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Prof. Dr. Mikael Karlsson
Department of Philosophy and History, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden

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0 Climate Policy
0 Risk Management
0 Environmental governance and policy
0 Science-policy interactions
0 Science denial

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Environmental governance and policy
Risk Management
Science-policy interactions
Climate Policy
Science denial
Chemicals legislation

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Journal article
Published: 15 May 2021 in Climate Policy
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Sweden’s 2017 Climate Act is part of a climate policy framework aiming for net zero domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The framework was based on a proposal from the All Party Committee on Environmental Objectives (the Committee), in which members from all participating parliamentary parties agreed unanimously. This was despite a contested climate debate running in parallel, notwithstanding strong criticism from business confederations and trade unions. Aiming to draw lessons of value for climate policy-making, this study explores the main factors that influenced the work and outcomes of the Committee, based on a series of in-depth interviews and document review. The research design is linked to policy process theories. The interviews mainly concern underlying motives, the role of knowledge, the influence of impact assessments, and international influence. It is shown that a continuous and comprehensive learning process in the Committee was instrumental for achieving consensus, including addressing concerns among some members regarding policy costs and constitutionality. The Committee was also influenced by policy developments elsewhere, referred to as policy diffusion, notably from the U.K. Climate Change Act and the UNFCCC COP 21 policy process. Over time, a cross-party consensus among Committee members emerged and led to the invention of an original policy proposal. The consensus was instrumental for generating support for the proposal in an otherwise conflictual political landscape. As a result, a governmental bill based on the proposal was eventually enacted into law, renewing Sweden’s climate policy with a climate change act coupled to ambitious climate objectives.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson. Sweden’s Climate Act – its origin and emergence. Climate Policy 2021, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson. Sweden’s Climate Act – its origin and emergence. Climate Policy. 2021; ():1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson. 2021. "Sweden’s Climate Act – its origin and emergence." Climate Policy , no. : 1-14.

Contributed paper
Published: 05 August 2020 in Conservation Biology
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Biodiversity offsetting is an increasingly applied tool aiming to compensate for environmental damage caused by exploitation projects. Critics, however, raise concerns over the purported effectiveness of offsetting and question the ethical underpinnings and implications of offsetting. But these ethical dimensions have largely been overlooked in research, which may lead to offsetting systems that fail to respect the values intended to be safeguarded. To address these dimensions five ethical objections in the scientific literature are identified: (1) offsetting violates nature's intrinsic value; (2) losses of nature cannot be compensated for by human interventions; (3) too little is known to make adequate trades; (4) offsetting impedes virtuous dispositions toward nature; and (5) offsetting has negative justice implications. These objections, and arguments against them, are described and analyzed using the ethical concepts of intrinsic and instrumental values, and anthropocentrism and non‐anthropocentrism, as well as deontological, consequentialist, and virtue‐ethical paradigms. Ten recommendations to policy‐makers and five questions to practitioners are offered to aid decision‐making on biodiversity offsetting. The recommendations concern both policy and legislation, for example on the need to clarify aims and how to use flexibilities and multipliers. The questions mainly focus on process‐related issues. Hopefully, these recommendations and questions will encourage further discussion of the ethics of biodiversity offsets, which ultimately may help to respect the values of biodiversity and human welfare at stake. Article impact statement : Five ethical objections should be considered in the design and implementation of biodiversity offsetting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Karin Edvardsson Björnberg. Ethics and biodiversity offsetting. Conservation Biology 2020, 35, 578 -586.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Karin Edvardsson Björnberg. Ethics and biodiversity offsetting. Conservation Biology. 2020; 35 (2):578-586.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Karin Edvardsson Björnberg. 2020. "Ethics and biodiversity offsetting." Conservation Biology 35, no. 2: 578-586.

