Stockholm Environment Institute - York
Bridging science, policy and practice
Who we are
Stockholm Environment Institute is an international non-profit research institute that tackles climate, environment and sustainable development challenges. We have offices in Stockholm (HQ), Bangkok, Bogotá, Nairobi, Oxford, Tallinn and the US.
Since SEI was established in 1989 there has been a centre hosted at the University of York. With over 30 years of established research, SEI York has built a reputation for bridging science and policy at all levels, from work with local partners to global multilateral organisations.
In 2024, SEI York became a Research Centre, sitting at the same level as a university department within the Faculty of Sciences. We now have nearly 60 core members of staff. SEI York staff also participate in teaching, as well as PhD and MRes supervision.
The University of York's Environment Building, where SEI York is based.
Research areas
SEI York works on five core areas. Our researchers – including our cohort of PhD students – work at international, national and local scales, with a presence both within the local and regional community, around the University of York, and in many high, middle and low-income countries
News and events
Publication: Kevin Hicks and Lisa Emberson co-authored a chapter FAO’s 2025 white paper, examining air pollution-climate interactions and their impacts on crop productivity and food systems.
Feature story: SEI researcher Eleni Michalopoulou contributed to the launch of the updated Global Logistics Emissions Council framework, which now includes air pollutant data to strengthen transparency in climate reporting.
Feature story: SEI researcher Steve Cinderby shares lessons from Bangkok's pocket parks, revealing how their design and location can shape health, inclusion and the use of these little green spaces.
SEI York and SEI Oxford - and over 80 invited guests - loosely channeled “British pub speak” for a frank discussion of ideas to counter growing backlash to green policy agendas.
SEI undergraduate teaching
SEI York experts deliver the module Sustainability and Policy: Research, Engage, Change as part of the award-winning York Interdisciplinary Modules initiative. YIMs are open to final year undergraduates from all disciplines.
The module presents critical aspects of a series of environmental and social challenges with a focus on policy engagement in its different forms. It provides students with the skills to critically engage with these challenges and gives them the opportunity to explore how change can be achieved. Over the course of the module, students engage with real-life SEI research and practice through case studies.
Discover more about the module
