Jarkko Levänen

Jarkko Levänen is an Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at LUT University’s School of Energy Systems, based in Lahti, Finland. He leads the Master’s programme in Circular Economy and teaches courses on sustainability transitions and ecological economics. His research focuses on socio-ecological models, strong sustainability, and systemic transitions across sectors such as energy, textiles, and resource management. He chairs multiple national and international projects, including the Academy of Finland-funded ‘Sustainable textile systems’ project and the EU Horizon-funded ‘Prosumer-driven green energy communities’ initiative.

Levänen’s work integrates policy analysis, institutional frameworks, and stakeholder collaboration. He explores topics like carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), circular business models, and the socio-economic dimensions of sustainability transitions. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in sustainability science, environmental policy, and innovation studies, earning the ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant.

He holds leadership roles in national committees such as Future Earth Finland and the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies (TSV). At LUT, he serves on the board of the Sustainable Circulation of Inorganic Materials (SCIMAT) research platform and the Ethics Committee for Human Sciences. Previously, he chaired the Finnish Society for Environmental Social Science (YHYS) and advised the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS).

Levänen’s projects address global challenges like decentralized energy systems, textile circularity, and climate policy frameworks. His research emphasizes institutional voids, policy stagnation, and innovative solutions in resource-constrained contexts, reflecting his commitment to just and equitable sustainability transitions.