Search

The need to view innovation policy through the lens of policy mixes has gained momentum given the growing complexity, the dynamics of real-world policy and the wide array of difficulties to address the current great societal challenges, notably the increasing pressure on the ecosystems that support our society. One of the main challenges concerning the transition towards bioeconomy, is to gain a more in-depth understanding on the policy mix to stimulate innovation in sustainability transitions. Our paper aims at enriching the portfolio of empirical case studies on policy mixes for innovation and sustainable transitions, by investigating the development of the policy mix underpinning the sustainability transition of the pulp and paper industry in Sweden. We apply a case study approach which draws on event history analysis, semi-structured interviews with industry and policy makers, literature reviews, a participative workshop with stakeholders from the pulp and paper industry, as well as on the IEA databases on climate change and energy efficiency policies and measures. Our analysis emphasises coordination, timing and scale in policy mixes as important elements to understand how instruments interact to accelerate sustainability transitions. The mapping of the policy mix shows that destabilising policies were crucial for accelerating the transition process of the industry. Prior to novelty creation policies, destabilising policies (e.g. environmental policies) were needed for 'innovation policy instruments' to be effective. More specific instruments (e.g. carbon tax), targeting particular functions of the innovation systems, require 'on-the-ground' policy intelligence and benefit from close interaction with industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry faces several challenges linked to climate and environmental impact, resource efficiency, rising energy prices, increased competition for biomass resources, and declining demand for traditional printed paper products. However, these challenges also offer strategic opportunities for the industry to develop into a competitive, resource-efficient, and low-carbon industry in line with a biobased economy. Against this background, this paper aims to analyse current energy strategies in the pulp and paper industry in Sweden. Specifically, the paper analyses how companies combine continuous process efficiency to reduce energy costs with activities that could be developed into new energy-related products to increase revenue. Most of the analysed companies work to various degrees with both these strategies, employing methods that include improving energy efficiency, energy security, and energy conversion, as well as developing a wide range of biobased energy products. However, our study indicates that there is an untapped potential associated with energy product development, and we conclude that energy efficiency measures can free up resources, enabling the development of new energy products. Finally, several potential managerial outcomes and implications are outlined. • The paper analyses the energy strategies in the pulp and paper industry in Sweden. • Energy strategies focus both to improve energy efficiency and develop new energy-products. • The companies' energy strategies combined exploitation and exploration. • A number of managerial implications are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increased use of variable renewable energy sources, more capacity for reserves is required. Non-generating resources such as large industrial consumers can arbitrage energy prices and provide reserve capacity by exploiting the inherent flexibility in selected industrial processes. A large enough industrial consumer can capitalize on this flexibility through optimized bidding in electricity markets. In this work, the day-ahead cost minimization of a risk-averse pulp and paper mill is formulated as a two-stage stochastic problem, considering thermodynamic and electrical constraints. The bids in the energy and reserve markets are jointly optimized subject to price uncertainty as well as uncertainty of frequency realization. The results of a case study in Sweden display a significant economic benefit in exploiting the flexibility of integrated pulp and paper mills with electric boilers. The expected cost of the pulp and paper mill resulting from different strategies are compared and the risk-aversion of the pulp and paper mill is investigated. Reserve offers are mainly facilitated by fast-acting electric boilers and supported by flexibility in the steam network. We show that reserve offers can significantly improve the profitability of the pulp and paper mill. • Pulp and paper mills with electric boilers can supply primary frequency reserves. • Electric boilers can provide up to 50 MW flexibility of 100 MW rating. • An algorithm is developed to optimize the energy & reserve bids of the mill. • Expected cost savings range between 7.4% in summer and 2.3% in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has set strict recycling targets for municipal solid wastes, but the implementation of circularity is still hindered by a variety of present set-ups. This paper addresses the recycling transitions and their complex nature in Austria, Sweden and Finland and points out the differences that are connected to the level of success in recycling. Furthermore, this study identifies present lock-ins in the waste management regime to provide an understanding on the factors preventing further development towards a recycling society. This is done by analysing different waste policy documents and interviews of national waste experts. The study employs the multilevel perspective (MLP) framework that is a commonly used approach in sustainability transitions research. The results highlight the variety of social, political, technical and economic elements, but also the connections between them that result in a stable regime. The pathways to achieve the recycling society differ between Austria, Sweden and Finland. National waste policy, the division of responsibilities, the variety of infrastructure and collection systems in waste management, the level of general awareness, public-private co-operation and the quality of waste data act as key characteristics that reflect the success in the recycling transition. Identified lock-ins for recycling seem to be slightly stronger in Finland compared to Austria and Sweden, while some of the lock-ins are the same in all countries, such as incineration capacity, malfunction of markets of recyclables or lack of product design for recyclability. • The pathways to a recycling society differ between Austria, Sweden and Finland. • Pressure for recycling has been explicit in Austria at the landscape level. • There are more identified lock-ins in Finland compared to other countries. • Clear responsibilities, a variety of practices, public awareness and quality of data reflect success. • Bottom-up approaches could be utilised in solving the frictions between public and private actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When negotiating sensitive and taboo topics language needs to be used carefully so as not to cause offence or disrupt the interlocutors' relationship. One way to do this is through the use of vague language. In this study, we provide an in-depth, qualitative analysis of vague, euphemistic language, which may be perceived as marginally 'figurative', that is used to negotiate taboo and sensitive topics concerning culture, immigration, race and class. We use the term figurative to include metaphor and metonymy. The paper's focus is on linguistic strategies that employ content words which are in turn, ambiguously figurative, vague and de-emphasising, as well as emphatic qualifiers, and hedging signals, that distance the speaker from their words or prepare the listener for figurative language to come, as tuning devices. The data used in the study are from the METCLIL (Alejo-Gonzalez et al., 2021) corpus and comprise two classes of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) students in Sweden studying international marketing in a post-graduate program. After a detailed discourse analysis, we show how L2 users exploit the vagueness inherent in ambiguously figurative language (i.e. language that we perceive to be "on the fringes of metaphor") to discuss complex topics in a pragmatically sensitive manner in ways that expand previously established categories for VL and collapse others. • EMI L2 users employ a sophisticated combination of vague language (VL) and figurative language (FL). • This use is non-prototypical, on the "fringes" of metaphor, and provides nuance for sensitive topics. • VL and FL interact dynamically: FL may introduce VL (and vice versa) or constitute its use. • Two VL categories (de-intensifiers/vague categories) may be collapsed: both decrease tone. • L2 users can make nuanced use of language to discuss complex topics in a pragmatically sensitive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dairy farmer's decision to cull or keep dairy cows is likely a complex decision based on animal health and farm management practices. The present paper investigated the relationship between cow longevity and animal health, and between longevity and farm investments, while controlling for farm-specific characteristics and animal management practices, by using Swedish dairy farm and production data for the period 2009 to 2018. We used the ordinary least square and unconditional quantile regression model to perform mean-based and heterogeneous-based analysis, respectively. Findings from the study indicate that, on average, animal health has a negative but insignificant effect on dairy herd longevity. This implies that culling is predominantly done for other reasons than poor health status. Investment in farm infrastructure has a positive and significant effect on dairy herd longevity. The investment in farm infrastructure creates room for new or superior recruitment heifers without the need to cull existing dairy cows. Production variables that prolong dairy cow longevity include higher milk yield and an extended calving interval. Findings from this study imply that the relatively short longevity of dairy cows in Sweden compared with some dairy producing countries is not a result of problems with health and welfare. Rather, dairy cow longevity in Sweden hinges on the farmers' investment decisions, farm-specific characteristics and animal management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition towards sustainable resources is more urgent than ever given the environmental and geopolitical challenges. Being one of the major energy users, cities need to understand their energy sector to accomplish its transition, by means of data. However, data are not easily accessible and have their own challenges. This paper presents a joint effort between researchers, city representatives and industry to provide an urban system service that supports research, accelerates urban innovation, and involves the community. An energy data portal, "NRGYHUB", has been developed, where hourly data from thousands of energy meters are available. These meters were collected from neighborhoods in the city of Västerås, Sweden, and they measure electrical and heating energy. In addition, the data are complemented by geometrical and non-geometrical