Mistra Geopolitics' Co-Director appointed to high-level strategic foresight panel

Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Mistra Geopolitics are proud to announce that Dr. Henrik Carlsen, Co-Director of Mistra Geopolitics and SEI Senior Research Fellow, has been appointed to the United Nations Environment Programme and International Science Council (UNEP-ISC) Strategic Foresight panel.

UNEP-ISC Foresight Expert Panel

The International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have partnered to establish the UNEP-ISC Foresight Expert Panel which comprises 21 distinguished scholars and experts who will guide and oversee critical work on environmental horizon. Dr. Henrik Carlsen, Senior Research Fellow at SEI and Co-Director of the Mistra Geopolitics research programme, is one of the newly named members.

The Panel will be expected to advance science-based strategic foresight to develop futures thinking, be better prepared to engage with challenges proactively, and to inform and guide decisions for the benefit of the global environment.

Dr. Henrik Carlsen. Photo: SEI/ Christin-Philipson

“I am honoured to have been selected for this significant role,” said Dr. Carlsen.

Dr. Carlsen is the Co-Director of Mistra Geopolitics, a research programme focusing on the interplay of geopolitics, human security, and environmental change. A common thread of his research has been on identifying and assessing future threats and developing mitigation strategies including decision-making under uncertainty.

“I believe that the work of the UNEP-ISC Strategic Foresight panel will be critical in shaping the future of our planet. It is indeed challenging times for foresight processes, not the least because the rapid technological development we are currently seeing. I am excited to work with like-minded experts on this panel to develop innovative solutions to some of the most complex climate and environmental challenges facing us today.”

Currently Carlsen is leading the Mistra Geopolitics research theme Foresight Capabilities and Emerging Technologies, and focusing on global agendas for sustainable development, especially the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Henrik Carlsen’s overarching interest is to apply methodologies and approaches from systems theory on problems in sustainability science. He also specialises in the development and execution of combined analytical and stakeholder-driven processes.

Dr. Carlsen’s appointment to the UNEP-ISC Strategic Foresight panel reflects SEI’s ongoing commitment to developing and promoting sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges. SEI has a long history of collaborating with international organizations such as UNEP to address these challenges, and Dr. Carlsen’s appointment is a testimonial to the Institute’s reputation as a leader in this field.

More about UNEP-ISC's 's high-level panel

How can artificial intelligence contribute to Agenda 2030?

In the Mistra Geopolitics film featured below, Henrik Carlsen and experts discuss the importance of foresight, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to achieve the SDGs.

Mistra Geopolitics team

SEI

Henrik Carlsen

Henrik Carlsen is a senior research fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Deputy Programme Director of Mistra Geopolitics. Currently Dr. Henrik Carlsen is leading the Mistra Geopolitics research theme Foresight Capabilities and Emerging Technologies. He is an expert on decision making under uncertainty, with an emphasis on climate change adaptation. His research interests are based on the intersection between science and policy on long-term challenges to society.

Telephone:+46702677410

SEI

Ylva Rylander

Ylva Rylander is a Communications Officer at SEI. As a core member of SEI’s communications team and previous Press Officer of SEI, Ylva writes and edits press releases, develops communication plans and creates news stories. With 15 years of experience in public relations, awareness raising and external communication, she also provides strategic advice to SEI and Mistra Geopolitics researchers to help them maximize the impact of their research.

Telephone:+4673 150 33 84

SEI

Maria Cole

Maria Cole is a Senior Communications Officer at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) based in Stockholm.

Telephone:+46 70 224 20 22

News story written by Ng’endo Machua-Muniu, Henrik Carlsen and Ylva Rylander at SEI and Mistra Geopolitics.

More about Foresight Capabilities and Emerging Technologies