| 1. |
- Bradley, Karin, 1975-
(författare)
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Planning for eco-friendly living in diverse societies
- 2009
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor and Francis, Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 14:4, s. 347-363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Swedish cities are becoming increasingly multicultural and diverse in terms of lifestylesand socioeconomic conditions. However, cultural and social diversity is seldomconsidered when planning for sustainable urban development. This paper examinesplanning for more eco-friendly living in the increasingly diverse population of a citydistrict of Stockholm. The study reveals the prevalence of a discourse in which aSwedish identity carries environmental responsibility in the form of tidiness, recyclingand familiarity with nature. It is argued that planning for urban sustainability isunderpinned by Swedish middle-class norms, indirectly entailing processes of (self-)disciplining and transforming the other (foreign and/or troublesome dwellers) intowell-behaving Swedes. A clearer definition of the environmental improvementintended, its goals and target groups is needed. Finally, an appreciation of the multipleways we can save natural resources would make urban planning policies more attunedto social and cultural diversity as well as more environmentally progressive.
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| 2. |
- Aagaard Hagemann, Frederik
(författare)
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From place to emplacement: the scalar politics of sustainability
- 2020
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 25, s. 447-462
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainability has emerged as a central concept for discussing the current state of the human-environment system and planning for its future. To delve into the depths of sustainability means to talk about ecology, economy, and equity as fundamentally interconnected. However, each continues to be colonised by normative epistemologies of ecological sciences, neoclassical economics, and development, suggesting that with enough science and development, a more equitable sustainability is achievable. In our analysis, place emerges as an alternative epistemology through which to analyze sustainability. Place exists at multiple spatial and temporal scales, understood through direct observation of boundaries, processes and patterns, phenomenologically through individual experience, and as a complex hybrid: always emerging through interactions among individuals and institutions. Despite the ubiquity of place in the socio-ecological literature, the complexity of place in relation to sustainability is under-theorised, and in as much as sustainability happens or does not happen in real places rather than in policies and models, a place-based sustainability framework is necessary to move forward. To address this gap, we developed the emplacement framework, consisting of four domains: displacement, misplacement, replacement, and emplacement. Each domain is dynamic, constructing place as praxis, and reframing sustainability as a site of collective inquiry and choices. Our goal is to facilitate the active and on-going practices of place-based research and engagement among scholars, activists, and other community members by providing a structure for transdisciplinary dialogue and the application of transdisciplinary research to enable better decision-making.
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| 3. |
- Amars, Latif, et al.
(författare)
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The transformational potential of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions in Tanzania : assessing the concept’s cultural legitimacy among stakeholders in the solar energy sector
- 2017
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 22:1, s. 86-105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While energy-sector emissions remain the biggest source of climate change, many least-developed countries still invest in fossil-fuel development paths. These countries generally have high levels of fossil fuel technology lock-in and low capacities to change, making the shift to sustainable energy difficult. Tanzania, a telling example, is projected to triple fossil-fuel power production in the next decade. This article assesses the potential to use internationally supported Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) to develop solar energy in Tanzania and contribute to transformational change of the electricity supply system. By assessing the cultural legitimacy of NAMAs among key stakeholders in the solar energy sector, we analyse the conditions for successful uptake of the concept in (1) national political thought and institutional frameworks and (2) the solar energy niche. Interview data are analysed from a multi-level perspective on transition, focusing on its cultural dimension. Several framings undermining legitimacy are articulated, such as attaching low-actor credibility to responsible agencies and the concept’s poor fit with political priorities. Actors that discern opportunities for NAMAs could, however, draw on a framing of high commensurability between experienced social needs and opportunities to use NAMAs to address them through climate compatible development. This legitimises NAMAs and could challenge opposing framings.
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| 4. |
- Andersson-Sköld, Yvonne, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainable decisions on the agenda – a decision support tool development and its application to climate change adaptation
- 2016
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Ingår i: Local Environment : the International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 21:1, s. 85-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A decision support tool aiming to facilitate discussion and transparency in land-use planning processes has been developed. It includes process steps initiating with an analysis of the current situation, identification of relevant actions and sustainability analysis steps. The sustainability was subdivided into human health and environment, resources, and social and economic impacts. The main difference between this risk analysis tool and others is the allowance of comparisons of present risks and consequences of measures early in the process. It also includes assessments from short- and long-term perspectives, such as taking into account climate change. It combines classic risk analysis with life-cycle assessment procedure. It has been developed and tested in co-operation with municipalities. The tests show that the tool is applicable and can be relevant in the planning process. It offers an iterative discussion framework that is systematic, condensed and yet a simplistic way of describing consequences. The criticism is that it is regarded as time demanding, but this can be managed by preparatory work
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| 5. |
- Asplund, Therese, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Project coordinators views on climate adaptation costs and benefits - justice implications
- 2020
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 25:2, s. 114-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As local climate adaptation activity increases, so does the number of questions about costs, benefits, financing and the role that economic considerations play in adaptation-related decision-making and policy. Through five cases, covering a range of climate risks and types of adaptation measures, this paper critically examines Swedish project coordinators perceptions of costs and benefits in already-implemented climate adaptation measures. Our study finds that project coordinators make use of different system boundaries - on temporal, geographical and administrative scales - in their cost/benefit evaluations, making the practice of determining adaptation costs arbitrary and hard to compare. We further demonstrate that the project coordinators interpret costs and benefits in a manner that downplays the intangible environmental and social costs and benefits arising from the adaptation measures, despite their own experience of how such measures negatively impact upon social value. The exclusion of social and environmental costs and benefits has severe implications for justice, as it can bias decisions against people and ecosystems that are affected negatively. Based on the findings, we propose three tentative social justice dilemmas in local climate adaptation planning and implementation: 1. Cost and benefit distribution across scales; 2. The identification and valuation of non-market effects; and 3. The equitable allocation of costs and benefits.
