Assessing SEI’s policy engagement

The report evaluates how the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) bridges science and policy to induce sustainable development. It defines policy engagement as interactions leading to changes in agendas, capacities, and decisions. Through 18 case studies, SEI identifies key pathways to impact—such as developing scientific evidence, using decision-support tools (e.g., LEAP and WEAP), and building networks with 'champions'. The analysis categorizes outcomes into changes in awareness/attitudes (Agendas), institutional strengthening (Capacities), and actual policy shifts (Decisions). It concludes that long-term relationships and a focus on solutions are more effective than short-term, output-driven engagement.

• SEI defines policy engagement as interactions with decision-makers and processes that result in changes to agendas, capacities, and decisions based on supplied or co-generated knowledge.
• The report categorizes policy outcomes into three types: Agendas (changes in awareness and attitudes), Capacities (enhanced abilities of institutions or communities), and Decisions (changes in decision-making processes or actual policies adopted).
• SEI's work on the UNEP/WMO integrated assessment of black carbon and tropospheric ozone was a primary driver in the formation of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), a voluntary network that grew to include approximately 60 countries.
• In the US, SEI research on the CO2 impacts of offshore oil drilling contributed to the decision by the Obama administration to permanently ban Arctic oil and gas drilling.
• SEI's LEAP (Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning) and WEAP (Water Evaluation And Planning) tools are used by thousands of practitioners globally to build national and regional capacity for energy and water planning.
• In Morocco, SEI's collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Environment enabled the government to develop its own energy system model, reducing reliance on external consultants.
• The BLASTIC project led to a ban on disposable plastic cups at public events in Tallinn, Estonia, starting in October 2019, and influenced the Tallinn Municipal Waste Management Plan.
• SEI's SDG Interactions Framework was adopted by the International Council for Science (ICSU) in 2017 and has influenced guidelines for the UNDP and OECD.
• The Kenya Air Quality Network (KAQN) was established to bridge the gap between low-income community representatives and government officials, facilitating the implementation of air quality plans.
• In the UK, SEI research on peatland management influenced two Parliamentary debates and provided evidence for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) regarding carbon sequestration.
• SEI's engagement with the Swedish steel industry led to the 'HYBRIT' joint venture, which aims to replace coking coal with hydrogen in steel-making by 2025 to reduce CO2 emissions.
• The report identifies that the most successful policy engagements occur when SEI maintains long-term relationships and invests in the 'boring stuff' of policy processes rather than focusing solely on short-term outputs.

APA

Kuylenstierna, J., Forrester, J., Williams, E., & Dyke, A. (2021). Assessing SEI’s policy engagement. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/210129a-gill-kuylenstierna-policy-impact-report-2010d-final.pdf

Chicago

Kuylenstierna, Johan, John Forrester, Emma Williams, and Alison Dyke. Assessing SEI’s policy engagement. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/210129a-gill-kuylenstierna-policy-impact-report-2010d-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kuylenstierna |first1=Johan |last2=Forrester |first2=John |last3=Williams |first3=Emma |last4=Dyke |first4=Alison |title=Assessing SEI’s policy engagement |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=January 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/210129a-gill-kuylenstierna-policy-impact-report-2010d-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kuylenstierna2021assessing, author = {Kuylenstierna, Johan and Forrester, John and Williams, Emma and Dyke, Alison}, title = {{Assessing SEI’s policy engagement}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = jan, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/210129a-gill-kuylenstierna-policy-impact-report-2010d-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }