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SEI ranked number two among world’s environment think tanks

Posted on 3 February 2015

For the second year in a row Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), which has a centre at the University of York, is ranked as the second most influential environment think tank in the world, according to the Global Go To Think Tank Index.

The index is based on an assessment of more than 6,500 think tanks, and is published in the 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, compiled annually by the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. The Global Go To Think Tank Index is the result of an international survey of over 1,900 scholars, public and private donors, policy-makers and journalists. The report aims to improve the profile and performance of think tanks by recognising those that are world leaders, and to “highlight the important contribution that think tanks make to governments and civil societies around the world”.

SEI Executive Director Johan Kuylenstierna said, “I am very pleased that SEI continues to be rated among the world’s top think tanks. This is strong recognition from our peers and partners on the quality and relevance of our work, and it will spur us to continue our focus on outcome and impacts of what we do. I wish to emphasize that the top-ranking is achieved through the collective commitment to excellence by SEI’s staff and through the amazing collaborations we have with hundreds of partners around the world.”

The Stockholm Environment Institute has its headquarters in Stockholm, and is also located in the U.S., the U.K., Thailand, Kenya and Estonia. The York Centre is in the University’s Environment Department and undertakes research in a wide variety of fields including food security and agricultural policy, energy and environment, trade and environment, mitigation and/or adaptation to climate change, sustainable urbanisation, ecosystem services and poverty alleviation, and behavioural change and environmental justice. This work is done at a range of scales from local (in York), regional (with a focus in Africa, Asia and Europe) to global, working closely with the development and policy making process to inform decision making. The York centre also offers the chance to undertake postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) alongside international researchers based at other SEI centres.

Dr Lisa Emberson, York Centre Director, said “We are extremely proud to have maintained our ranking in the top 5. This is due to the commitment and dedication of all our staff. At the SEI York Centre we are in the enviable position of benefiting from both the collaborations and international partnerships we enjoy through SEI as well as having a strong academic rigour to our research through our being part of the University of York.”

Professor Colin Brown, Head of the Environment Department at York, added "We are extremely proud of our association with SEI and congratulate them on their recognition as being at the forefront of ensuring environmental research can inform policy to help achieve sustainable development.  We are looking to develop our relationship further as we move into our new building together.”

This is the eighth edition of the Global Go To Think Tanks Report, described as “the insider guide to the global marketplace of ideas”. The report also provides insights into the trends in think tanks and the challenges that they face. The report was launched on 22 January, 2015, at a press conference in Washington DC, hosted by the World Bank.

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