Review
Published: 10 February 2020 in Climate Policy
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Concern over mitigation costs impedes the adoption of the climate policies needed to achieve agreed global warming targets. While costs are important to consider, so are benefits. However, the evidence for climate policy co-benefits, that is, the benefits in addition to avoided climate change costs, is commonly overlooked in policy-making. In many areas, the research is limited and not comprehensively synthesised. This article counters that problem and reviews 239 peer-reviewed articles, selected from 1,749 hits from a literature search covering ‘co-benefits’ and related terms. Aiming to aid policy-makers and to identify research gaps, we structure, describe, analyse and synthesize the rapidly expanding knowledge on climate policy co-benefits. Improved air quality is the co-benefit category dominating the literature, but studies covering a broad geographic range also focus on diet, physical activity, soil and water quality, biodiversity, economic performance, and energy security. In these areas, co-benefits are shown to be of substantial economic value, regarding air quality often of the same order of magnitude as mitigation costs, in some instances even larger. However, the share of studies quantifying or monetizing co-benefits is limited, and the empirical evidence is small, in particular for areas besides air quality and health. Furthermore, the knowledge is seldom used in policy-making, meaning that decision-making is often biased and overly concerned with costs, leading to suboptimal climate policies and goal failures. Evidently, more research is needed, as well as improved decision-making. Understanding and acting on climate policy co-benefits can promote policies that better mitigate climate change and improve overall welfare. Key policy insights

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Eva Alfredsson; Nils Westling. Climate policy co-benefits: a review. Climate Policy 2020, 20, 292 -316.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Eva Alfredsson, Nils Westling. Climate policy co-benefits: a review. Climate Policy. 2020; 20 (3):292-316.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Eva Alfredsson; Nils Westling. 2020. "Climate policy co-benefits: a review." Climate Policy 20, no. 3: 292-316.

Perspective
Published: 30 September 2019 in Ambio
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Gaps between public policy goals and the state of the environment are often significant. However, while goal failures in environmental governance are studied in a number of disciplines, the knowledge on the various causes behind delayed goal achievement is still incomplete. In this article we propose a new framework for analysis of delay mechanisms in science and policy, with the intention to provide a complementary lens for describing, analysing and counteracting delay in environmental governance. The framework is based on case-study findings from recent research focusing on goal-failures in policies for climate change, hazardous chemicals, biodiversity loss and eutrophication. It is also related to previous research on science and policy processes and their interactions. We exemplify the framework with two delay mechanisms that we consider particularly important to highlight—denial of science and decision thresholds. We call for further research in the field, for development of the framework, and not least for increased attention to delay mechanisms in environmental policy review and development on national as well as international levels.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. Mind the gap: Coping with delay in environmental governance. Ambio 2019, 49, 1067 -1075.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Michael Gilek. Mind the gap: Coping with delay in environmental governance. Ambio. 2019; 49 (5):1067-1075.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. 2019. "Mind the gap: Coping with delay in environmental governance." Ambio 49, no. 5: 1067-1075.

Journal article
Published: 02 September 2019 in Sustainability
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Much research shows that science denial regarding climate change is widespread and problematic for science and scientists, as well as for policy-makers. Climate denial delays goal achievement. As shown in this article, science denial commonly occurs also in the field of chemicals assessment and policy, but the research on the topic is scarce. The peer-reviewed studies that exist mostly concern a limited number of specific cases, such as DDT, CFCs and endocrine disrupting chemicals. The characteristics of ‘chemicals denial’ show similarity with those of climate denial, including reliance on fake experts, cherry-picked facts and attacks on scientists, with a key aspect being the questioning of causal relationships. Considering the gaps between chemicals policy goals and the state of the environment, further scientific exploration in the field is needed. Developing a better coordinated research agenda and a common terminology are therefore warranted strategies. A key concept in such endeavors could be ‘chemicals denial’.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson. Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4785 .

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson. Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (17):4785.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson. 2019. "Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy." Sustainability 11, no. 17: 4785.

