approach, employing an exploratory and explanatory case study to contribute to existing theory and practice. Gathering qualitative data through semi-structured interviews with sustainability managers at Husqvarna Group, complemented by the company's 2022 sustainability report as secondary data. Next, thematic analysis was used to analyse the empirical findings, providing a comprehensive understanding of patterns and themes. Overall this study concludes that strategic alignment with the Doughnut Economy enables multinational corporations to enhance sustainability efforts and enables stakeholder benefits. Additionally, there are challenges of alignment due to the Doughnut Economy model’s complexity and limited stakeholder knowledge, however, investments in education and stakeholder engagement can address these challenges. By embracing the suggested strategies and overcoming identified obstacles, multinational corporations can strengthen their alignment with the Doughnut Economy, contributing to a sustainable future.

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