Research examples
At the University of Copenhagen, we want to lead the way in providing research that can help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Below is a series of short videos highlighting research activities underway, that can bring society closer to achieving this.
Some of these activities provide revelations about the ideas and cultural traditions that constrain and enable action. Others focus on how we organise our societies and our economies, and some help us catalyse collective and individual behavioral change. Finally, some of the research activities focus on the development of new technologies that can help us use the Earth’s resources more efficiently.
Taxation on agricultural CO2-emissions (in Danish)
Peter Birch Sørensen, from the Department of Economics, presents the official recommendations for a tax on agricultural emissions, and explains how he and the rest of the Svarer-working group navigated a challenging science-political process.
Governance as a lever regarding Urban and peri-urban development
Natalie Gulsrud, from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, calls for a debate of Environmental Justice. Is access to green spaces equal - and is there equal access to the decision-making process when it comes to developing and planning new green spaces?
Further reading:
Green justice in the city: A new agenda for urban green space research in Europe
Glacially abraded rock as nutrition source to plants
Geologist Minik Rosing, explains how granite fromunder the Greenland icecap, can work as a source of nutrition when distributed on tropical soils, and how this can contribute to increased food security in the tropics.
Further reading:
Glacially abraded rock flour from Greenland: Potential for macronutrient supply to plants
Mapping glacial rock flour deposits in Tasersuaq, southern West Greenland
Building mountain biodiversity: Geological and evolutionary processes
Former environmental problems as a tool for future work
In this video, historian Bo Fritzbøger talks about how we can look into the past on former environmental problems, as a tool to sustainable development.
Further reading:
Global varmeforurening. Historien om en glemt miljørisiko ca. 1960-85
Sustainable food systems for the future
Christian Bugge Henriksen is a researcher in climate smart agriculture and sustainable food production systemson. In this short video he talks about the transformation of the European food system towards a more low carbon cirkular future.
Further reading:
Multi-Functional Land Use Is Not Self-Evident for European Farmers: A Critical Review
Nitrogen Fertilizer Effects on Pea–Barley Intercrop Productivity Compared to Sole Crops in Denmark
How Climate Change affects ecosystem processes
Riikka Rinnan explores the controls of the exchange of biogenic volatile organic compounds between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Further reading:
Evidence for large microbial-mediated losses of soil carbon under anthropogenic warming
Communities and reduction of carbon foot print
Jens Hoff is a reseacher in sustainability and climate change governance. In this video he talks about how small changes in our behavior can reduce our carbon foot print.
Further reading:
Barriers and opportunities in developing and implementing a Green GDP
Are vegetables political? The traces of the Copenhagen Food Coop
The Role of Non-State Actors in the Green Transition: Building a Sustainable Future
Insects and sustainable protein
Mickey Gjerris is associate professor in bio-ethics. In this video he talks about ethical perspectives regarding production of insect protein.
International investments in the green transition
Joanna Lam is professor MSO at the Faculty of Law. In this video she talks about her research project ENERGIZE.
Protection of indigenous people in small island states
Miriam Cullen is associate professor at the Faculty of Law. In this video she talks about her research project "Of Islands and Ice".
Urban farming
Kristian Holst Laursen is associate professor at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. In this video he talks about his work on cultivating a sustainable future for cities.