Journal article
Published: 05 June 2019 in Ocean & Coastal Management
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The expectations on marine spatial planning to improve environmental governance of the Baltic Sea are high, not least for helping to close the huge gaps between environmental objectives and the state of the marine environment. This article focuses on the on-going implementation of marine spatial planning in Sweden, well-known to be a forerunner in environmental policy. Aiming to identify governance recommendations, the study analyses how the first consultation document for the Baltic Sea may complement existing governance systems and promote gap closure. A particular focus is placed on the potential impact of the plan on the implementation of an ecosystem approach to management (EAM) and how these issues are regarded by involved stakeholders. It is shown that the planning process promotes participation, but that the studied plan as such most likely does not significantly help to close any larger environmental goal-state gaps. A number of recommendations on how to develop the plan are discussed, but significant improvements require broader governance reforms, in particular concerning coordination and integration in relation to legislation on other marine and water strategies, as well as policies and laws for fisheries, agriculture and industrial chemicals. Major policy development is thus needed in order to allow marine spatial planning in Sweden, and most likely in several other geographical areas as well, to significantly help closing goal-state gaps in the future.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson. Closing marine governance gaps? Sweden's marine spatial planning, the ecosystem approach to management and stakeholders' views. Ocean & Coastal Management 2019, 179, 104833 .

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson. Closing marine governance gaps? Sweden's marine spatial planning, the ecosystem approach to management and stakeholders' views. Ocean & Coastal Management. 2019; 179 ():104833.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson. 2019. "Closing marine governance gaps? Sweden's marine spatial planning, the ecosystem approach to management and stakeholders' views." Ocean & Coastal Management 179, no. : 104833.

Review
Published: 01 November 2017 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Karin Edvardsson Björnberg; Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek; Sven Ove Hansson. Climate and environmental science denial: A review of the scientific literature published in 1990–2015. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 167, 229 -241.

AMA Style

Karin Edvardsson Björnberg, Mikael Karlsson, Michael Gilek, Sven Ove Hansson. Climate and environmental science denial: A review of the scientific literature published in 1990–2015. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 167 ():229-241.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karin Edvardsson Björnberg; Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek; Sven Ove Hansson. 2017. "Climate and environmental science denial: A review of the scientific literature published in 1990–2015." Journal of Cleaner Production 167, no. : 229-241.

Chapter
Published: 16 August 2017 in Handbook on Marine Environment Protection
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While modern society is highly dependent on chemicals, numerous substances also turn out to be hazardous and many give rise to severe risks and problems in the marine environment. In response, national, regional and global chemical policies, often focusing on the land-based sources to marine pollution, have been developed, as outlined in the article. As a result, the levels of some pollutants have decreased, but the vast majority of substances are not controlled in line with the internationally stated objectives of sound management of chemicals. An environment-oriented development of present policies, implementing the precautionary principle, is considered needed in order to improve the situation, and the question is raised in the article whether the present main international chemicals agreements would not also gain from being merged into a global framework convention.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. Management of Hazardous Substances in the Marine Environment. Handbook on Marine Environment Protection 2017, 715 -732.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Michael Gilek. Management of Hazardous Substances in the Marine Environment. Handbook on Marine Environment Protection. 2017; ():715-732.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. 2017. "Management of Hazardous Substances in the Marine Environment." Handbook on Marine Environment Protection , no. : 715-732.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2016 in Nordicom Review
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Cooperation and communication play an important role for environmental governance. This holds true for the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, one of the most disturbed ecosystems in the world, where insufficient cooperation between different stakeholders is one reason for goal failure. This article addresses the linkages between (media) framing on the one hand, and cooperation on the other. The case in focus is a set of negotiations related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, the most central governance strategy in the Baltic Sea region. Our results show that in order to influence political decision-making, key stakeholders compete over the power to define and interpret problems, causes and solutions to an extent impeding cooperation. We focus the analysis on eutrophication, which we show to be a complex and controversial topic, framed in incompatible ways by different stakeholders.

ACS Style

Anna Maria Jönsson; Mikael Karlsson. Cooperation, Media and Framing Processes. Nordicom Review 2016, 37, 41 -55.

AMA Style

Anna Maria Jönsson, Mikael Karlsson. Cooperation, Media and Framing Processes. Nordicom Review. 2016; 37 (s1):41-55.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna Maria Jönsson; Mikael Karlsson. 2016. "Cooperation, Media and Framing Processes." Nordicom Review 37, no. s1: 41-55.

