Dialogues on intertwined forest, biodiversity, climate and food-system challenges- What role can Sweden play?
In these times of complex interlinked challenges, the Focali network recognizes a growing demand for research-based advice in policy and practice as well as a need for improved dialogues and spaces to exchange, network and collaborate between disciplines and sectors. Focali is committed to level up our role to meet these needs and invite you to join us on this journey – to contribute as well as benefit from it!
A milestone on this journey is the Focali annual meeting that will be held on the 7th of December in Stockholm. Focali, in collaboration with its members and partners representing a broad range of disciplines and sectors, will facilitate dialogues on intertwined challenges related to forest, biodiversity, climate and food systems. The aim of the event is to enhance our understanding and discuss what role Sweden and Swedish based actors from different sectors can play in tackling these challenges for nature and people. Given the urgency and complexity on the path ahead, compounded by additional challenges such as ongoing conflicts and reversing global development trends – the question emerges: What role can and should Sweden play? This question will be central during the day and we invite you to enrich the discussions with your perspectives.
Focali is a multidisciplinary research network, a dialogue forum and a knowledge partner in forests, climate and livelihoods. We welcome our members, partners and new friends to sign up and join this day, reserve your spot seats are limited! The event is on-site only to enable in-person exchange, networking and a safe space to discuss.
Fruitful knowledge exchange between sectors in focus
The sessions will provide insights on new EU legislations, the implementation of the new Global Biodiversity Framework and developments within the Swedish Development Cooperation and in the private sector. The processes in focus show that forests, food-systems, biodiversity, climate and livelihood issues are center stage in policy and action at different levels. This underlines the need for holistic system perspectives, knowledge exchange and multi stakeholder collaborations to tackle current intertwined challenges. Speakers will therefore provide advice on how to enable fruitful interactions between sectors and Focali hope that this day will contribute to bridge perspectives, knowledge areas and facilitate new connections.
Draft agenda
9.00 – 9.30 Registration, coffee and mingle
9.30 Welcome
9.40 KEY NOTE | Needs of and advice for the research – policy – practice interface in times of intertwined global challenges
Malin Mobjörk, PhD, Deputy head of department for Environment, Formas – a Research Council for Sustainable Development
10.00 SESSION 1 | Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence in the EU: How can it foster more sustainable global supply chains for forests and people?
Over the past decade, there has been a new wave of regulations that aim to govern international business toward sustainability. Regulations based on human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) approach have been emphasized as particularly promising. The EU and European member states have taken a pioneering role in this new trend. For instance, the EU has recently agreed upon its regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) and is on the verge to adopt a directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD). This session aims to enhance our understanding of what this development mean for Swedish stakeholders by addressing the following questions: 1) What are the potential and limitations of HREDD regulations for fostering more sustainable global supply chains; 2) What conditions and complementary measures are needed; 3) How can Swedish actors contribute to the implementation of HREDD?
Maria-Therese Gustafsson, PhD, Ass. Professor of Political Science, Stockholm University
Sara Sundqvist, Policy expert, The Swedish Food Federation (Livsmedelsföretagen)
Per Larsson, Senior Advisor Forests, WWF
Mairon Bastos Lima, Senior Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute and Trase
Policy representative (tbc)
Moderator: Martin Persson Professor, Physical Resource Theory, Chalmers University of Technology
11.30 Leg stretch and icebreaker
11.40 KEYNOTE | Broken food-systems and rising global hunger
Elisabeth Simelton, PhD, Senior Policy Specialist – Agriculture and Food Security, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
12.00 Lunch and networking including partners mingle area
13.00 Welcome back
13.05 KEY NOTE | Money, Forests and Disease Risks – financial dimensions of planetary boundaries and planetary health
Victor Galaz, Associate professor political science & Director of PhD programme, at the Stockholm Resilience Centre
13.25 PITCH TALKS | Multiple values of forests for nature and people beyond carbon capture
Focali members and partners will via one photo each share examples of broader values of forests for rainfall, water, food, restoration, resilience, health, biodiversity, livelihoods, and societies.
Maganizo Kruger Nyasulu, PhD candidate, Stockholm Resilience Centre
Rafaela Flach, Research Fellow at SEI
Olle Forshed, Senior Advisor Tropical Rainforests, WWF
Emilie Claire Vasant, Postdoctoral Researcher University of Copenhagen
Jesica López, PhD candidate, Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University
Mairon Bastos Lima, Senior Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute
Malin Wennerholm, Programme Officer at SIWI
Vi-Skogen/Agroforestry Network (tba)
Moderator: Alice Tunfjord, Associate SEI and SIANI
Followed by a short horizon scanning discussion on themes that need more focus and input to Focali as a multidisciplinary research network, knowledge partner and broad dialogue forum in collaboration with members and partners.
14.20 Coffee break
14.45 SESSION 2 | Intertwined biodiversity, climate and development challenges – what is going on and what role can Sweden play?
This expert panel will bring up questions as: One year after COP15 – turning the Global Biodiversity Framework into action: What is going on and what role can Sweden play? What´s next for biodiversity and ecosystems in Swedish development cooperation? How can we bridge silos, levels, and knowledge systems to enable synergies and minimize trade-offs between climate, biodiversity, food, livelihoods, and rights?
Charlotta Sörqvist, Senior Adviser, CBD chief negotiator, Division for Natural Environment, Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Government Offices of Sweden
Clarisse Kehler Siebert, Senior Policy Advisor at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Anna Axelsson, Senior Policy Specialist and Coordinator Biodiversity, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida
Torsten Krause, Senior lecturer, Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies LUCSUS
Raymond Samndong, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting Manager, The Tenure Facility
Moderator: Emma Norrstad Tickner, Sustainability Consultant
16.10 CLOSING | Reflections and paths forward
Space for reflections from participants on the role of Sweden ahead. What path for forests, biodiversity, and ecosystems in the new reform agenda for Swedish Development Cooperation (MFA tba) and other relevant policy/collaborations? Reflections on the event and how to keep up the dialogues ahead.
16.30 – 17.00 MINGLE with refreshments
Sign-up to reserve a spot and please unregister if you are unable to attend since seats are limited.
For more information and registration, click here.
Contact about the event:
For questions about the program, please contact Magdalena Knobel.
For questions about registration, please contact Nina Silow.
Other questions and input:
For questions about Focali, please contact Maria Ölund Project Manager (back in December)
To provide input to the development of Focali and our activities please answer our survey