Welcome! I'm Director of PhD Studies and Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS) in Lund, Sweden. In my research, I study the connections between people, land, and climate. My goal is to understand how to steward land and nature to support a good life for everyone alive today, and leave a thriving planet for future generations, especially through rapidly and fairly reducing carbon pollution to zero. 

I'm currently on leave writing a book about the agency, urgency, purpose, and joy we each have in solving the climate crisis, which will be published in North America by G.P. Putnam's Sons. 

For the remainder of 2020 I am based at the Municipality of Lund on my Formas project to collaboratively, radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

LATEST NEWS 

High-Impact Climate Actions 

Seth Wynes compiled 39 sources in our study to answer the question: What personal choices make the biggest difference for the climate? 

Wine Diversity Can Help Buffer Climate Change Losses

Our new study in PNAS shows climate change harms wine (more heating = worse impacts). Harnessing nature (biodiversity) can help, but adaptation has limits. The faster we quit carbon pollution = more + better options. 

Behavior change to meet long-term climate targets

Seth Wynes and I were commissioned by World Resources Institute to write a short perspective on reducing demand for high-emitting behaviors like flying to meet long-term climate targets. 

Supporting School Strike for Climate

On 15 March, I gave a speech for the Lund #SchoolStrike4Climate and contributed to an op-ed by scientists in the leading Swedish newspaper DN, as well as a blog for LUCSUS on how our research informs climate action.

Limited Wine Diversity Limits Climate Resilience

Our paper in Nature Climate Change shows how many wine regions grow just 12 varieties on up to 90% of their vineyard area- instead of exploring the thousands of varieties that may be better suited to a warming climate. 

Climate Change in 12 words

The story of a curriculum, & my referenced sign

Wine & Climate Change 

My article in Scientific American: climate change is changing the taste of wine.

Climate curriculum 

Turning the IPCC into a teaching framework - presentation at Our Common Future Under Climate Change conference

Coronavirus & Climate

Please see Press page for recent interviews with the BBC, New York Times, Business Insider, and more. 

€27 billion in EU farm subsidies misspent

Our new study shows that EU agricultural subsidies increase income inequality, pay polluters, and send rural development money to cities. The Common Agricultural Policy needs reform to deliver social benefits. 

Key Gaps in EU's Common Agricultural Policy

The EU's largest funding scheme, the Common Agricultural Policy, is not tracking its contribution to key Sustainable Development Goals, risking their achievement, we show in a new study led by Murray Scown.

Collaborating for Radical Emissions Reductions

I was granted support from the Swedish Research Council Formas to spend 8 months on exchange at the Municipality of Lund. I'll be based at the Environmental Strategy Division and will work with policymakers, civil servants, and the public to help assess and implement a science-based plan and process for meeting Lund's goal to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030. Read more on the link above. 

Flying Less Is Critical to a Safe Climate Future

Seth Wynes and I wrote one of 26 diverse contributions to the scholarly symposium "Green New Deal: Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy." 

The Takeoff of Staying on the Ground

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I'm leading a new research project  to study the rising social and political movement in Sweden to avoid flying to help meet climate goals.

Climate education in Canada not giving the full picture

Our new study shows that high school climate education focuses on warming, but not scientific consensus, negative impacts, or solutions. 

Sustainable agriculture in Europe

Murray Scown led a new study in PNAS identifying the 32 variables shared by research, policy, and practice for sustainable agriculture in Europe. 

Kims Klimatval

In collaboration with Sveriges Radio, I interviewed a spokesperson from each of the 8 Swedish political parties about their climate policies leading up to the  September 2018 national election (in Swedish).

Carbon Footprints on WNYC

Explaining how to reduce carbon footprints on WNYC live radio, with Mark Fischetti of Scientific American. 

How We Solved Climate Change: A Retrospective from 2050

Voted best keynote of the Öredev conference 2017 by 500 technology thought leaders.

Making Climate Action Personal

My reflections in Scientific American on individual climate action- from our study and in my own life