New partnership with Aarhus University will advance scope of environmental policy research

EfD is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Environmental Social Science and Geography section (ESGO) at Aarhus University, Denmark. This collaboration will broaden EfD’s scientific scope and strengthen its mission to support sustainable development through high-quality research and policy engagement.

ESGO is a section within the Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University, one of Denmark’s leading academic institutions. It comprises approximately 25 scientists who conduct research and provide consultancy services in the fields of environmental economics, political science, sociology, geography, and geospatial analysis. They integrate these disciplines and often collaborate with natural scientists to find actionable solutions to environmental problems and challenges.

Broadens scientific scope

The collaboration between EfD and ESGO is rooted in shared goals. Both organizations are committed to producing research that not only advances academic knowledge but also informs policy decisions and improves outcomes for people and the planet. By joining the EfD network, ESGO will contribute new perspectives and methods from political science and behavioral studies, besides a large group working on environmental economics, complementing the economics-focused approach of existing EfD centers.

“We bring a broad scientific scope, advisory projects, and experiences from EU projects to this collaboration. We look forward to, among others, collaborating with EfD’s large network in the Global South,” says Anders Branth Pedersen, Senior Researcher and head of the ESGO section.

Many common denominators

“Interesting possible fields of collaboration include, for instance, research on waste management, ecosystem services, chemicals, air pollution, nature-based solutions, behavioral incentives for sustainability, education and capacity building, policy outreach, and joint funding applications,” says Anders Branth Pedersen.

There are many common denominators between the two organizations. For instance, Professor Jessica Coria, who recently joined ESGO, has been a Research Fellow at EfD since 2008 and contributed in many ways, among others, as a part of the Research Committee. ESGO has also established collaboration agreements with EfD’s partner Wageningen University and has a very large network in the EU through participation in many projects funded by the EU and the Nordic Council.

ESGO has a collaboration with Danida (Danish International Development Agency), contributing to capacity-building initiatives in environmental policy. One example is a learning program for government officials, municipal planners, and environmental professionals from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, China, Indonesia, India, Morocco, Egypt, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, which has been running for four years now.

“We are excited to welcome ESGO into the EfD network,” said Gunnar Köhlin, Director of EfD. “EfD now has an even stronger foundation for promoting sound environmental governance and creating positive change for communities and ecosystems around the world.”