information of the buildings, as well as demographic statistics of the areas. The paper describes the process of data collection, preprocessing, and visualization, in addition to the main challenges and limitations of the project. This dataset can be used for energy use benchmarking, prediction, and analysis. • The creation and implementation of an energy data portal is detailed and made available on nrgyhub.mdu.se. • Legal and licensing issues in data sharing are explored, offering insights for those interested in Sweden and beyond • By showcasing real-world problems, the impact and role of this data sharing initiative are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the development paths leading to the transition to cleaner bleaching technologies in the pulp industry. It devotes particular attention to the key features of the Swedish transition, but also compares this to the Finnish experiences. The empirical investigation builds on an analytical framework highlighting the conditions under which pollution regulations can provide efficient incentives for deep emission reductions at industrial plants. Existing and new archive material, including not least comprehensive license trial acts for Swedish pulp mills over an extended time period, are studied. Based on this historical analysis our findings contradict previous literature, the latter emphasizing that pressures from consumers and the public were the most significant driving forces behind the adoption of–and innovation in–alternative bleaching technologies during the late 1980s. Instead, this paper asserts, the green pulp transition was characterized by regulation-induced technological change and was made possible by long history of industry-wide cooperation in environmental R&D. Furthermore, while previous research has emphasized the leading role of the Nordic countries in green pulp innovation, we identify a number of profound differences between Finland and Sweden. These emerge from various national contexts in terms of, for instance, industry structures and strategies, political cultures, and regulatory styles. Finally, at a more general level the paper provides a few policy implications for supporting the ongoing transition towards a forest-based bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was part of a larger project that aimed to understand the causes for increasing variation in cheese ripening in a cheese-producing region in northern Sweden. The influence of different on-farm factors on raw milk composition and properties was investigated and is described in this paper, whereas the monthly variation in the milk quality traits during 1 yr is described in our companion paper. The dairy farming systems on a total of 42 dairy farms were characterized through a questionnaire and farm visits. Milk from farm tanks was sampled monthly over 1 yr and analyzed for quality attributes important for cheese making. On applying principal component analyses to evaluate the variation in on-farm factors, different types of farms were distinguished. Farms with loose housing and automatic milking system (AMS) or milking parlor had a higher number of lactating cows, and predominantly Swedish Holstein (SH) breed. Farms associated with tiestalls had a lower number of lactating cows and breeds other than SH. Applying principal component analyses to study the variation in composition and properties of tank milk samples from farms revealed a tendency for the formation of 2 clusters: milk from farms with AMS or a milking parlor, and milk from farms with tiestall milking. The interaction between the milking system, housing system, and breed probably contributed to this grouping. Other factors that were used in the characterization of the farming systems only showed a minor influence on raw milk quality. Despite the interaction, milk from tiestall farms with various cow breeds had higher concentrations (g/100 g of milk) of fat (4.74) and protein (3.63), and lower lactose concentrations (4.67) than milk from farms with predominantly SH cows and AMS (4.32, 3.47, and 4.74 g/100 g of milk, respectively) or a milking parlor (4.47, 3.54, and 4.79 g/100 g of milk, respectively). Higher somatic cell count (195 × 103/mL) and lower free fatty acid concentration (0.75 mmol/100 g of fat) were observed in milk from farms with AMS than in milk from tiestall systems (150 × 103/mL and 0.83 mmol/100 g of fat, respectively). Type of farm influenced milk gel strength, with milk from farms with predominantly SH cows showing the lowest gel strength (65.0 Pa), but not a longer rennet coagulation time. Effects of dairy farming system (e.g., dominant breed, milking system, housing, and herd size) on milk quality attributes indicate a need for further studies to evaluate the in-depth effects of farm-related factors on milk quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy demand in Sweden is increasing due to the growing electrification, and to meet this need, the generation must be expanded. Wind power generation is a very attractive renewable power production alternative for Sweden because of the favorable weather conditions. Research looks at how much wind energy may be deemed sustainable. Increased energy demand puts pressure on the government and industry to build more wind farms and, as a result, produce more wind turbines. Raw materials are necessary for wind turbines to provide a secure transition to green energy technologies. To meet these demands, the materials from various countries should efficiently contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper gathers information about raw resources from diverse nations worldwide. All materials are mapped to the country where they are produced using social science criteria. A few nations are chosen based on a sample approach for further analysis, and the implications of mining operations are investigated. Finally, the direct and indirect effects of the SDGs are considered. Based on the data gathered, recommendations and considerations are given to avoid or mitigate the repercussions of raw materials mining and make wind power generation more socially and environmentally sustainable. • Evaluation of side effects of wind turbine raw materials. • The extraction of raw materials often violates human rights. • Mining of raw materials for wind turbines negatively affects the environment. • Extraction of wind turbine materials affects several Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved new method with differential evolution and the cubic spline approach is proposed to retrieve sea level height based on GNSS SNR observations from a single geodetic receiver. Considering the B-spline function is unstable at the beginning or end, and the feature that B-spline functions do not pass through nodes may introduce errors. Thus, the cubic spline is applied to the retrieval process and accounts for a continuous and smooth in sea level retrieval time series. Besides, the biases caused by tropospheric delay and dynamic sea level are considered and corrected. Testing data from two stations with different tidal range and the final solution agrees well with measurements from co-located tide gauges, reaching the RMSE of 3.67 cm at Friday Harbor, Washington, and 1.36 cm at Onsala, Sweden. Comparison of the nonlinear least squares, this method leads to a clear increase in precision of the sea level retrievals within 50%. Additionally, referring to the result of Purnell et al. (2020) and the IAG inter-comparison campaign, the results of this paper show more potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a directionality framework that highlights goal, sector and solution as key dimensions of transformative policy missions. The framework is used to investigate the directionality of process industry decarbonization in Sweden, by analyzing the orientation of projects supported by the major national funding program the 'Industry Leap' between 2017 and 2022. The results show that innovation activities (i) mainly aim to reduce fossil emissions rather than produce negative emissions, (ii) focus on the steel and chemicals industries, and (iii) engage mostly with carbon capture, electrification and hydrogen. This indicates that innovation activities are somewhat narrow and imbalanced, which suggests that policymakers should promote broader experimentation. The theoretical and empirical contribution of this paper supports academics, policymakers and other actors in understanding, evaluating and shaping the directionality of transformative policy missions. [Display omitted] • Transformative policy missions unfold in goal, sector and solution dimensions. • The directionality of process industry decarbonization in Sweden is analyzed. • Innovation activities focus on decarbonizing steel and chemicals production. • Carbon capture, electrification and hydrogen are the main solution pathways. • Swedish policymakers should promote broader experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A process for obtaining valuable sugars from biorefinery side streams was designed and simulated. • A Swedish thermo-mechanical pulping plant, Hallsta Paper Mill , was used as a case study. • A very detailed techno-economic analysis was performed based on latest process technology. • The profitability of the process depends mainly on the market price of produced specialty sugars. • The analysis showed that the process is widely applicable to hemicellulose-rich side-streams. The current work describes a process for converting hemicellulose-rich industrial side streams to specialty sugars utilizing green technology and commercially available acidic heterogeneous catalysts. Focus is placed on the detailed overall process design and techno-economic assessment of integrating the concept into an existing thermo-mechanical pulping plant, namely the Hallsta Paper Mill , located near Hallstavik in Sweden. The techno-economic analysis is based on laboratory relevant results for the process under study including catalyst performance and kinetics as well as extensive operational and economic data on cost formation. A detailed sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the performance of concept in a changing economic environment. The results show that the process would be highly profitable in the studied case with a rather high safety margin. The process is widely applicable to other biorefinery concepts with hemicellulose containing side streams and the presented techno-economic analysis is very relevant for the evaluation of site-specific viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of STRATONAV experiment to test the precision of the VOR (VHF Omni Range) aircraft navigation system in stratosphere. The experiment has been conducted by the S5Lab research group at Sapienza University of Rome in the framework of the REXUS/BEXUS Programme. STRATONAV has been successfully launched on-board the BEXUS 22 stratospheric balloon from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, in 2016. The main payload was composed by two typologies of VOR receivers, a commercial portable receiver and a Software Defined Radio (SDR), alongside the bus and positioning, attitude and temperature sensors. STRATONAV succeeded in collecting VOR radials for the whole duration of the balloon flight. The results prove that VOR can be used as back-up navigation system for stratospheric platforms, ensuring