Looking forward to a fruitful autumn

News: Jun 21, 2022

Mid-Year Greetings from Global Sustainable Futures

From left to right: Saga Cambon, Olof Drakenberg, Marie Thynell, Suzanne Mamet, Jan Riise, Helena Sandberg, Magdalena Eriksson.

Despite a sense that we are all busy this time of year, one may hope this is the lull before the storm. From the centurial perspective of the recent Stockholm +50 conference, we have much to accomplish if our common agenda for a sustainable planet is to be achieved.

Over the 50 years since 1972, as planetary boundaries and the footprint of human activity have become more broadly recognized, we have learned a lot, established fora for dialogues and even created lists of action items.

At Global Sustainable Futures, we bring together distant actors—from Chalmers, University of Gothenburg and partners in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC)—to address, through knowledge-based approaches, the challenges outlined in Agenda 2030 as well as longer term.

In the first half of 2022, we have taken several steps forward.

Globally, the collaboration between research groups at Chalmers and East African partners universities has gained momentum with research around energy solutions, provisions for food and nutrition, data-driven ICT solutions and means to improve air quality ramping up. With the ambition to broaden and strengthen further this collaboration, GSF will stage a strategic workshop in Kigali, with the Vice-Chancellors of Chalmers and University of Rwanda as co-hosts in November 2022.

We also have featured LMIC representatives in the webinars GSF has staged, one event in January about secure access to safe drinking water, a recurring problem in many LMIC. A webinar held in March portrayed 10 years of collaboration around sustainable urban development in Kisumu, Kenya. Our webinar series will continue in the second half of 2022. Look out for invitations!

On the Gothenburg arena, GSF activities have included the establishment of the Thematic Working Group Water. About 70 members at Chalmers and University of Gothenburg are currently exploring opportunities for global thematic collaboration. GSF also brought together students for an inspirational event to inform about collaboration and exchange opportunities in the Global South.

As we approach the season for annual leave, let’s embrace the seasonal lull, enjoy some rest and then resume activities next semester with renewed vigor.

Wishing everyone a restful season!

/Magdalena Eriksson, Platform Leader, Global Sustainable Futures

Read the full version of our Mid-Year Greetings and find out more about current activities and up-coming initiatives and events.

BY: Magdalena Eriksson

Originally published on: www.gmv.gu.se