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Stockholm Environment Institute ranked most influential environment policy think tank

Posted on 27 January 2017

The Stockholm Environment Institute, which has a UK base at the University of York, has been rated as the world’s most influential think tank on environmental policy issues in the University of Pennsylvania’s 2016 Global Go To Think Tanks Index.

The Index aims to increase the profile, performance and impact of think tanks and create a network of centres of public policy excellence.It is based on a survey of thousands of journalists, policy-makers, donors and regional specialists around the globe and uses a detailed list of criteria including leadership and staff; quality and reputation of the research produced, and policy impact and recognition. 

Think tanks are ranked globally and by region and expertise. SEI has been ranked second for the past three years, after the World Resources Institute. 

Professor Brian Fulton, Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science, said: “We are delighted so see this well-deserved recognition of SEI’s international leadership.  We greatly value our long standing relationship with SEI in hosting the SEI-York Centre and look forward to growing our extensive research collaborations into new areas of joint interest.” 

High profile

SEI Executive, Director Johan L. Kuylenstierna, said: “As with any successful organisation, the most valuable asset we have are our 220 colleagues and the hundreds of partners we are working with in almost every corner of the planet. SEI has also benefited from strong, positive support from the Swedish government, making it possible to operate as an independent research organisation and driving our research agenda forward.”   

Bridging science and policy has been SEI’s mission since its creation in 1989, but in recent years, the institute has made significant investments to further strengthen its research, policy engagement and communications capacity.

Some of SEI’s highest-profile work in 2016 was produced through initiatives, such as studies of U.S. federal leases for coal and oil production, and the new Trase tool, a joint effort with the Global Canopy Programme that aims to bring transparency to global supply chains.

Professor Mark Hodson, Head of the Environment Department, said:"I'm delighted that once again the excellence of the work done by SEI has been recognised in this prestigious listing. SEI makes a significant contribution to our degree programmes here at York, keeping them grounded in real world solutions to environmental challenges."

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