Environmental sociology deals with the social and cultural aspects of environmental science. The area of research has developed concurrently with developments in environmental policy, and also along with a growing awareness that in order to solve environmental problems and prevent future problems, cultural and social aspects - and not just technical aspects - of the relationship between society and environment must be taken into account.

Environmental sociology expands our field of knowledge in the field of tension between environment and society, and looks at:

• actors' roles in environmental problems and how these can be dealt with
• our understanding of and practice in relation to nature and environment
• social changes and their underlying driving forces
• structural conditions, barriers and opportunities in relation to environment and nature
• different solution strategies, forms of organisation and methods

Environmental sociology is a cross-disciplinary research area. It covers subjects from organic farming, nature management and transport through to technological development. On a more general level, environmental sociology deals with themes such as environmental policy, democracy, planning, communication and everyday life. These subjects are studies in a number of specific projects:

• Social responses to climate change
• Organic food - between politics and consumption
• Accelerating mobility
• Public perceptions of bio-fuels
• Use of wood burning stoves
• Societal barriers for a hydrogen based energy system

Environmental sociology is an important scientific and environmental political tool. The insight of environmental sociology enables a better basis for making decisions in environmental policy.