a reliability improvement, while being applied to smaller payloads as primary system for a cost and complexity reduction of experiment developments. The paper analyzes the collected VOR data during the balloon flight. Accuracy and performance plots with respect to distance from the VOR stations and altitude are presented and discussed. The mean errors and standard deviations from all stations for both the receivers are shown with an analysis over the recorded errors. Finally, future perspectives, analyses and applicability of the research are exposed. • STRATONAV Experiment tested the accuracy of VOR (VHF Omni Range) in stratosphere. • The verification was held up to 14 km above the VOR service volume limit height. • The investigation was conducted with a commercial receiver and a SDR. • The observed accuracy rates are compliant with the first ICAO VOR accuracy standard. • VOR can be applied to stratospheric vehicles navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experts discussed indicators of agricultural vulnerability in Sweden. • AgroExplore enables interactive exploration and validation of indicators. • Thresholds of agricultural vulnerability indicators are context dependent. • New indicators for agricultural vulnerability are required. • Aggregating data to administrative units is problematic for several indicators. Agriculture is often described as one of the sectors most vulnerable to future climate change, and its vulnerability is commonly assessed through quantitative indices. However, such indices differ significantly depending on their selected indicators, weighting mechanisms, and summarizing methods, often leading to divergent assessments of vulnerability for the same geographic area. The use of generic indicators might also lead to a loss of information about contextual risks and vulnerabilities. This may reduce the perceived usefulness of indices among stakeholders. This study analyses the role of indicators in assessing agricultural vulnerability to climate change. It analyses how indices are understood and used through three separate focus group sessions, involving agricultural experts professionally active in south-eastern Sweden. The paper presents how agricultural practitioners perceive a set of common vulnerability indicators, presented through a visualization tool, and their relevance, logic, and applicability to assess and address vulnerability to climate change. The results of this study contribute with perspectives on (i) the relevance and applicability of the commonly used generic indicators for agricultural vulnerability (ii) the assumed correlation of indicators with climate vulnerability and (iii) the identification of missing vulnerability indicators. The study finds that commonly used vulnerability indicators are perceived hard to apply in practice, as definitions and thresholds are often depending on the geographical and temporal scale, as well as the regional context. Additional exposure factors that were identified included extreme events, such as heavy precipitation and external factors such as global food demand and trade-patterns. Further, participants expressed that it is important to include indices that combine effects of multiple climatic changes and in-direct factors, such as policies, regulations and measures. Inherent complexities, context dependencies, and multiple factors should further be included, but entail difficulties in developing suitable indicators. These factors must be addressed by a broader set of qualitative and quantitative indicators, and greater flexibility in the assessment methodology. The interactive vulnerability assessments presented in this paper indicate a need for an integration of quantitative and qualitative aspects and how such indicators could be developed and applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the role of agency is widely acknowledged in socio-technical transition research, there remains a research gap on agency in transitions and a call for studies using an actor-centred approach to transition studies. In response to this call, this paper addresses the role of actors and, particularly, organisations in transitions. It examines the role of organisational change in socio-technical sustainability transitions and, more specifically, how transition initiatives may trigger and support these changes in organisations and systems. For this purpose, the paper draws on literature from both transition studies and organisational change management (OCM) to build a multi-scale, integrative theoretical heuristic. This addresses drivers and barriers for organisational change as an integral part of transition processes, connecting the micro level of the individual, the meso level of the organisation and the macro level of the broader system in which the organisation is located. With the goal of illustrating the links between OCM and transition studies, this paper empirically examines the impact of Region 2050 , a large, multi-organisation transition initiative in Sweden, in terms of creating change within the organisations involved. The main focus is on how the organisations acquire the new knowledge and capabilities required for improving regional planning for sustainability. The empirical study identifies leverage points at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels, which may be used in order to change strategic planning processes. Three different theoretical concepts from transition studies and OCM that could help to foster long-term planning are also identified: (1) the macro-level of institutional plurality and its connection to the meso- (organisational) level; (2) collaboration as a key success factor on the organisational level; and (3) at the micro-level, the roles of individuals as change agents and boundary spanners. Overall, the case highlights the merits of the OCM literature for transition studies and their emphasis on understanding interacting processes operating at multiple scales. • Organisational change as part of socio-technical transitions is under researched. • This study shows the use of organisational change management (OCM) literature for transitions. • A sustainability transitions initiative is examined from an OCM perspective for illustration. • An integrative, multi-scale theoretical framework is proposed. • The framework connects individual, organisational and system levels of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Affordable and adaptable VIP based internal and external retrofitting solutions. • Implementation of VIP based integral retrofitting solutions in two tertiary buildings. • Space heating energy saving analysis before and after VIP based retrofit. • Envelope heat loss coefficient reduction analysis before and after retrofitting. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) represent a huge opportunity to achieve nearly zero energy buildings, especially in the retrofitting of existing buildings. VIPs can be applied in conjunction with façade cladding elements, considerably reducing the heat losses or gains from the building by means of very slim wall construction systems or retrofit solutions. However, the fact that VIPs cannot be cut on-site, can be easily damaged during their handling, installation and use and have an envelope that can cause thermal bridging in the junction between panels or when combined with other materials, has hindered their penetration in the construction market. This paper presents two innovative façade retrofitting solutions, a rear ventilated façade and a stud mounted internal solution, that have tackled all these issues and provide thermal transmittances of 0.28 and 0.14 W/m2 K in relatively slim insulation systems of 10 cm widths. Solutions have been installed on the entire façade of two existing buildings located in Bilbao (Spain) and Malmö (Sweden) subjected to an integral rehabilitation process, covering 2100 m2. Buildings energy use have been monitored before and after the renovation, showing energy cuts of around 35% from pre-intervention status. This paper presents the lessons learnt during the design and installation process of the vacuum insulation integrating solutions in the façade of two existing buildings and the thermal performance results achieved after their retrofitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publicly funded demonstration projects represent a critical intermediate step between basic R&D on the one hand, and large-scale commercialization of new sustainable technology on the other. However, these projects often suffer from various technical and nontechnical difficulties, frequently fail to meet objectives, and sometimes stall despite the best intentions of their facilitators. This paper reports on a multiple case study of 21 demonstration projects in the area of sustainable technology set in Sweden and offers two contributions. First, it maps the project-internal and external factors that allow or prohibit demonstration projects to reach their goals. Second, it suggests a process model outlining the key activities for setting up a new demonstration project. By doing so, the paper provides important implications for the process of developing and commercializing sustainable technologies. The escalating environmental crisis in particular underscores the need for new knowledge about how cleaner and more sustainable technologies can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweden has a policy goal of solving major environmental problems in Sweden within a generation, without increasing environmental or health problems in other countries. Following up this goal requires indicators for domestic and external footprints of Swedish consumption. This paper presents such macro-level indicators for the years 2008–2014. The new indicators are consistent with Swedish statistics from the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts. They combine a multi-regional input-output (MRIO) database, to capture the external components of Sweden's consumption, with national input-output, trade and environmental statistics. The hybrid MRIO-Sweden model provides a comprehensive environmental account for follow-up of the Generational Goal. This paper presents impacts from household consumption, government consumption and capital formation, covering emissions of greenhouse gases, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), land use, materials consumption, and blue water consumption. Except for land use, the majority (60% or more) of the environmental pressures due to consumption occurred outside Sweden in 2014; more than 90% of sulphur emissions and more than 80% of the water use fell abroad. The environmental pressures from consumption decreased over this period for all indicators (except materials consumption). This suggests an absolute decoupling between environmental pressure due to consumption and economic growth, which rose over the period. It is, however, too early to determine whether this is a genuine trend or a temporary stabilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines explicit positive assessments (EPAs) in personal training, that is, the personal trainer's positive evaluations of the client's physical performance, including comments such as bra ('good'). The data consist of video-recorded training-sessions in Swedish from Finland and Sweden. The methodological framework is interactional