Research examples
At the University of Copenhagen, we aim to be at the forefront of research that supports the Sustainable Development Goals.
The short videos on this page highlight research activities that, in various ways, can help achieve these goals. Research activities can do this by:
- shedding light on the ideas and cultural traditions that limit or enable action
- focusing on how we organise our societies and economies
- helping us promote collective and individual behavioural change
- focusing on the development of new technologies that can help us use the Earth's resources more efficiently.
Governance as a lever for urban and peri-urban development
Natalie Marie Gulsrud from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management calls for a debate on environmental justice. Is there equal access to green areas – and equal access to the decision-making process when it comes to developing and planning new green areas?
Glacially abraded rock as a nutrient source for plants
Geologist Minik Thorleif Rosing explains how granite from beneath Greenland's ice cap can serve as a nutrient source when applied to tropical soil, and how it can contribute to increased food security in the tropics.
Past environmental problems as a tool for future work
In this video, historian Bo Fritzbøger explains how we can look back on past environmental problems as a tool for sustainable development.
Sustainable food systems for the future
Christian Bugge Henriksen is a researcher in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable food production systems. In this short video, he talks about the transition of the European food system towards a lower-carbon future.
How climate change affects ecosystem processes
Riikka Rinnan explores the controls of the exchange of biogenic volatile organic compounds between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Communities and reducing our carbon footprint
Jens Villiam Hoff conducts research into sustainability and climate change governance. In this video, he talks about how small changes in our behaviour can reduce our carbon footprint.
Insects and sustainable protein
Mickey Gjerris is an associate professor of bioethics. In this video, he talks about ethical perspectives on the production of insect protein.
International investments in the green transition
Joanna Lam is a professor with special responsibilities (MSO) at the Faculty of Law. In this video, she talks about her research project ENERGIZE.
Protection of indigenous peoples in small island states
Miriam Cullen is an associate professor at the Faculty of Law. In this video, she talks about her research project 'Of Islands and Ice'.
Urban agriculture
Kristian Holst Laursen is an associate professor at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. In this video, he talks about his work to promote a sustainable future for cities.