I have a mixed educational background in geography and social anthropology and I 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. I am currently Coordinating Lead Author in the 5th assessment report of IPCC, a chapter in Working Group 2 on climate change impacts on livelihoods and poverty. 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.Selected Publications Fully Refereed Papers:
- Olsson, L., Eklundh, L., Ardö, J., 2005: A Recent Greening of the Sahel – trends, patterns and potential causes. Journal of Arid Environments. Vol 63, pp 556-566
- Tschakert, P. and Olsson, L., 2005: EU Climate Action in the Broad Framework of Sustainable Development Policies. Climate Policy Vol 5, pp 329.348
- Elmqvist, B. and Olsson, L., 2006: Livelihood diversification: Continuity and Change in the Sahel. GeoJournal 67:3 pp 167-180 (published on-line 10.1007/s10708-007-9043-6)
- Ness, B., Urbel-Piirsalu, E., Anderberg, S., Olsson, L., 2007: Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecological Economics. Vol 60, pp 498-508.
- Jerneck, A., and Olsson, L. 2008: Adaptation and the Poor – Development, Resilience, Transition. Climate Policy 8 (2) pp. 170-182.
- Bai, Z., Dent, D., Olsson, L. and Shaepman, W. 2008: Proxy global assessment of land degradation . Soil Use and Management 24 (3) pp. 223-234
- Ness, B., Anderberg, S. and Olsson L. 2010: Structuring problems of unsustainability in the Swedish sugar sector with the multilevel DPSIR framework. GEO Journal 41(3) 479-488
- Olsson, L., Jerneck, A., 2010: Farmers fighting climate change – from victims to agents in subsistence livelihoods. Wiley Interdisciplinary Review on Climate Change Vol 1, May/June 2010 pp 362-373.
- Jerneck, A., Olsson, L., Anderberg, S., Ness, B., Baier, M., Clark, E., Hickler, T., Hornborg, A., Kronsell, A., Lövbrand, E., Persson, J.,2010: Structuring Sustainability Science. Sustainability Science 6(1) 69-82
- Andersson, E., Brogaard, S., Olsson, L., 2011: Political Ecology of Land Degradation. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 36. (in press)
- Jerneck, A., Olsson, L. 2011: Breaking out of Sustainability Impasses in Global Health: Frame analysis and transition theory in sustainability science. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development (accepted)
Books and book chapters:
- FAO 2004: Carbon Sequestration in Dryland Soils. World Soil Resources Report # 102. Written jointly by Farage, P., Ball, A, Pretty, J. (University of Exeter) and Olsson, L., Ardö J., Tschakert P. and Warren, A.(Lund University) 132 p.
- Olsson, L., and Stripple, J., 2006: Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development – A Scoping Study, Edited by Haines-Young, R., and Potschin, M., DEFRA report (180p). Chapter 10, Climate Change (plus appendix, pp 142-149)
- UNEP 2007: Global Environmental Outlook 4 (Lead Author, Chapter 3, Land Issues).
- Jerneck, A. and Olsson, L., 2010: Shaping future adaptation governance: Perspectives from the poorest of the poor. Ch 16 in Biermann et al. Preparing for a Warmer World, Cambridge University Press.
- Gupta, J., Persson, Å., Olsson, L., Linnerooth-Bayer, J., van der Grijp, N., Jerneck, A., Klein, RJT., Thompson, M., Patt, A.: 2010: Mainstreaming climte change in development co-operation poicy: conditions for success. Ch 12 in Hulme & Neufeldt 2010: Making Climate Change Work for Us – European Perspectives on Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies. Cambridge University Press
- Biermann, F., Pattberg, P., Zelli, F., Van Asselt, H., Boas, I., Flachsland, C., Goel, N., Hof, A., Jerneck, A., Massey, E., Olsson L., Stripple, J. 2010: Global climate governance beyond 2012: architecture, agency and adaptation. Ch. 10 in Hulme & Neufeldt 2010: Making Climate Change Work for Us – European Perspectives on Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies. Cambridge University Press.
- Tomich, T.P., Argumedo, A., Baste, I., Camac, E., Filer, C., Garcia, K., Grabach, K., Geist, H., Izac, A-M., Lebel, L., Lee, M., Nishi, M., Olsson, L., Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Rawlins, M., Scholes, R., van Noordwijk, M., 2010: Conceptual Frameworks for Ecosystem Assessment: Their Development, Ownership, and Use. Ch 3 in Ecosystems and Human Wellbeing – A Manual for Assessment Practitioners. Edited by: Ash, N., et al Island Press
- Jerneck, A., Olsson, L., 2011: Smoke Cooking, coughing and collective action in Kenya. Ch 23 in Hornborg, Clark & Hermele 2011: Power and Ecology. Routledge (in press)