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| 6. |
- Baard, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
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Scenarios and sustainability : tools for alleviating the gap between municipal means and responsibilities in adaptation planning
- 2012
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 17:6-7, s. 641-662
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adaptation to climate change often involves long-time frames and uncertainties over the consequences of chosen adaptation measures. In this study, two tools designed for assisting local decision-makers in adaptation planning were tested: socio-economic scenarios and sustainability analysis. The objective was to study whether these tools could be of practical relevance to Swedish municipalities and facilitate local-level climate change adaptation. We found that the municipal planners who participated in the testing generally considered the tools useful and of high relevance, but that more time was needed to use the tools than was provided during the test process.
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| 7. |
- Baker, Susan, et al.
(författare)
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Governance for sustainable development in Sweden : the experience of the local investment programme
- 2007
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 12:4, s. 325-342
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article examines the role of central government in enhancing local capacity for promoting sustainable development. Building upon a series of evaluation studies, it examines a major central government funding initiative in Sweden, called the Local Investment Programme for Ecological Sustainability (LIP). The Programme formed part of a new governance approach towards the promotion of sustainable development. It was designed to promote both ecological sustainable development and create new 'green jobs', while at the same time stimulating innovative ways of thinking among local actors about the relationship between economy, ecology and society. Substantial material environmental effects were achieved and 'green jobs' created by LIP. However, allocation was skewed towards environmental leader municipalities and LIP was never fully integrated into other sustainable development initiatives. Further, few public/private partnerships were developed. Hence, despite the magnitude of the Programme, we question whether it produced lasting capacity-building effects at the local level.
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| 8. |
- Bohman, Anna, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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More than one story: remaking community and place in Sweden’s transition to a fossil free society
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article, we study how Sweden’s transition to a fossil free society is interpreted and experienced by communities whose livelihoods and cultural identities are entangled with carbon-intensive industries. The study draws upon interviews with citizen groups in the coastal city of Lysekil, located next to Scandinavia’s largest oil refinery. Our analysis speaks to a growing scholarly literature on just transitions where we argue that a better understanding of place attachment as an active and operating force in local transition processes, can provide important information for just transition policy design. Based on our research on place attachment in Lysekil, we suggest that inclusivity in just transitions, implies acknowledging and addressing more than material aspects of loss, involving loss of direction, loss of identities and loss of imagined futures. Moreover, we argue that the vision of an inclusive transition requires a more nuanced approach to the concept of “community” which recognises different stories, voices, and perspectives and challenges taken for granted assumptions about local people's priorities in debates on just transitions. Finally, based on our experiences from Lysekil we contend that inclusivity requires communicative spaces where citizens can meet to listen, speak, and discuss future pathways towards a fossil free society. The visions of just and inclusive transitions, we argue, can only be realised if driven by a place-based dialogue on future pathways and if agendas for a fossil free transformation are locally anchored.
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| 9. |
- Bradley, Karin, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Community repair in the circular economy : Fixing more than stuff
- 2022
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; , s. 1-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the circular economy discourse it is stressed that products ought to be repairable and that repair work is assumed to be growing. However, repair can be organised and performed in different ways – by corporate entities, independent repairers, laypersons and communities. Some corporations are integrating repair and maintenance into their offering, while simultaneously restricting consumers to open, repair or modify their products. In opposition to such developments, there is a movement for “right to repair”, which works for consumers’ legal rights to repair and modify products, pushing for the free availability of spare parts and manuals. Recent years have also seen a growth of repair cafés and other forms of DIY community repair spaces. This paper explores the discourses of DIY community repair through two Swedish case studies – an NGO-led nationwide repair campaign and a local government initiative of open DIY repair spaces. Our case studies show how DIY community repair works towards enabling all, particularly marginalised groups, to participate and live well in a low-impact future. In contrast to the mainstream circular economy discourse, the purpose of community repair is not only about repairing broken stuff and reducing waste, but about building social relations and practicing non-consumerist forms of citizenship. By elucidating these different perspectives on repair – who is to perform it, with what skills and for what purposes – we highlight how the transition to future, more circular economies, can be enacted and steered in ways that allow for different roles and powers for citizen-consumers.
