Broad research for climate transition

At the end of March 2026, the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) decided to recommend that the government grant funding for this application to establish a strategic research area. The interview below with Karin Bäckstrand was done before this decision was made.
Read more: Stockholm University recommended to lead four strategic research areas

Karin Bäckstrand is a professor of environmental social science research at Stockholm University and conducts research on climate policy and environmental politics in EU, global and national contexts. She also coordinated the application submitted by Stockholm University for climate-related research within the Swedish Research Council call for strategic research areas. From the field of social sciences, there is another professor of political science, Andreas Duit, and John Hassler, professor of economics within the proposed research environment. Professors Ilona Riipinen and Line Gordon, who are directors of the Bolin Centre for Climate Research and the Stockholm Resilience Centre, will also participate from Stockholm University. Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet are also part of the interdisciplinary research environment.

The starting point for the proposed research is that the climate transition is a societal transformation that requires integrated knowledge from several disciplines.

"That is why we bring together leading research in the social sciences, natural sciences, technology and medicine at Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet. By combining modelling of future scenarios with analyses of governance, policy, legitimacy, fairness and health effects, we want to develop knowledge about how the climate transition can be effective, fair and legitimate."

What are the main strengths of this research environment?
"A key strength is the interdisciplinary integration between three strong research environments within the Stockholm Trio University Alliance. We link advanced climate and systems modelling with research on politics, economics and society, as well as environmental medicine. In addition, we develop unique global databases on climate policy, citizens’ legitimacy perceptions, climate-related risks and synergies, and conflicts between climate protection and other goals."

Holistic perspective on the climate transition

According to Karin Bäckstrand, KTH contributes with cutting-edge expertise in technical solutions, energy systems, digitalisation and integrated analysis models for climate scenarios. Karolinska Institutet provides internationally leading research on climate and health, including advanced exposure and health data, as well as knowledge about how health and medical care systems can become climate-neutral and resilient. "Together with political science, economics and sustainability studies, we are strengthening the holistic perspective on the climate transition and how a net-zero and resilient society can be achieved in line with the 1.5 degree goal in the Paris Agreement.

What practical use do you hope the research can result in?
"We want to contribute with evidence-based research as input to decision-making for politicians, public authorities, municipalities and the business community nationally, globally and within the EU. The research will provide better tools and policy instruments for designing effective and equitable climate action, identify synergies between health, environmental protection and the economy, and address goal conflicts. Our open databases and scenarios will also serve as support for international policy work and long-term planning for the transition to a fossil-free society," says Karin Bäckstrand.

Stockholm University is strong and internationally leading trans-disciplinary environments for climate and sustainability research across natural and social sciences, Karin Bäckstrand continues.

"Through our environmental social science research, the Bolin Centre for Climate Research and the Stockholm Resilience Centre, advanced earth system research and climate modelling are combined with analyses of sustainable development, planetary boundaries and transition to net-zero society. It provides unique breadth and depth in research on the causes, consequences and solutions of the climate crisis.”

Read more about Karin Bäckstrand's research
Read more about the Bolin Centre for Climate Research
Read more about the Stockholm Resilience Centre