About SUN - Natural resources for a sustainable transformation of society
Sweden's important basic industries of ore, wood and water, which are located in northern Sweden, are a prerequisite for a successful climate transition. SUN, natural resources for sustainable societal transformation, focuses on these assets and shows that northern Sweden has the capacity to lead the way for a successful transition of the basic industry that benefits not only Sweden but also the rest of the world.
Through internal and external collaboration, the research area aims to create groundbreaking research and innovative education that together contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources.
The UN's global sustainability goals constitute an ambitious agenda for sustainable development; they require a radical transformation of society with a focus on economic, ecological and social sustainability. The global goals also largely require a technological development with a focus on, among other things, electrification based on fossil-free energy sources, efficient energy storage, resource and energy-efficient production processes, utilization of residual products, and a substitution to renewable materials and natural resources. The future area SUN wants to show that Sweden's, and the county's, assets of natural resources in the form of ore, forest and water are of central importance to realize such a societal transformation.
For example, we need to extract more metals to manage the transition. This involves metals such as tellurium, nickel, cobalt and lithium for solar cells, electric cars and battery production, and neodymium, which is needed to manufacture powerful magnets for generators in our wind turbines. All these valuable energy-critical metals that we need to achieve the climate goals can be extracted in Sweden today with great consideration for the environment, but such extraction is also based on social acceptance.
SUN wants to give Sweden the opportunity to develop new technology that strengthens Swedish industry, reduces environmental impact and manages the social effects that follow. Identifying and being able to resolve conflicts of objectives is a major and important issue in the basic industry's climate transition. The various dimensions of sustainability - as well as the global sustainability goals - can be difficult to achieve simultaneously (at least in the short term). For an efficient use of our natural resources, a consensus and uniform interpretation of the concept of sustainability is needed between politicians, authorities, society, industry, academia and consumers. SUN has a large number of collaborative platforms, infrastructure and networks established and paves the way for the multidisciplinary and holistic approaches required for research in the area.
SUN's research at Luleå University of Technology can contribute to the Swedish natural resource-based basic industry being able to adapt to the UN's sustainability goals while increasing its profitability and taking into account people and the environment. What we achieve with our research will be in demand internationally and can be applied by other countries.
Organisation
Strategic Council
With SUN's Strategic Council we will discuss visions, environment and broad perspectives on issues and challenges related to the future area's focus on natural resources, industry and society.
Members of the Strategic Council
- Lars-Eric Aaro, Industrial advisor (Mobilaris, Norra Skog, Wibax and others), chairman.
- Johanna Söderasp, Swedish Water Agency
- Anneli Wirtén, SGU
- Tobias Persson, Growth Analysis
- Janus Brandin, Region Norrbotten
- Jonas Lundström, Region Västerbotten
- Herman Sundqvist, Swedish Forest Agency
- Åsa Allan, Kaunis Iron
- Mats Billstein, Vattenfall
- Katarina Nilsson, Svemin
- Jonas Eriksson, Norra Skog
- Fredrik Engström, H2 Green Steel
- Jonas Rudberg, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
- Pär Weihed, Luleå University of Technology
Steering group
- Tobias Bauer (Scientific leader)
- Patrik Söderholm
- Marcus Öhman
- Bror Sundqvist
- Staffan Lundström
- Daniel Johansson
- Kristina Johansson
- Maria Pettersson
- Betty Christakopoulou
- Patrik Söderholm
- Sabine Mayer
The following external parties have been involved in the design of the future area
- Vattenfall Vattenkraft AB
- LKAB
- Lundin Mining
- Boliden AB
- Epirock
- Sandvik
- ABB
- Svemin
- The forest industries
Education programs related to SUN
At Luleå University of Technology you can study several different education programs and independent courses that are related to SUN.
- Master of Science in Natural Resources Engineering
- Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR
- The company and environmental requirements
- Geoscience, including ore geology and environmental geochemistry, master's degree
- Sustainable Mineral Extraction, Bachelor
- Environmental management
- Environmental and quality auditing
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects
- Jurisprudence, Bachelor
- Jurisprudence, Master of Environmental Law
- Law, Master's Degree in Environmental Law, Luleå
- Political Science, Bachelor
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