Prof. Lennart Olsson

Associate Faculty

I have a mixed educational background in physical geography and social anthropology and am Professor of Physical Geography and founding Director of LUCSUS - Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies. In my research I am particularly interested in human-nature interactions in the context of land degradation, climate change and food security in Africa and globally. I have held research positions in Australia, USA and Hong Kong and participated in several relevant international assignments including lead author in IPCC and UNEP-GEO assessment reports.

Several of my recent and ongoing research projects are highly relevant for the ESG and particularly the allocation aspects. In the ADAM project (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies, EU FP-7) we explored adaptation and mitigation options from the perspective of the poorest of the poor. In the GLOBIS project (Globalisation Informed by Sustainable Development, EU FP-7) we will explore conflicts and synergies between development and globalization. Another relevant project is the EOGAH project (Earth Observation for Global Health Actions) focusing on exploring links between climate/environmental change and global health with a focus on neglected tropical diseases.

LUCSUS - Lund University Centre for Sustainability Science

LUCSUS, Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, was founded in 2000 as a cross-faculty organization, providing an interdisciplinary arena for research and education on sustainability science. The objective of LUCSUS is to promote cooperation across faculty boundaries and facilitate contacts between researchers and PhD students from a broad range of departments. The core of LUCSUS is the trans-disciplinary international graduate school in sustainability science comprising a master´s programme (www.lumes.lu.se) and a PhD programme (www.lucsus.lu.se). LUCSUS also plays an instrumental role in the sister programme on development management, LUMID (www.lumid.lu.se). Research at LUCSUS covers various sustainability issues such as the science/policy interface in connection with climate change, dimensions of fairness and justice in climate change integrated water resources management, land use and agricultural policies in EU and beyond, sustainable livelihoods in developing countries, and sustainability assessment tools & methods. LUCSUS is also coordinating the Linnaeus centre LUCID (2008-2018) aiming at integrating social and natural dimensions of sustainability. Researchers from LUCSUS participate in several international scientific assessments, such as IPCC, EFIEA and GEO. The number of employees is about 30 researchers and four support staff but LUCSUS is also funding researchers at other departments: Chemical Engineering, Economic History, Political Science, Social and Economic Geography, Sociology of Law. Our homepage is: www.lucsus.lu.se.

May 2009