Geopolitics of Sustainability conference

On 9 April 2025, Mistra, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research will celebrate their 30^th anniversary with a special event in Brussels hosted by the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU. Mistra Geopolitics will be represented by Professor Björn-Ola Linnér, Associate Professor André Månberger and Communications Lead Maria Cole.

Media advisory 22 January, 2025

How do we address increasingly urgent sustainability challenges effectively in times of rising geopolitical insecurity? On 4 February, the Geopolitics of Sustainability conference will explore strategies to tackle some of these challenges.

How can we ensure global food security and just transition with rising threats like climate change and geopolitical turmoil? What will the current political shift in the US mean for international efforts to combat climate change?

Geopolitical challenges. — Geopolitical challenges around the world. Image by Gerd Altmann / Pixabay.

On 4 February, the Mistra Geopolitics research programme will host distinguished national and international thought leaders and academics in Stockholm, Sweden. We will discuss how we can collectively navigate towards a more secure and sustainable future.

The conference will include discussions on the following thematic areas:

Towards a food secure world: transboundary climate risks and weaponization of food
Artificial intelligence (AI) as a power shifter in sustainable development
How geopolitical dynamics shape the prospects for sustainable and secure oceans
Decarbonization dilemmas: global winners, losers, and resource realities
Sustainable visions for the future: promising avenues and ways forward

Featured speakers

Lena Ek, Chair of the Mistra Geopolitics Board (welcome remarks)
Björn-Ola Linnér, Mistra Geopolitics’ Programme Director (welcome remarks)
Nick Maybe, Founding Director and co-CEO of E3G (keynote)
Annika Markovic, Sweden’s Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia. Permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna.
Robert Egnell, Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish Defence University and Mistra Geopolitics Board member.
Bernice Lee OBE, Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs. (TBC)
Dan Smith, Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Fredrik Heintz, Professor and member of Sweden’s AI Commission, Head of the Division of Artificial Intelligence at Linköping University.

The conference is organized by Mistra Geopolitics and marks the conclusion of its eight-year research programme, which has involved contributions from over 60 researchers. The conference will end with a PhD poster exhibition and a reception.

Practical information

Date and time: 4 February, 9:00- 17:00 followed by a poster exhibition and a reception.

Registration: The conference is by invitation only and held in-person in Stockholm. Please register your interest through our registration form. The organizing team will come back to you regarding availability.

Access the conference agenda

Read the latest Mistra Geopolitics news

For interviews or information, please contact:

Ylva Rylander, Press Contact for Mistra Geopolitics at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
[email protected], +46 (0) 73 150 3384

Maria Cole, Communications Lead for Mistra Geopolitics, Stockholm Environment Institute
[email protected], +46 (0) 70 224 2022

Linköping University
Professor Björn-Ola Linnér

Dr. Henrik Carlsen. — SEI
Henrik Carlsen

SEI

Ylva Rylander

Ylva Rylander is the press contact for Mistra Geopolitics. Ylva is a Communications and Impact Officer at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). As a core member of SEI’s communications team and previous Press Officer of SEI, Ylva writes and edits press releases and creates news stories. With over 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 and Impact Officer at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in Stockholm. Maria is the Communications Lead for Mistra Geopolitics and leads the work package on Communications and Stakeholder engagement.

Telephone:+46 70 224 20 22

Linköping University

Professor Björn-Ola Linnér

Björn-Ola Linnér is the Deputy Programme Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Professor at the Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research at Linköping University. He analyses how the political processes and actors affect conditions for social changes towards sustainable development in different parts of the world. He has a long experience in research dialogues with various societal actors, such as the climate convention’s secretariat, governments, businesses and environmental organizations.

SEI

Henrik Carlsen

Henrik Carlsen is a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and 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