linguistics, and the study explores the actions that EPAs perform as well as their linguistic design and embodied and sequential environment. The main actions performed by EPAs in personal training include transitioning between activities, encouraging the client, and making positive evaluations. The personal trainer (PT) may vary the lexical, syntactic, prosodic, and embodied features of the EPA to emphasize any of these actions or a combination of them. Overall, EPAs are a central resource for fulfilling the institutional goals of personal training by guiding the clients through the training-program and motivating them. In addition to their use as feedback on actions in the present moment, EPAs also include forward-focusing aspects aimed at guiding clients' future behavior. • Feedback is essential in personal training, as in other pedagogical settings. • We study feedback in the form of PTs' explicit positive assessments (EPAs). • Examples of EPAs are "good" and "well done". • EPAs are used for transitions, encouragement, and evaluations in personal training. • Prosodic and embodied features are especially crucial for the meaning of EPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several locations along Sweden's northern Baltic coast there are deposits of contaminated fibrous sediments that are known as fiberbanks. Historically, these anthropogenic fiberbanks and associated contaminants were formed outside pulp and paper factories because of unregulated waste discharges. Some of the fiberbanks are located on seafloor slopes that are unstable and may fail, which could result in large amounts of fiber and contaminant dispersion. Hydroacoustic surveys have revealed that some parts of the fiberbanks have been dispersed to a wider area by submarine landslides. However, the unusual nature of these cellulose-rich sediments makes it difficult to apply conventional techniques for assessing submarine slope stability. Therefore, a combination of investigation techniques and interpretation methods was tested to assess the stability and triggering mechanisms for submarine slope failure identified in fiberbanks from the Ångermanälven river estuary on the Baltic sea coast. The integration of bathymetric data, sediment lithology and geotechnical characteristics from in-situ and laboratory measurements, enabled the characterisation of underlying natural sediments and the fiberbanks at two sites. Despite low densities, which indicate that the fiberbank material is near the buoyancy level, the fiberbank deposits seem to be relatively stable. Our results indicate the underlying natural sediments are also stable and would require an external triggering mechanism to generate the observed slope failures. We suggest that pore water pressure, potentially related to groundwater table fluctuations, may be an important trigger for submarine landslides in the study area. Management of fiberbanks and associated fiber-rich sediments, which are numerous along Sweden's north east coast, requires that sites are risk assessed and prioritized for remediation. To do so, under water slope stability should be considered as a possible dispersion pathway and therefore needs to be investigated. The study illustrates the value of using a combination of geophysical and geotechnical field and laboratory methods, together with empirical relationships, to assess relevant input parameters for slope stability calculations for this type of sediment. • A multi-faceted offshore site investigation of contaminated fibrous sediments. • The stability of fiberbank sediments were tested with a tipping box. • Stability of underlying slopes could be compromised by small excess pore water pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of monthly variation on the composition and properties of raw farm milk collected as part of a full-scale cheese-making trial in a region in northern Sweden. In our companion paper, the contribution of on-farm factors to the variation in milk quality attributes is described. In total, 42 dairy farms were recruited for the study, and farm milk samples were collected monthly over 1 yr and characterized for quality attributes of importance for cheese making. Principal component analysis suggested that milk samples collected during the outdoor period (June–September) were different from milk samples collected during the indoor period. Despite the interaction with the milking system, the results showed that fat and protein concentrations were lower in milk collected during May through August, and lactose concentration was higher in milk collected during April through July than for the other months. Concentrations of free fatty acids were generally low, with the highest value (0.86 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in February and the lowest (0.70 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in June. Plasmin and plasminogen-derived activities varied with sampling month without a clear seasonal pattern. The pH of farm tank milk ranged from 6.60 to 6.82, with the lowest and highest values in September and February, respectively. The highest somatic cell count was observed in August (201 × 103 cells/mL) and the lowest in April (143 × 103 cells/mL). The highest value of gel strength, was recorded in December (88 Pa) and the lowest in July (64 Pa). Rennet coagulation time and gel strength were inversely correlated, with the lowest rennet coagulation time value observed in December. Orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) and discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS identified casein micelle size and total proteolysis as the milk quality attributes with major responses to sampling month, with smaller casein micelle size and higher total proteolysis associated with the outdoor months. Using discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS to further investigate causes behind the variation in milk traits revealed that there were factors in addition to feeding on pasture that differed between outdoor and indoor months. Because fresh grass was seldom the primary feed in the region during the outdoor period, grazing was not considered the sole reason for the observed difference between outdoor and indoor periods in raw milk quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores pragmatic socialization by examining episodes of two to three - year-old children's crying and adults' responses to this crying in two preschools: Sweden and Japan. Based on approximately 100 hours of naturally occurring interactions, it focuses on crying episodes that emerged within peer conflict, and analyzes ways that teachers structured a triadic framework of mediation. The results show how teachers mediated by using (1) question-response sequences to clarify what happened and (2) directives and declaratives to convey norms of behaving/speaking and to attune children to the crying of others as a negative affective act that requires a remedial response. The results reveal similarities and variations in adults' responses to children's crying in the two preschools. Although the findings in part instantiate traditional models of socialization in these two societies, they also suggest ways that departed from these models. • Analysis examines preschool teachers' responses to crying in peer conflict. • Methods utilize multimodal conversation analysis. • Analysis shows teachers' triadic mediation utilizing questions, directives, and declaratives. • Findings are discussed in relation to children's pragmatic socialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Winter road maintenance is costly but it is necessary in order to keep roads accessible and safe during winter. Current winter road maintenance methods use 600,000 tons of salt annually, in the Nordic countries. The salt ends up in the environment along the roads and results in environmental challenges. Alternative winter maintenance methods that use heat instead of salt are in use today. However, those systems are designed to use high temperature of about 20–35 °C. This paper presents a numerical model for designing low temperature (4–8 °C) hydronic heated pavements (HHP). The model is validated against an experimental setup and different control strategies are evaluated. The validation indicated that the developed model can predict the behavior of the HHP with a root mean square error (RMSE) <1.4 °C for surface temperatures and <0.4 °C for the return fluid. In this paper the model is used with two different control strategies. A basic strategy controlling the system based on air temperature and one strategy based on dew point temperature. With dew point regulation the energy consumption can be reduced by 62%. However, the energy consumption is still in the range of 125–180kWh/m2 for the location of Östersund, Sweden. We found that the HHP system can utilize low temperature sources like waste energy or geothermal energy that is freely available. By using renewable energy for winter road maintenance, the environmental impact from winter road maintenance can be reduced. Highligths • Dewpoint control reduces the energy demand for heated pavements. • Low supply temperatures of 2-8 °C makes it possible to use renewable energy sources. • Presents a 3-D numerical model including the fluid domain for heated pavements. • Snow ploughing strategies affects the energy usage more a low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron and steel industry accounts for one third of global industrial CO 2 emissions, putting pressure on the industry to shift towards more sustainable modes of production. However, for an industry characterised by path dependency and technological lock-ins, sustainability transitions are not straightforward. In this study, we aim to explore the potential pathways for sustainability transitions in the iron and steel industry. To do so, we have conducted a case study in Sweden where there are policy and industry commitments towards fossil-free steel production. Our theoretical points of departure are the technological innovation system (TIS) approach and the multi-level perspective (MLP), and our paper presents the dynamics behind an emerging case of transition towards a hydrogen-based future. The paper has two major contributions to the literature on sustainability transitions. First, it attempts to borrow some concepts from the MLP and integrate them with the TIS approach. Second, it empirically presents an in-depth case study of the iron and steel industry – an understudied context in the field of sustainability transitions. By doing so, it sheds some light on the dynamics between an emerging TIS and potential transition pathways of a regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sweden, approximately 1.4 million dwellings were built 1946–1975. Today, a considerable part of these are in need of renovation for various reasons. Research results, as well as experiences and outcomes from renovation projects could facilitate in performing more efficient renovations. As an aid for further research, this paper aims to compile and review relevant literature that may support in choosing a renovation strategy as well as decisions on renovation measures. The focus of this paper is research on status determinations, renovation strategies and renovation measures. Differences and similarities within these areas are presented through the analysis of 234 relevant