The largest environmental initiative in KTH’s history
Several new heavy appointments, including a Vice-President for Sustainable Development and a new Environment Director. And a budget of SEK 8 million. KTH will now become a player to reckon with as regards environmental issues.
“As well as KTH striving to become one of Europe’s leading technical universities in education and research, it also aims to lead the field in the environment and sustainable development. The same thing applies here as for KTH’s other operations,” says Göran Finnveden, Professor of Strategic Environmental Analysis at KTH.
He is the man who has been given the responsibility as Vice-President for Sustainable Development at KTH. The idea is to take a serious look at environmental issues at the university.
“We will examine how the environment and sustainable development is applied to all educational programmes and to research. A key concept in order to succeed is visible integration. All graduate engineers from KTH should be able to contribute to sustainable development in some way,” says Göran Finnveden.
To achieve this, several important recruitments are to be made in addition to the already mentioned post Vice-President. Among other things, an Environment Director is to be appointed, and there will be some additional staff working with the initiative.
“Two people will be working with this in addition to the Environment Director. SEK 8 million per year has also been earmarked to begin with,” says Göran Finnveden.
In addition, a council named KTH Sustainability will be appointed. KTH Sustainability will be providing support to the Faculty Council on issues of immediate importance. The Council consists of seven people and will be led by Göran Finnveden.
There are several reasons why KTH is now investing heavily in sustainable development.
“Environmental issues are driving development in many areas. You only have to look at Scania’s truck production in order to understand it. Future requirements on emissions are the driving force behind truck development. Research funding related to the environment and sustainable development will also be important and KTH has fallen behind in this area,” says Göran Finnveden.
Peter Gudmundson, the President of KTH agrees that the initiative is important for KTH.
“With this project, KTH’s strength will be more easily seen and in a much better way. At the same time I can see further reinforcements with regard to education, research and the campus environment. I am convinced that this investment will pay off in terms of increased attractiveness for KTH and future new resources for research and education,” says Peter Gudmundson.
Göran Finnveden points out that it is not the first time KTH is making a great commitment to the environment. But this is the largest investment so far, and the one which hopefully will produce the best results.
“We will look upon this as a new start for sustainable development at KTH,” says Göran Finnveden.
For more information, contact Göran Finnveden on 08-790 73 18 / goran.finnveden@abe.kth.se or Peter Gudmundson on 08-790 70 01 or rektor@kth.se
Peter Larsson