Book chapter
Published: 17 March 2016 in MARE Publication Series
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This chapter investigates and compares the interactions between science and policy (risk assessments and risk management) in five cases of environmental governance of the Baltic Sea: eutrophication, fisheries, invasive alien species, chemical pollution and oil discharges. An efficient interplay between science and policy is important for successful environmental governance, which applies particularly to the Baltic Sea where all five risks pose serious threats to environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. We use science-policy theory and an analytical framework based on a categorisation of relevant management responses linked to different states of incomplete knowledge (risk, uncertainty, ambiguity, ignorance) to investigate two main characteristics of science-policy interfaces: (1) organisational structures and (2) procedural aspects of managing scientific uncertainties and stakeholder disagreements. The analyses reveal differences and similarities in institutional and organisational designs of the respective assessment-management interactions, as well as in terms of how scientific uncertainties, stakeholder disagreements and sociopolitical ambiguities are addressed. All the five science-policy interfaces expose science-based management approaches that commonly are not able to cope sufficiently well with the complexities, uncertainties and ambiguities at hand. Based on our cross-case analyses, we conclude by recommending five key aspects that need to be addressed to improve science-policy interactions in Baltic Sea environmental governance: (1) more adaptive organisational structures in terms of time, context and place dependency, (2) increased knowledge integrations, (3) a more careful consideration of stakeholder participation and deliberation, (4) better management of uncertainty and disagreements and (5) increased transparency and reflection in the communication of science-policy processes.

ACS Style

Sebastian Linke; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. Science-Policy Interfaces in Baltic Sea Environmental Governance: Towards Regional Cooperation and Management of Uncertainty? MARE Publication Series 2016, 173 -203.

AMA Style

Sebastian Linke, Michael Gilek, Mikael Karlsson. Science-Policy Interfaces in Baltic Sea Environmental Governance: Towards Regional Cooperation and Management of Uncertainty? MARE Publication Series. 2016; ():173-203.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sebastian Linke; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. 2016. "Science-Policy Interfaces in Baltic Sea Environmental Governance: Towards Regional Cooperation and Management of Uncertainty?" MARE Publication Series , no. : 173-203.

Book chapter
Published: 17 March 2016 in MARE Publication Series
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This study investigates if and how present institutional structures and interactions between scientific assessment and environmental management are sufficient for implementing the ecosystem approach to management (EAM) in the case of Baltic Sea eutrophication. Concerning governance structures, a number of institutions and policies focus on issues relating to eutrophication. In many cases, the policies are mutually supportive rather than contradictory, as seen, for example, in the case of the mutually supportive BSAP and MSFD. The opposite is true, however, when it comes to the linkages with some other policy areas, in particular regarding agricultural policy, where the EU CAP subsidises intensive agriculture with at best minor consideration of environmental objectives, thereby undermining EAM. Enhanced policy coherence and stricter policies on concrete measures to combat eutrophication seem well needed in order to reach stated environmental objectives. When it comes to assessment-management interactions, the science-policy interface has worked well in periods, but the more specific that policies have become, for example, in the BSAP case, the more question marks have been raised about science by affected stakeholders. At present, outright controversies exist, and EAM is far from realised in eutrophication policy in the Baltic Sea region. Besides coping with remaining uncertainties by improving the knowledge on problems and solutions – not least in terms of the socio-economic impacts of eutrophication – it may therefore be valuable to develop venues for improved stakeholder participation.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek; Cecilia Lundberg. Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea Environmental Governance. MARE Publication Series 2016, 21 -44.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Michael Gilek, Cecilia Lundberg. Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea Environmental Governance. MARE Publication Series. 2016; ():21-44.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek; Cecilia Lundberg. 2016. "Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea Environmental Governance." MARE Publication Series , no. : 21-44.