references. The results show that renovation of multifamily buildings in temperate climate conditions is widely researched. The included research has a strong energy focus, and while other aspects of renovation are researched as well, they are not as strongly represented. Status determinations are often based on data from national databases that include useful information that could help alleviate decision making in the renovation process. This study suggests that future research should be conducted on the effect of such databases on the renovation process. This study also shows that there are numerous renovation strategies, and while there are both in-depth and broader strategies, these are seldom connected. Finally, there are many references evaluating various effects of the application of renovation measures, but some effects and measures are more widely researched than others. This study lays a strong foundation for further in-depth research on the reviewed articles, reports, and theses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores HacktheCrisis, the Swedish hackathon that was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address the challenges that it brought up. The main aims of the research were to explore the feasibility of the digital only COVID-19 hackathon as an open innovation method and to uncover the major issues that emerged during the HacktheCrisis hackathon in Sweden. The process and outcomes were assessed, leading to the lessons and development of recommendations for future health hackathons as an innovation in health care. We have found that conducting the virtual hackathon for COVID-19 resulted in significant growth in the digital health community in Sweden. Governments should be as fast as the private actors and citizens to address these challenges and to undertake organizational adaptations. Not only the hackathons, but the projects and processes after the hackathons should also be planned. Matchmaking between individuals and private and public actors should be facilitated throughout the year. Technology companies should provide platforms that facilitate flow of process with nice structures and user-friendly tools. Organizations were not ready to utilize the outcomes of these hackathons. Compared to public organizations, private organizations were faster to join hackathons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Bullying and aggression among children and young people are key public mental health priorities. In this study, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a complex school-based intervention to address these outcomes within a large-cluster randomized trial (Inclusive).Methods: Forty state secondary schools were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive the intervention or continue with current practice as controls. Data were collected using paper questionnaires completed in classrooms including measures of their health-related quality of life using the Childhood Utility Index and police and National Health Service resource use. Further detailed data were collected on the cost of delivering the intervention. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios following the intention-to-treat principle using multilevel linear regression models that allowed for clustering of pupils at the school level.Results: Overall, we found that the intervention was highly cost-effective, with cost-per quality-adjusted life year thresholds of £13 284 and £1875 at 2 years and 3 years, respectively. Analysis of uncertainty in the result at 2 years revealed a 65% chance of being cost-effective, but after 3 years there was a 90% chance that it was cost-effective.Conclusion: This study provides strong evidence collected prospectively from a randomized study that this school-based intervention is highly cost-effective. Education- and health-sector policy makers should consider investment in scaling up this intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green public procurement is believed to have the potential to contribute to environmental improvement and diffusion of green technologies. The aim of this paper is to compare and analyse how two Swedish regions use public procurement to promote the introduction of renewable fuels in their public bus transport systems. The method is a qualitative comparative case study, based on interviews and document studies. The paper addresses the questions of what the strategic motivations are for using public procurement to stimulate renewable fuels, and what the practical challenges have been in relation to five important factors identified from previous research: strategies, requirements, costs, size and knowledge. In one region, procurement is used in a strategic way to create a local market for biofuels, which poses higher demands on political backing, information and knowledge, the way requirements are set, and an acceptance of increased costs. In the other region, procurement is used instrumentally to increase the share of biofuels in a cost-effective way that gives room for more flexibility and reduces the demands on the procurers. This paper highlights the importance of context when assessing green public procurement schemes and analyses the case-specific influence of factors on the outcome of green public procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the adoption of green public procurement (GPP) practices at the local authority level. A conceptual contribution of the paper is an analytical framework, which acknowledges that the adoption of green criteria in tenders should be modelled as a conditionally independent decision from the decision to rely on GPP strategies (guidelines). This approach can help provide novel insights into how various political, organizational, and individual characteristics influence GPP. The paper provides an empirical illustration by concentrating on the role of organizational size. This analysis is based on survey responses from civil servants representing 140 Swedish municipalities. The results are based on the bivariate ordered probit estimator and suggest that large municipalities are more likely to rely on GPP strategies but also less prone to adopt green criteria in tenders when controlling for the presence of such strategies. In large organizations, the centralization of the procurement implies efficiency gains, but it will often be accompanied with longer organizational distances between the procuring and the environmental departments. The paper also highlights the wider implications of the proposed framework, including how future research on GPP practices could approach the role of various political and individual factors. • The purpose is to investigate the determinants of green public procurement (GPP) practices. • The key contribution is an analytical framework addressing the endogeneity of GPP decisions. • The value of the framework is shown empirically by focusing on role of organizational size. • Survey answers from procurement managers are studied in a bivariate ordered probit model. • Large organizations often rely on GPP guidelines but may not adopt green criteria in tenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long Duration Balloon missions are key platforms for scientific research and space technology development. Thermal analyses of this kind of systems are crucial for the success of the mission. Even though the science is usually performed at float altitude, the ascent phase, usually non-operational, is where the extreme cold conditions occur, due to the convective effects caused by relative wind speed together with the low temperatures found in the tropopause, making this scenario a dimensioning case. In this paper, a thorough study of the thermal environmental conditions during the ascent is carried out, in particular winds, temperature, and radiative thermal loads have been obtained as a function of the altitude. The study is based on real data obtained from different sources, including atmospheric soundings, radar and satellite, and a meticulous statistical treatment. The study is focussed on one of the main stratospheric balloon launch sites in Europe, Esrange (Sweden), a center of the Swedish Space Corporation, and the analyses are performed for the summer period. However, the methodology can be extended to any other location and epoch. As an example, the convective effect of the horizontal winds on a plate has been studied, and the heat transfer during the ascent phase has been quantified. A subcooling of around 7 °C was found in this case, which make worth the dedicated analysis. • Real data-based thermal environment for Long Duration Balloon missions. • Thermal influence of the high winds found in the tropopause. • Radiative thermal environment parametrized as a function of the Solar Zenith Angle. • Results compared with traditional methodologies. • Convective and radiative heat transfer quantification during the ascent phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 24 design principles for energy feedback relevant within a local social network. • End-user consultation revealed empirical support for 15 principles. • There appears to be no 'one size fits all' type of energy feedback. • The general public needs to be educated around the concept of load shifting. Engaged households are needed for the future 'smart grids' to function, but it is difficult to engage residents in their household electricity consumption. Building on earlier research suggesting that a local social network could provide a suitable context for energy feedback, this paper examines how feedback presented in a social network should be designed in order to be better understood by the residents and encourage long-term engagement. A review of the literature on design principles and cases where they had been implemented identified 24 principles. A prototype feedback design adapted for a local social network was made, based on design principles deemed suitable for the screens designed. End-user feedback on the prototype was collected through a stakeholder consultation workshop. In the workshop discussions, 17 identified principles were mentioned and there was support for 15 of these, one was both supported and contested and two were contested. Based on comments and suggestions from end-users, a revised version of the feedback prototype was made for implementation in a pilot study in Sweden and Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data centers are estimated to have the fastest growing carbon footprint from across the whole information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Evaluating the performance of data centers in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability is becoming an increasingly important matter for organizations and governments (e.g., for regulation or reputation purposes). It nonetheless remains difficult to achieve such evaluation, as data centers imply to take into consideration a wide range of dimensions and stakeholders. Even though a wide range of sustainability performance indicators exist in the literature, there is still a lack of frameworks to help data center stakeholders (spanning from data center owners, governmental regulators to engineers/field operators) to evaluate and understand how a data center performs in terms of sustainable development/behavior. Our research work proposes such a framework, whose originality