Kaj Embren

Can city mayors lead the way on sustainable development?

May 15, 2015

On a recent trip to San Francisco and Austin, Texas, I found myself accompanied by two potential agents of change – Benjamin Barber’s book If Mayors Ruled the World and a newly appointed Swedish city mayor, Niklas Nordström. The former has the power to inspire and empower local politicians who wish to take on… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, Leadership and sustainability, Political Governence, Sustainability, Uncategorized

, Business, Climate, Climate negotiation, cop21, Sustainability and Leadership

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Energy independence for Ukraine?

December 22, 2014

Issues of energy efficiency and sustainable energy production may have featured less prominently in the recent unrest, but they may present the greatest long-term opportunity for Kiev to seize control of its own fortunes. European investment can also play a crucial role in encouraging energy (and thus political) independence, for the country. In Ukraine´s third… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Energy Efficiency, Leadership and sustainability, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Dev.

, Eco Cities, Energy Efficiency, Fossil fuel, Leadership, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Ukraine

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Mayors network listed – will Mayors take the lead on a climate deal?

October 19, 2014

National governments have proven that they do not have what is required to meet the global challenges of climate change and the unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. The shortcomings of the COP meeting since Copenhagen acts as testament to this. With the burden of recession and austerity, short-sighted national governments have thus far shown… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, Leadership and sustainability, Sustainability, Sustainable Dev., Uncategorized

, Climate negotiation, Eco Cities, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Cities

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Political leadership in a new era

May 13, 2014

IPCC. Drought. Storms. CO2 levels of 400 ppm. In 2014, climate change and sustainability moved from being distinct environmental concerns to becoming systematic welfare issues. Agricultural production was effected by both droughts and floods in many areas around the world. We have also seen war and conflictemerge in the wake of climate change and the… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Leadership and sustainability, Political Governence, Sustainability, Sustainable Dev.

, Climate change, CSR, Environment, Leadership, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Development

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Circular economies: a new industrial model, not “business as usual”

February 20, 2014

The move from linear business models to circular ones is an exciting development. More and more companies are rejecting the “business as usual” model by maximizing the value extracted from resources and reusing them to generate new products as well as by improving efficiency which enable cost savings in raw materials, labour, energy, water, waste… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Energy Efficiency, Leadership and sustainability, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Sustainable Dev.

, Business, CSR, Leadership, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Development

Climate strategy is a welfare issue

January 24, 2014

Europe is facing a shift political agendas. This transition will place greater focus on welfare, in both the short- and long-term, and in both policy and action. The organizations and individuals involved in social dialogue feel that the political leadership is far too indecisive and slow-moving to create new models in this time of change.… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Leadership and sustainability, Renewable Energy, Sustainability

, Climate change, Energy Efficiency, EU, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and Leadership

Welfare at stake?

January 7, 2014

Dear friends, The new year marks new challenges and opportunities. In 2014 we will see two tests of two major political systems – the Swedish general election and the EU’s parliamentary election. Are politicians ready to face the challenges of the welfare state, climate change and other global issues? Let me propose one of the… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, English, Leadership and sustainability, Sustainable Dev.

, CSR, Eco Cities, EU, Fossil fuel, Investment, Pension funds, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Development

Prevent, recycle and reuse

December 29, 2013

As urban consumers our use of resources leaves a huge footprint on the planet. In Europe alone, 8 billion plastic bags find their way through to waste disposal systems, creating unnecessary environmental problems. The OECD expects that its member countries will generate 45 percent more waste than it did in 1995. A new EU directive… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, Sustainable Dev.

, Eco Cities, Leadership, Recycling, Sustainability, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Development

Sweden may have moved first to break fossil fuel dependency, but it’s no thanks to the pension funds

December 14, 2013

The planet’s atmosphere is constantly being flooded with more greenhouse gases. The more that we unleash, the more we warm the planet. Put simply: now is the time to let our fossil fuel reserves rest in peace. If we are to create a sustainable future, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that at least two-thirds… » read more

Posted by KajEmbren

Climate Change, English, Leadership and sustainability, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Dev., Uncategorized

, Climate change, CSR, Finance, Fossil fuel, Leadership, Sustainability and Leadership, Sustainable Development