Book chapter
Published: 17 March 2016 in MARE Publication Series
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The Baltic Sea ecosystem is subject to a wide array of societal pressures and associated environmental risks (e.g. eutrophication, oil discharges, chemical pollution, overfishing and invasive alien species). Despite several years of substantial efforts by state and non-state actors, it is still highly unlikely that the regionally agreed environmental objectives of reaching “good environmental status” by 2021 in the HELCOM BSAP (Baltic Sea Action Plan) and by 2020 in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) will be met. This chapter identifies key research topics, as well as presents analytical perspectives for analysing the gap between knowledge and action in Baltic Sea environmental governance. It does so by outlining important trends and key challenges associated with Baltic Sea environmental governance, as well as by summarising the scope and results of individual chapters of this interdisciplinary volume. The analysis reveals the development of increasingly complex governance arrangements and the ongoing implementation of the holistic Ecosystem Approach to Management, as two general trends that together contribute to three key challenges associated with (1) regional and cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration, (2) coping with complexity and uncertainty in science-policy interactions and (3) developing communication and knowledge sharing among stakeholder groups. Furthermore, to facilitate analysis of environmental governance opportunities and obstacles both within and across specific environmental issues, this chapter reviews the scientific literature to pinpoint key research issues and questions linked to the identified governance challenges.

ACS Style

Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson; Sebastian Linke; Katarzyna Smolarz. Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: Identifying Key Challenges, Research Topics and Analytical Approaches. MARE Publication Series 2016, 1 -17.

AMA Style

Michael Gilek, Mikael Karlsson, Sebastian Linke, Katarzyna Smolarz. Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: Identifying Key Challenges, Research Topics and Analytical Approaches. MARE Publication Series. 2016; ():1-17.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson; Sebastian Linke; Katarzyna Smolarz. 2016. "Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: Identifying Key Challenges, Research Topics and Analytical Approaches." MARE Publication Series , no. : 1-17.

Book chapter
Published: 17 March 2016 in MARE Publication Series
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Governing marine environments is a highly complex and challenging enterprise. This applies particularly to the heavily exploited Baltic Sea for which despite extensive governance arrangements and a substantial scientific knowledge base, it is unlikely that the policy objective of ‘good environmental status’ is reached. Based on a review of governance arrangements linked to five large-scale environmental issues (eutrophication, overfishing, invasive alien species, chemical pollution and oil spills from shipping), this chapter aims to identify pathways and concrete ideas for institutional reform that may improve goal fulfilment. The results show that governance challenges differ substantially between environmental issues, implying a need for case-specific management reforms. For example, coping with extreme uncertainty is a key challenge in the chemical pollution case, whereas it seems more pertinent in the eutrophication case to address the complexity of nutrient pollution sources by adapting objectives and measures amongst sectoral policies to be in line with environmental ones. Furthermore, cross-case comparisons reveal a set of common vital functions (i.e. coordination, integration, interdisciplinarity, precaution, deliberation, communication and adaptability) that are needed in order to facilitate effective and efficient environmental governance in the long term. To promote these functions in Baltic Sea environmental governance, the chapter suggests pathways and institutional reforms aimed at improving multilevel and multisectoral integration, science-policy interactions and stakeholder participation. To further develop these ideas, it is proposed amongst other things that priority is given to setting up an international ‘Baltic Sea Policy Review Mechanism’, formed by cross-body and cross-stakeholder participation.

ACS Style

Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. Seeking Pathways Towards Improved Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. MARE Publication Series 2016, 229 -246.

AMA Style

Michael Gilek, Mikael Karlsson. Seeking Pathways Towards Improved Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. MARE Publication Series. 2016; ():229-246.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. 2016. "Seeking Pathways Towards Improved Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea." MARE Publication Series , no. : 229-246.

Book chapter
Published: 17 March 2016 in MARE Publication Series
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This study zooms in on public governance in the Baltic Sea region of three generations of notorious hazardous substances, namely, PCBs, PBDEs and PFOS/PFOA. Following regulation, PCB concentrations in the Baltic Sea have decreased substantially although they are still above pre-industrial levels. PBDE levels have also decreased in some places, but they too are well above targeted levels, whereas the situation for PFOS and in particular for PFOA has hardly improved at all. In the case of PCBs, while comprehensive measures took long to implement, initial preventive measures were taken early based on the precautionary principle. This contrasts with the cases of PBDEs, PFOS and PFOA, where the burden of proof on policy-makers has been high and hence caused severe delays in policy-making. There has, however, generally been a positive interplay in all three cases between the EU, which has legislated, and HELCOM, which has taken the role of concept and agenda setting. While environment-oriented policies, such as the Ecosystem Approach to Management under MSFD and BSAP, have grown in importance over time, polluter-oriented chemical legislation has been more important when it comes to final decision-making. Nevertheless, the general response has been reactive rather than proactive, and there is no indication that society responds faster today than in the past, at least not given the fact that awareness, experience and knowledge are greater today than a few decades back. Based on that insight, the article discusses various options for improving governance.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. Governance of Chemicals in the Baltic Sea Region: A Study of Three Generations of Hazardous Substances. MARE Publication Series 2016, 97 -123.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson, Michael Gilek. Governance of Chemicals in the Baltic Sea Region: A Study of Three Generations of Hazardous Substances. MARE Publication Series. 2016; ():97-123.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson; Michael Gilek. 2016. "Governance of Chemicals in the Baltic Sea Region: A Study of Three Generations of Hazardous Substances." MARE Publication Series , no. : 97-123.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2015 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Natasja Börjeson; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. Knowledge challenges for responsible supply chain management of chemicals in textiles – as experienced by procuring organisations. Journal of Cleaner Production 2015, 107, 130 -136.

