The lecture was part of the 100th Stockholm Seminars which took place in Stockholm April 30, 2009. Entitled Climate, Ecosystems and Development, this Stockholm Seminars discussed how the global challenges of climate change, ecosystem management and human welfare are interlinked.

In the end human development is dependent on services from healthy ecosystems, which are being eroded by climate change. The interaction between climate and ecosystems are complex, yet the climate issue in itself may be more complex then the IPCC has been able to cope with.

Glaciers are one area where complexity issues like tipping points, risk assessment, and risk management is studied and evaluated. Given this complexity of ecosystems and climate: can we understand enough to allow for development, like achieving end of hunger and malnutrition? And what are the possibilities that these complex issues will be addressed at the climate change world summit in Copenhagen (COP 15) in December?

This seminar is the 100th in the series of Stockholm Seminars. Through collaboration between Stockholm-based research-institutes focused on sustainability, and Albaeco, visiting researcers are invited to give an open lecture at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Since the first Stockholm Seminar with Jill Jäger in August 2000 there has been a great range of distinguished researchers passing through the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. This day we will celebrate the 100th seminar linking the three great challenges our societies' face.