lies in the combination of state-of-the-art sustainability metrics with the biomimicry commandments of eco-mature system, which enables holistic sustainability assessment of data centres. From a theoretical perspective, the proposed model is designed based on a benefit-cost analysis using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. This approach allows data center stakeholders for specifying their own preferences and/or expertise in the comparison process, whose practicability is demonstrated in this paper considering three data center candidates, which are respectively located in France, Germany and Sweden. • A new model for comparing data center sustainability performance is proposed. • The model makes use of state-of-the-art sustainability metrics together with biomimicry lessons. • The model is designed based on a benefit-cost approach using the AHP technique. • A comparison study is carried out with three distinct data center candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to produce goods and services that are consumed in Sweden, natural resources are extracted and pollutants are emitted in many other countries. This paper presents an analysis of the goods and services consumed in Sweden that cause the largest environmental pressures in terms of resource use and emissions, identifying in which countries or regions these pressures occur. The results have been calculated using a hybrid model developed in the PRINCE project combining the multi-regional input-output database EXIOBASE with data from the Swedish economic and environmental accounts. The following environmental pressures are analysed: Use of Land, Water and Material resources, Emissions of Greenhouse gases (GHG), Sulphur dioxides (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), and Particulate Matters (PM 2.5 and 10). The product groups are those goods and services bought for private or public consumption and capital investments, as listed in the Swedish economic accounts. The results show that Sweden is a net importer of all embodied environmental pressures, except for land use and material use. The most important product groups across environmental pressures are construction, food products and direct emissions from households (except for sulphur dioxide emissions and material use for the latter). Other product groups that are found to have environmental pressures across several indicators are wholesale and retail services, architecture and engineering, dwellings, motor vehicles and machinery and equipment. However, for the three natural resource pressures Use of Water, Land and Material resources, agricultural products are a relatively important product group along with products from forestry for the last two indicators. A considerable proportion of the environmental pressure occurs in Sweden, but when comparing those of domestic origin and that occurring internationally, the majority of all pressures for Swedish consumption occur abroad (except for land use). Other countries stand out as particularly important as origins of pressure for Swedish consumption, most notably China, which is among the top five countries for emissions to air, as well as blue water and material use. Other highly relevant countries or regions are Rest of Asia and Pacific (i.e. Asia and Pacific except Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, India, South Korea, China and Japan), Russia, Germany as well as Denmark and Spain for certain product groups and environmental pressure combinations. This pattern of geographically spread pressures caused by Swedish consumption indicates the need for addressing the pressures at various levels of collaboration: national, within the European Union, bilateral and international. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study evaluates cost-optimal energy renovation strategies for various historic building types in a Northern European climate using LCC optimization software OPERA-MILP. • Twelve building types, which are typical of the historic building stock in Visby, Sweden, are selected as the study object. • Decreases of 12–38% in LCC can be obtained by selecting various cost-effective energy efficiency measures and a cost-optimal heating system. • The environmental performance of the energy renovations is closely connected to the assumptions made about the energy system boundary. The life cycle cost (LCC) optimization is a vital method when performing building energy renovation. The present paper provides an evaluation of cost-optimal energy renovation strategies for historic buildings using LCC optimization software OPERA-MILP. The evaluation is performed based on preset targets depending on LCC (LCC optimum) and energy use (decrease by 50%), where the environmental performance is also addressed. Twelve building types, which are typical of the historic building stock in Visby, Sweden, are used as the study object. The results show possible decreases of 12–38% in LCC when targeting LCC optimum. When targeting a 50% decrease in energy use, the LCC is decreased in 21 of 26 cases compared to before energy renovation. Cost-efficient EEMs on the building envelope are characterized by low renovation costs and additional insulation of building components with poor thermal properties. Furthermore, the environmental performance from the energy renovations is highly dependent on the chosen energy system boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold and silver are extracted through the gold-silver couple production process or the gold-silver-lead-zinc-copper combined production process. This paper aims to analyse and compare the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the gold and silver refining processes. Two production routes are considered in this study: gold and silver refining through the gold-silver couple production process and gold and silver refining which are produced from the gold-silver-lead-zinc-copper combined production process. SimaPro software version 8.5 is used for the life-cycle assessment using the International Life Cycle Reference Data (ILCD) method and the cumulative energy demand method (CED). The geographic region considered in the original dataset is based on Papua New Guinea and Sweden. The major impact categories from the ILCD methods are climate change, human toxicity (cancer and non-cancer effects), ecotoxicity, ionising radiation (human health and ecotoxicity), eutrophication (freshwater, marine, and terrestrial), land use, water use, and mineral resources depletion. The impact categories where the results are analysed and presented here from the CED method are renewables, fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas), biomass, nuclear, and embodied energy. The analysis results indicate that between gold-silver couple production and gold silver combined metal production process, refining through the gold-silver couple production process have greater environmental impacts. Furthermore, gold refining effects are larger as compared to the silver refining process. Among the significant impact categories, the most crucial is human toxicity (cancer and non-cancer). Results from the cumulative energy demand method shows that fossil-fuel consumption is larger than all other sources of energy demand in the precious-metal refining process. • Life cycle assessment of gold-silver refining processes is carried out. • Analysis is done with ILCD, IMPACT 2002+, and CED method. • Gold silver refining from the couple production is detrimental for environment. • Harmful emissions are mercury, chromium, and carbon-14. • Alternative low alloyed or unalloyed steel would be beneficial for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed a two-stage optimization framework to enhance the flexibility of energy communities. • Presented a home energy management system (HEMS) incorporating solar PV, EV, heat pump, space heating, and TES. • Designed a model predictive control-based optimization algorithm for integrated energy systems. • Developed a practical algorithm to coordinate multiple HEMSs within a community energy management system. • Established a co-simulation framework to investigate energy flexibility in an energy community. Electrification of private transportation and residential heating is a potential action to decrease significantly carbon emissions. However, the lack of coordination of such emerging loads can increase stress on the power distribution grid. To this end, this paper proposes a two-stage energy management strategy, to enhance the flexibility of energy communities. First, an optimization algorithm-based model predictive control (MPC) is developed for home energy management systems (HEMS) to schedule electric vehicles (EVs) for charging and discharging in cooperation with heat pump and thermal energy storages. The objective is to reduce electricity bills and EV battery degradation costs while maintaining thermal demand. Second, the predictive coordination based on the nonlinear AC optimal power flow approach is applied to enhance the grid flexibility under a community energy management system scheme. To validate the performance of the proposed method, we develop a co-simulation framework by implementing the optimization algorithm and simulation scenarios in a Python Environment and modelling the electricity grid in the PowerFactory-DIgSILENT, which are linked together. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out under the active demand response program-based hourly electricity pricing and different weather data in Sweden. The results show that the proposed method can reduce operating costs and enhance the energy flexibility of the energy community. Moreover, it can decrease the stress on the community power grid and prevent load-shedding events compared to the non-predictive coordinated method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a large-scale educational expansion to assess whether shocks to educational inputs affect the academic achievement of adult education students. I analyze the effects of a Swedish program that rapidly doubled enrollment in adult education, thus straining school resources. The program targeted low-educated, unemployed adults aged 25 and older. Therefore, my analysis focuses on students under age 25 to reduce the risk that changes in the characteristics of the study sample drive my findings. First, I show that students in regions subject to stronger enrollment expansions experienced stronger negative shocks to educational inputs, including teacher credentials, per-pupil expenditure, and peer quality. Second, I show that the stronger negative shocks to these inputs coincided with larger increases in course dropout. Taken together, the two sets of results suggest a causal link between educational inputs and students' academic progress in adult education. • I study a policy that rapidly expanded secondary-level adult education in Sweden. • The expansion negatively affected educational inputs, such as teacher credentials. • The declines in educational inputs coincided with increases in course dropout. • Shocks to educational inputs thus affect the academic progress of adult learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in travel behaviour are needed to tackle the climate impact associated with long-distance flights, including a switch to sustainable transport modes. In this paper, we analyse