AMA Style

Natasja Börjeson, Michael Gilek, Mikael Karlsson. Knowledge challenges for responsible supply chain management of chemicals in textiles – as experienced by procuring organisations. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2015; 107 ():130-136.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Natasja Börjeson; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson. 2015. "Knowledge challenges for responsible supply chain management of chemicals in textiles – as experienced by procuring organisations." Journal of Cleaner Production 107, no. : 130-136.

Journal article
Published: 28 January 2015 in Global Affairs
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ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson. TTIP and the environment: the case of chemicals policy. Global Affairs 2015, 1, 21 -31.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson. TTIP and the environment: the case of chemicals policy. Global Affairs. 2015; 1 (1):21-31.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson. 2015. "TTIP and the environment: the case of chemicals policy." Global Affairs 1, no. 1: 21-31.

Journal article
Published: 20 November 2013 in Environmental Policy and Governance
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The management of environmental and health risks associated with products from global product chains is a pressing task for contemporary society, a task that involves public and private actors and poses great governance challenges. This article explores how governance arrangements relate to these challenges by focusing on how public and private procuring organizations interpret, use, develop and combine mandatory and voluntary policy instruments. This is theorized in terms of responsible governance of transnational supply chains (RGSC) as well as regarding the combination of vertical and horizontal governance (VG and HG). The article focuses on chemical risks in the textile sector, and is based on findings from case studies of Swedish public and private procuring organizations, with additional interviews with actors engaged in developing various policy instruments. The article shows how mandatory and voluntary policy instruments can – in various ways and combinations – assist in chemical risk management, but also highlights the existence of considerable limitations and gaps, which users need to develop a reflective awareness about. The article reveals different conditions for public and private procurers, and the conclusion includes suggestions on how to bridge the gap between private and public actors. Finally, we conclude by emphasizing that combinations of HG and VG arrangements promote constructive and feasible pathways towards RGSC, but which needs reflective and constructive efforts among actors with insight, willingness and capabilities to create governance linkages. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

ACS Style

Magnus Boström; Mikael Karlsson. Responsible Procurement, Complex Product Chains and the Integration of Vertical and Horizontal Governance. Environmental Policy and Governance 2013, 23, 381 -394.

AMA Style

Magnus Boström, Mikael Karlsson. Responsible Procurement, Complex Product Chains and the Integration of Vertical and Horizontal Governance. Environmental Policy and Governance. 2013; 23 (6):381-394.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magnus Boström; Mikael Karlsson. 2013. "Responsible Procurement, Complex Product Chains and the Integration of Vertical and Horizontal Governance." Environmental Policy and Governance 23, no. 6: 381-394.

