STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

How can we work with nature to design and build our cities? This course explores urban nature and nature-based solutions in cities in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. We discuss how to assess what nature-based solutions can achieve in cities. We examine how innovation is taking place in cities in relation to nature. And we analyse the potential of nature-based solutions to help respond to climate change and sustainability challenges. This course was launched in January 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Naturvation – a collaborative project on finding synergies between cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.   

How can we shape our urban development towards sustainable and prosperous futures? This course explores sustainable cities as engines for greening the economy in Europe and around the world. We place cities in the context of sustainable urban transformation and climate change. We connect the key trends of urbanization, decarbonisation and sustainability. We examine how visions, experiments and innovations can transform urban areas. And we look at practices (what is happening in cities at present) and opportunities (what are the possibilities for cities going forwards into the future). This course was launched in January 2016, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with WWF and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability who work with creating sustainable cities. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

How can we govern consumption and the sharing economy in our cities? This course explores cities, consumption and the sharing economy in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of the sharing economy, cities, governance, consumption and urban sustainability. We explore how the sharing economy can contribute to increasing social, environmental and economic sustainability. And we argue that it is imperative that the sharing economy is shaped and designed to advance urban sustainability. This course was launched in May 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. This course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Sharing Cities Sweden – a national program for the sharing economy in cities with a focus on governance and sustainability. It features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

This course is offered on-demand, meaning that it will begin as soon as at least 10 participants have registered. Once the threshold is reached, the course will start shortly thereafter. Batteries and battery technology are vital for achieving sustainable transportation and climate-neutral goals. As concerns over retired batteries are growing and companies in the battery or electric vehicle ecosystem need appropriate business strategies and framework to work with.This course aims to help participants with a deep understanding of battery circularity within the context of circular business models. You will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement circular business models and strategies in the battery and electric vehicle industry, considering both individual company specific and ecosystem-wide perspectives. You will also gain the ability to navigate the complexities of transitioning towards circularity and green transition in the industry.The course includes a project work to develop a digitally enabled circular business model based on real-world problems. Course content Battery second life and circularity Barriers and enablers of battery circularity Circular business models Ecosystem management Pathways for circular transformation Design principles for battery circularity Role of advanced digital technologies Learning outcomes After completing the course, you will be able to: Describe the concept of battery circularity and its importance in achieving sustainability goals. Examine and explain the characteristics and differences of different types of circular business models and required collaboration forms in the battery- and electric vehicle- industry. Analyze key factors that are influencing design and implement circular business models based on specific individual company and its ecosystem contexts. Analyze key stakeholders and develop ecosystem management strategies for designing and implementing circular business models. Explain the role of digitalization, design, and policies to design and implement circular business models. Plan and design a digitally enabled circular business model that is suitable for a given battery circularity problem. Examples of professional roles that will benefit from this course are sustainability managers, battery technology engineers, business development managers, circular developers, product developers, environmental engineers, material engineers, supply chain engineers or managers, battery specialists, circular economy specialists, etc. This course is given by Mälardalen university in cooperation with Luleå University of Technology. Study effort: 80 hours

Introduktion Små och medelstora företag (SME) med färre än 250 anställda utgör 99,9% av företagen i Sverige. De anställer över 2 miljoner personer och är viktiga underleverantörer till större företag och offentlig sektor. Ofta är miljöarbetet i SME mindre utvecklat än i stora företag, men krav och förväntningar på ett systematiskt hållbarhetsarbete ökar, främst i klimatfrågor. Genom att gå kursen kommer din kunskap att öka om de möjligheter och utmaningar som klimatförändringen och klimatarbetet innebär för företagen och samhället i stort. Du kommer att lära dig om strategier för klimatomställning, och hur du och ditt företag också kan bidra i arbetet.   Innehåll Orsaker till och effekter av miljöproblem, främst rörande klimatförändringar, förlust av biologisk mångfald och spridning av föroreningar: Internationell och nationell klimatpolitik Allmänheten, företagen och klimatfrågan Strategier för hållbarhet och klimat i företag Verktyg och praktiska klimatåtgärder i företag, framförallt SME Kursens upplägg Kursen består av förinspelade föreläsningar och samtal med interaktiva frågemoment (quiz) som släpps veckovis under tre veckor. Några träffar ges också på Zoom på lunch- och kvällstid några gångar per år där deltagare har möjlighet att ställa frågor (datum meddelas löpande på den interna kurssidan). I slutet av kursen skriver varje deltagare en kortare redovisning (ca 1 sida) av en praktisk orienterad uppgift där kursinnehållet tillämpas i en beskrivning av klimatomställning i ett företag. Kurscertifikat erhålls vid minst 80% rätt i varje quiz och inlämnad slutuppgift.   Du kommer få kunskap om Efter avslutad kurs kommer du att kunna beskriva grunderna för klimatförändringar, deras orsaker och effekter på miljön, samhället och företag. Du kan även beskriva klimatstrategier och klimatåtgärder inom näringslivet, samt reflektera över möjligheter och utmaningar med företagets klimatarbete. Du får även kunskap om redskap och ansatser för att undersöka klimatarbetet på företag. Vem vänder sig kursen till? Kursen vänder sig till yrkesverksamma personer inom små och medelstora företag som är intresserade av de möjligheter och utmaningar som klimatomställningen kan innebära för svenska företag och samhället i stort. Målgruppen är anställda, ägare, fackliga ombud och andra intresserade i företag, inklusive personer som söker nya jobb eller startar företag.

Opens in May 2025. The Swedish version of the course, namely ”Varför välja trä vid nästa byggprojekt?” is already open. For more iformation contact course coordinator dimitris.athanassiadis@slu.seCourse DescriptionDifferent types of biomaterials (e.g., wood) are crucial in the challenge of decarbonizing the built environment and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure by replacing materials like steel and cement, which have high carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we must not forget that it is important to preserve biodiversity and the social values of our forests. The 13 modules of the course cover many forestry related subjects, including harvesting methods, biodiversity, forest management, logistics, the role of forests in the climate transition, carbon storage, environmental benefits of multi-story buildings with wood, and more. The goal is that participants will gain a shared understanding of Swedish forestry so that they can make well-informed decisions about material choices for their next construction project. Course PeriodThe course will be active for 3 years. Content Forest history: The utilization of forests in Sweden throughout the past years Forestry methods and forest management Forest regeneration Wood properties Forest mensuration Forest tree breeding The forest's carbon balance Business models and market development: Focus on wood high rises Nature conservation and biodiversity in the forest Course StructureThe course is fully digital with pre-recorded lectures. You can participate in the course at your own pace. Modules conclude with quizzes where you can test how much you have learned. You will learn aboutUpon completion of the course, you will have learned more about various forest-related concepts, acquired knowledge of forest utilization in Sweden throughout the past years, increased your understanding of forest management and how different management methods affect biodiversity in the forest, and learned about the forestry cycle—from regeneration to final harvesting, etc. Who is this course for?This course is designed for professionals such as architects, municipal employees working with urban planning and construction, individuals in the construction and civil engineering sector, and those in other related fields. This is an introductory course and will contribute to upskilling of the entire construction sector, thereby increasing the industry's international competitiveness while also providing important prerequisites for the development of future sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive cities. Since the course is open to everyone, we hope that more groups, such as students, doctoral candidates, forest owners, and others with an interest in forestry, will take the course and engage with inspiring lectures where scientific knowledge primarily produced within SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) is presented.