scenarios of carbon footprint reduction associated with a switch from flights to night trains for holidays in Europe for the case of Sweden, including outbound, inbound and domestic tourism. We use a prospective lifecycle assessment framework combined with results from a stated preference experiment to determine the impact of future mode shift behaviours. Our results indicate that a mode shift could be triggered by progressive night train policies resulting in (i) fewer transfers and (ii) price levels similar to those of flights. The shifts from flights to night trains could result in 9% lower cumulative carbon footprint in relation to a baseline travel demand scenario for the period 2025–2050. Decarbonization of long-distance travel in line with the Paris Agreement would likely require a combination of many different types of measures including a shift to low-carbon fuels. • We investigate potential emissions abatement by night trains replacing flights. • Trains could reach 22–30% of the combined market for tourism by flights and trains. • Shift to night train could reduce emissions from long-distance travel by 9%. • Decarbonization has a larger impact on carbon footprints than mode shifting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical factor in developing effective policies to deal with similar challenges in the future. However, many parameters (e.g., the actual number of infected people, the effectiveness of vaccination) are still subject to considerable debate because they are unobservable. To model a pandemic and estimate unobserved parameters, researchers use compartmental models. Most often, in such models, the transition rates are considered as constants, which allows simulating only one epidemiological wave. However, multiple waves have been reported for COVID-19 caused by different strains of the virus. This paper presents an approach based on the reconstruction of real distributions of transition rates using genetic algorithms, which makes it possible to create a model that describes several pandemic peaks. The model is fitted on registered COVID-19 cases in four countries with different pandemic control strategies (Germany, Sweden, UK, and US). Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was chosen as the objective function, the MAPE values of 2.168%, 2.096%, 1.208% and 1.703% were achieved for the listed countries, respectively. Simulation results are consistent with the empirical statistics of medical studies, which confirms the quality of the model. In addition to observables such as registered infected, the output of the model contains variables that cannot be measured directly. Among them are the proportion of the population protected by vaccines, the size of the exposed compartment, and the number of unregistered cases of COVID-19. According to the results, at the peak of the pandemic, between 14% (Sweden) and 25% (the UK) of the population were infected. At the same time, the number of unregistered cases exceeds the number of registered cases by 17 and 3.4 times, respectively. The average duration of the vaccine induced immune period is shorter than claimed by vaccine manufacturers, and the effectiveness of vaccination has declined sharply since the appearance of the Delta and Omicron strains. However, on average, vaccination reduces the risk of infection by about 65–70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven frost heave in roads and railways is a frequent problem in cold regions leading to degradation of structures. To improve drainage, culverts are frequently integrated into road and railway embankments. The presence of culverts changes the temperature distribution in the surrounding soil as cold air passes through the culvert. Consequently, frost depth and corresponding frost heave are increased in the vicinity of the culvert compared to the rest of the structure if frost susceptible soil is present. For an accurate frost related design, information of heat balance between the culvert and the surrounding soil is needed. A field study focusing on convective heat transfer in culverts was conducted in northern Sweden by the authors. Temperatures and air velocities in culverts of three sizes (0.6, 0.8 and 3.4 m) were recorded. Analysis of obtained data is presented in this paper with emphasis on the influence of air velocity on the temperature distribution. Influence of wind on development of airflow in culverts is also addressed. Accuracy of trained gaussian process regression (GPR) models is estimated in predicting temperature distribution inside of culverts. It is concluded, based on the field measurement data, that airflow can significantly affect temperature distribution inside culverts and development of airflow in culverts is largely influenced by the orientation of the culvert in relation to the predominant wind direction. • Air flow is a significant factor in determination of thermal boundary conditions inside the culverts. • Orientation of the culvert in relation to the predominant wind direction contributes to the development of airflow inside the culverts. • Airflow inside of the culvert will influence frost depth under the culvert resulting in increased frost depth at the inlet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved energy efficiency is one of the most effective strategies for achieving energy sustainability and independence locally, regionally and globally. Industry accounts for 40% of global energy usage each year, which suggests its potentially significant impact on overall energy use. The rapid development of standards for more efficient equipment and components are pushing manufacturers towards further improvements on a component level. However, it has been shown that the largest efficiency potential is actually found in higher system levels in which components serve, such as production processes, ventilation or hydraulic systems. Even though the importance of increasing energy efficiency at a systemic level has been widely acknowledged in recent years, practical approaches are seldom discussed in the literature. This gap between aspiration and achievement calls for the development of new approaches to foster system efficiency in industrial systems. This paper presents a systems analysis and corresponding model to increase the energy efficiency of industrial processes that involve intensive usage of electric motor systems. The model originates from traditional value stream mapping. Three case studies representing three different industrial processes were conducted to develop and validate the model. In total, 31 energy efficiency measures were identified, 29 of which address actions beyond component levels. Alongside identifications of energy efficiency measures, the model promotes the creation of conditions for cross-functional worker participation. By applying this model, the knowledge and skills gained by industrial personnel working with improved energy efficiency, maintenance and production processes can be used immediately to generate improvement suggestions. The paper concludes that this model, based on a simplified energy-focused value stream mapping, could broaden the scope of energy efficiency actions, engage a larger group of workers within the organisation and increase systems efficiency. This can be further used as a practical tool for finding continuous improvement possibilities that will result in strengthened competitiveness and more cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles seem to offer a great potential for sustainable transport development. The Swedish pioneer project GreenCharge Southeast is designed as a cooperative action research approach that aims to explore a roadmap for a fossil-free transport system by 2030 with a focus on electric vehicles. In the first paper of this tandem publication, the authors propose a new generic process model embedding the Framework of Strategic Sustainable Development. The purpose of applying it in an action-research mode as described in this paper was twofold: (i) to develop a vision for sustainable regional transport and a coarse roadmap towards that vision, and, while doing so, (ii) get additional empirical experiences to inform the development of the new generic process model. Experts from many sectors and organizations involved in the GreenCharge project provided vital information and reviewed all planning perspectives presented in Paper 1 in two sequential multi-stakeholder seminars. The results include a sustainable vision for electric vehicle systems in southeast Sweden within a sustainable regional transport system within a sustainable global society, as well as an initial development plan towards such a vision for the transport sector. The vision is framed by the universal sustainability principles, and the development plan is informed by the strategic guidelines, of the above-mentioned framework. Among other things, the vision and plan imply a shift to renewable energy and a more optimized use of areas and thus a new type of spatial planning. For example, the vision and plan implies a lower built-in demand for transport, more integrated traffic modes, and more multi-functional use of areas for energy and transport infrastructures, for example. Some inherent benefits of electric vehicles are highlighted in the vision and plan, including near-zero local emissions and flexibility as regards primary energy sources. The vision and plan also imply improved governance for more effective cross-sector collaboration to ensure coordinated development within the transport sector and between the transportation sector and other relevant sectors. Meanwhile, the new generic process model was refined and is ready to be applied and further tested in the GreenCharge project and in other projects within the transport sector as well as other sectors. The study confirmed that the new generic process model suggested in support of sustainable transport system and community development is helpful for giving diverse stakeholders, with various specialties and perspectives, a way of working that is goal-oriented and builds on effective, iterative learning loops and co-creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that the revenue of wind power generators on spot markets (“market value”) diminishes with increasing deployment. This “value drop” is mostly observed in power markets that are dominated by thermal power plants, such as in Germany. This paper assesses the wind market value in power systems where hydroelectric stations with large reservoirs prevail, such as in Sweden. Due to their dispatch flexibility, such hydropower compensates for wind power output variability and thereby mitigates the wind power value drop. The market value of electricity from wind declines with penetration in both types of power systems, but it tends to decline at a slower rate if hydropower is present. This paper presents empirical evidence on the relevance of this effect derived from market data and numerical model results. Our results indicate that when moving from 0% to 30% wind penetration, hydropower mitigates the value drop by a third. As a result, 1 MWh of wind energy is worth 18% more in Sweden than in Germany. Sensitivity analyses indicate high robustness despite large parameter uncertainty: in 80% of all sensitivities, wind energy is valuable 12–29% more in Sweden than in Germany. The benefits of hydropower seem