Articles
Published: 14 June 2013 in Journal of Risk Research
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Interactions between scientific assessments and management decision-making are key determinants for the efficiency of environmental risk governance. This applies particularly to marine ecosystems like the Baltic Sea, where fisheries and eutrophication pose serious threats connected to environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. Using contemporary science-policy theory, this paper investigates structures, challenges and prospects of science-policy interfaces connected to fisheries and eutrophication governance in the Baltic Sea. We analyse and compare the two cases with respect to two aspects: first the design and organisational structures of the institutional frameworks and second the management of uncertainties and stakeholder disagreements in the two risk cases. The analyses reveal how conventional natural science-based policy-making is insufficient for the requirements of complex environmental governance arenas like fisheries and eutrophication. Both cases show a high, almost exclusive, dependence on science-based advice regarding the organisational and institutional structures of their science-policy interfaces. They also expose remarkable differences with respect to stakeholder disagreements about the interplay between science, other knowledge and policy decisions. In the eutrophication case, consensual science-based advice shaped policy decisions in a comparatively uncomplicated manner. In fisheries by contrast, stakeholder disagreements and different interpretations of scientific uncertainties created serious confusions about the basic role of science in policy. We identify and discuss factors contributing to the observed differences in the science-policy interplay of fisheries and eutrophication management. Our results highlight a misleading conceptual understanding of science-policy interfaces between the normative idea of objective, science-based policy-making and the political challenges of dealing with the social aspects of uncertainty and stakeholder disagreements in environmental risk governance.

ACS Style

Sebastian Linke; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson; Oksana Udovyk. Unravelling science-policy interactions in environmental risk governance of the Baltic Sea: comparing fisheries and eutrophication. Journal of Risk Research 2013, 17, 505 -523.

AMA Style

Sebastian Linke, Michael Gilek, Mikael Karlsson, Oksana Udovyk. Unravelling science-policy interactions in environmental risk governance of the Baltic Sea: comparing fisheries and eutrophication. Journal of Risk Research. 2013; 17 (4):505-523.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sebastian Linke; Michael Gilek; Mikael Karlsson; Oksana Udovyk. 2013. "Unravelling science-policy interactions in environmental risk governance of the Baltic Sea: comparing fisheries and eutrophication." Journal of Risk Research 17, no. 4: 505-523.

Articles
Published: 01 January 2012 in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
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The objective of this study is to gain insights about the opportunities and challenges that private and public organisations face regarding the development of responsible procurement in a complex and uncertain issue. The paper focuses on chemicals in textiles, and uses a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews. Key elements of a pro-active, responsible procurement strategy are defined, including criteria such as using a preventive, systematic, responsive, integrative and reflective approach. The analysis includes the following topics: (1) priorities and knowledge; (2) communicative strategies; (3) policy instruments; (4) monitoring and trust in relation to suppliers. The results show a fairly modest level of organisational responsibility, although it is possible to observe an initial positive development.

ACS Style

Magnus Boström; Natasja Börjeson; Michael Gilek; Anna Maria Jönsson; Mikael Karlsson. Responsible procurement and complex product chains: the case of chemical risks in textiles. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2012, 55, 95 -111.

AMA Style

Magnus Boström, Natasja Börjeson, Michael Gilek, Anna Maria Jönsson, Mikael Karlsson. Responsible procurement and complex product chains: the case of chemical risks in textiles. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2012; 55 (1):95-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magnus Boström; Natasja Börjeson; Michael Gilek; Anna Maria Jönsson; Mikael Karlsson. 2012. "Responsible procurement and complex product chains: the case of chemical risks in textiles." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 55, no. 1: 95-111.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2011 in European Journal of Risk Regulation
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The often referred to risk-hazard divide is commonly exaggerated. With some exceptions, few in the risk camp argue against hazard classification as basis for labelling of e.g. carcinogenic substances (which has been the case for decades) and few in the hazard camp criticise the use of risk assessments, once they are established. Agencies and politicians commonly look at both sides of the coin in practise. However, improved chemicals management would benefit from further bridging the risk-hazard divide. Professor Lofstedt does a good job in arguing from a risk perspective, but he leaves out much of the other side of the coin, so in the following, I will discuss his perspectives and try to complement his recommendations.

ACS Style

Mikael Karlsson. Bridging the Risk-Hazard Divide. European Journal of Risk Regulation 2011, 2, 187 -189.

AMA Style

Mikael Karlsson. Bridging the Risk-Hazard Divide. European Journal of Risk Regulation. 2011; 2 (2):187-189.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mikael Karlsson. 2011. "Bridging the Risk-Hazard Divide." European Journal of Risk Regulation 2, no. 2: 187-189.