to level off at around 20% wind penetration. This suggests that the hydro flexibility is “exhausted” at this level. Low wind speed wind turbines, carbon pricing, and upgrades of hydropower generation capacity can lever the added value of hydro flexibility further. Not only is wind energy more valuable in the presence of hydropower, hydroelectricity also becomes more valuable if paired with wind power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial sector accounts for 35%–40% of total energy use in Sweden, where 30% of industrial energy use comes from non-energy-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This sector has not historically received much attention when it comes to improving energy efficiency due to limited resources, lower priority given to energy issues, rather small energy-saving potential for a single company, and great heterogeneity of the SMEs. However, the accumulative energy-saving potential for SMEs can be quite high and achieved at very low costs, partly because most improvements are found in support processes and are relatively easy to implement. Various public policies, such as industrial energy audit programmes, serve as a means for overcoming barriers to energy efficiency in the sector of SMEs. One example is the Swedish Energy Audit Programme (SEAP), a stand-alone audit programme functioning between 2010 and 2014. The aim of this paper is to examine the programme by means of process and impact evaluation. The results show that the programme resulted in annual net energy efficiency savings equivalent to 340 GWh/year or 6% of the 713 participating companies' energy end use. The implementation rate in the audit programme was 53%. On average, the public cost of one implemented measure was € 700. Derived from the amount of energy saved, the audit programme's annual cost-effectiveness is €7/MWh saved energy. This paper adds a significant scientific contribution due to the method used for evaluation. Multiple company visits and availability of quantitative data from 713 companies gave the possibility to address the additionality effects and estimate net energy savings more precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opportunities for online shopping are transforming travel behaviour related to shopping, and they have the potential to reduce overall travel demands. This paper analyses the potential for reductions in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from passenger transport due to an increased use of online shopping in Sweden and adds to the broader picture of what potential growing online shopping might have on transport sustainability. This paper shows that there is a sustainability potential related to more sustainable travel habits by those who shop online more frequently. Calculations indicate that the predicted increase in online shopping behaviour together with the predicted increase of the Swedish population in 2030 would give a 22% decrease in CO 2 emissions related to shopping trips compared to 2012. Furthermore, if all travel is taken into account this would result in a 2% reduction in 2030 compared to total CO 2 emissions 2012. The paper furthermore discusses how these results might influence transport sustainability ambitions and policies. The discussion suggests that online shopping might facilitate reductions in CO 2 emissions but above all, it could act as a facilitator for implementing other policies promoting a less car dependent planning regime including shopping localisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging can play a key role in reducing food waste and enabling resource efficient logistics operations. This paper offers insights into why this potential is not fully adopted by companies in food supply chains by exploring adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in ten companies in South Africa and Sweden. The paper develops an analytical framework from theory and applies it to the empirical data. This resulted in ten propositions that structure adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains and explain the reasons for their occurrence. The propositions can form a basis for researchers to understand why the adoption of sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains may be lacking. Corporate decision-makers can use the propositions to form strategies and initiatives to overcome adoption barriers. The study also identified some contextual differences, but overall, the contextual impact on adoption barriers was surprisingly low. To deepen research and practice insights about the complexity of adopting sustainable packaging practices, the paper offers a process view on the adoption barriers in which their relationships are linked. The analytical framework and the process view offer integrative views on adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices that enable researchers and practitioners to address them with a structured approach. This explorative study finally unfolds further research opportunities. • Explore adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains in South Africa and Sweden. • Ten propositions structure adoption barriers explain the reasons for their occurrence. • Help to understand why the adoption of sustainable packaging practices may be lacking. • Support corporate decision-makers to form strategies to overcome adoption barriers. • Identify contextual differences, which overall were surprisingly low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the global environmental impacts of local consumption is an area of growing interest among policymakers and consumers. By knowing what products comprise urban consumption "hotspots," municipalities and consumers alike could take deliberate actions to target and discourage consumption of high-impact products. In this paper, a new method for identifying environmental hotspots of consumption is presented. The main methodological advances are the following: i) material flow analysis of urban areas and life cycle assessment are combined; ii) a 16-year time-series of urban consumption data is used for selection of the most suitable representative products and for trend analysis; iii) representative products are selected systematically from consumption data of 1000 product types; iv) representative products are scaled up to represent consumption of the product groups; v) hotspots are identified by simultaneously evaluating six environmental impacts - acidification, climate change, eutrophication (marine and freshwater), photochemical ozone formation, and resource use; vi) for the case study, hotspots are connected to the city's profiles. The method was applied to the Swedish cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo and to Sweden in total. Electronics is a hotspot for all the studied areas and all the studied impacts and should be a prioritized product group for action. Fuel is a hotspot shared by all the areas while vehicles is a hotspot in Gothenburg. Meat is a nationwide hotspot, but not for the cities investigated. Gothenburg and Stockholm could collaborate to find effective measures for their common hotspot machinery. Thus, the method can be used to identify hotspots and find which product types could be part of national versus local programs. • Combined MFA-LCA environmental impact analysis of urban consumption. • Region-specific analysis to identify need for local consumption reduction efforts. • Some common but also different hotspots were identified for the studied areas. • Method enables assessment of multiple environmental impacts simultaneously. • Time series of consumption data allows for trend analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport is perhaps one of the more difficult sources of emissions to address. Whilst opportunities are available for electrification of road vehicle fleets, air transport and the long distance freight of goods are more challenging. Further, due to the fragmentation of global supply chains, where materials can cross the world multiple times before ending up with a final consumer, it is important to understand the contribution of emissions caused by transport, and especially international transport, in relation to the consumption of goods and services. This paper provides evidence based insights into the contribution of CO2 emissions from transport to consumption footprints in Sweden. We give an extensive discussion of the treatment of transport in multi-regional input-output based approaches which can give insight into how different transport emissions can be accounted for. Secondly, we estimate the amount of CO2 emissions in the footprint coming from transport for Sweden. Results show that 14% (12 Mton) of the total Swedish CO2 footprint (84 Mton) was coming from transport activities occurring in the global supply chain. Most of these emissions were caused by transport in supply chains of consumed goods and services such as construction, household appliances and motor vehicles (8.5 Mton). However, the final consumption of package holidays and flights form the single biggest category with 3.5 Mton of the total 12 Mton CO2 of embodied transport emissions. With direct household emissions of vehicle transport in Sweden being 8.5 Mton, the emissions embodied in goods and services (excluding the package holidays and flights) are nearly equivalent to all the private vehicle transport of Swedish citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the charging procedure for sublevel caving mining is carried out with no prior information of the rock mass condition. Thus, engineers are blindsided to unexpected rock conditions and ill-prepared to address issues associated with collapsing boreholes. This results on charging problems and, as consequence, bad fragmentation of the rock after blasting which difficult ore loading and transportation as the gravity flow of the rock is reduced. This paper builds up the work done by Ghosh et al. (IJRMMS, 2018), to classify the geotechnical rock condition into five classes (solid rock, fractured rock, cave-in, minor and major cavity). From it, two applications based on the Measure While Drilling (MWD) technique have been developed: one for geotechnical rock condition of orebodies and the other for predicting the risk of collapse in boreholes. The work of Ghosh et al. has been improved into a geotechnical rock condition block model to simplify the quantitative assessment and automatic recognition of rock trends. A thorough correction of the MWD parameters has been also applied to minimize external influences other than the rock mass. From it, the risk of borehole collapses model has been developed by comparing different combinations of the geotechnical rock condition block-model with the charging length of 102 production fan-holes. The assessment of the number of collapsed and non-collapsed blastholes and the charging length/blasthole length ratio has been used to assign high, medium or low risk of collapse to each combination. The results predict collapses in the first half of the fan-holes for the high risk, collapses in the second half of the fan-hole for the medium risk and no collapses along the hole for the non-risk holes. The two models have been applied in large scale for two orebodies in the Malmberget mine, Sweden, which comprises 20 drifts and 5060 fan shape long-holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]