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| 10. |
- Bratt, Anna-Lena
(författare)
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Municipal officers on implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in Sweden regarding agricultural nutrient flows
- 2004
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 9:1, s. 65-79
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The article analyses the perceptions at municipal level of potentials and problems in implementing integrated catchment management of water resources as proposed in the EU Water Framework Directive, expressed in views on how to reduce nutrient leakage from agricultural production. Heads of environmental authorities, spatial planners and environmental officers are among the professionals that will be key actors when implementing the WFD at the local level. Using a process of active focus group interviews, officials from municipal environmental offices studied, reflected upon and discussed the suggested plan concerning their part of implementing WFD. The municipal officers stressed certain conditions that have to be met to implement WFD in a sustainable manner. The most important conditions are clear environmental goals and management plans with support in legislation, which would put the necessary pressure upon local politicians to prioritize the WFD and take action. The respondents perceived the WFD would offer a changed approach in work routines with farmers towards partnerships for sustainable water resource management.
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| 11. |
- Bäckman, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Tracing sustainability meanings in Rosendal: interrogating an unjust urban sustainability discourse and introducing alternative perspectives
- 2024
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 29, s. 415-432
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainability is a much debated concept, often criticised as ill-defined. While some argue it is time to leave sustainability behind, others defend the concept's potential to initiate change. In this article we depart from the potential of sustainability, while being aware that the term is often appropriated by discourses reproducing status quo and keeping existing injustices in place. We do so by studying the urban sustainability discourse reproducing certain types of sustainabilities in Rosendal, a developing urban district in Uppsala, Sweden. Guided by the "What's the problem represented to be" approach we analyse written and visual material, produced by Uppsala municipality and developers. Through the policy analysis we identify four intertwined meanings of sustainability: Everyone is included, It's all about aesthetics, Closeness to nature and Sustainability is easy. Together, these meanings shape the Sustainability in Rosendal discourse, which we argue does little to overcome existing injustices. We point towards the silences involved in the discourse and hold that the failure to question the growth-dependent economic system within which Rosendal is being developed, results in insignificant changes as opposed to just transformation. By building upon the notion of just sustainabilities, we outline a set of alternative perspectives, departing from coupling a pluralist understanding of justice with a feminist ethics of care, to open up for more emancipatory and transformative urban sustainability discourses.
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| 12. |
- Chertkovskaya, Ekaterina, et al.
(författare)
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The end of the line : Envisioning degrowth and ecosocial justice in the resistance to the trolleybus dismantlement in Moscow
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 27:4, s. 440-458
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The city of Moscow has been going through a transformation of its surface transport network during the past decade as part of a broader policy of urban beautification. Despite a renewed interest in public transport, this policy has led to the dismantling of the trolleybus system. This was met with resistance from various groups. Bringing together scholarly discussions on urban growth coalitions and on degrowth, we repoliticise urban mobility policies and put the entangled issues of ecological sustainability and social justice at the centre of the analysis. To do this, we outline a degrowth vision of urban mobility and introduce the concept of ecosocial justice, through which the case is analysed. Our results show that the trolleybus dismantlement increases biophysical throughput, compromises Moscow’s ecology of culture, and is rooted in injustices, not least because Moscow authorities have ignored the many objections and alternative proposals put forward by residents. However, opposition groups paid limited attention to procedural injustices and to the configuration of Moscow’s political economy. This was a limitation of the campaign, but suggests possibilities for repoliticising urban mobility policies at other sites of resistance.
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| 13. |
- Dymén, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Gendered dimensions of climate change response in Swedish municipalities
- 2013
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 18:9, s. 1066-1078
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article elaborates on and discusses gendered dimensions of climate change response in Swedish municipalities. There are indications that attitudes and behaviour to the environment and climate change are gendered. This evidence together with our own work further indicates that gender awareness is most probably an important influence on how municipalities respond to climate change. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how gendered aspects of climate change response are integrated in the Swedish response to climate change. The potential causal relationships between a high level of awareness of the gendered aspects of climate change and the levels of climate change response were investigated. We asked whether there is a positive relationship between gender awareness and the quality of the communities’ climate change policies and practice. Indications of such a relationship prompt a change in research priorities – paying more attention to gender – and in subsequent policy developments.
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| 14. |
- Eckerberg, Katarina, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Devolving power from the state : local initiatives for nature protection and recreation in Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 25:6, s. 433-446
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quests for devolving more power to local actors for nature protection stem from both international and national policies. Also, there is a growing recognition of the need for local governments to promote green infrastructure for citizens to recreate and learn about their environment. Starting in 2004, the Swedish government has allocated special funding towards these goals through the Local Nature Conservation Programme (LONA). Virtually all Swedish municipalities have received such funding in pursuit of facilitating wide access to nature and promoting recreational activities, including the protection of nature areas, creating pathways, information devices, and promoting these areas among new societal groups to enjoy. This study presents the results of ten years of experience with LONA. A survey with respondents from 191 municipalities and 20 county administrations, together with 20 key informant interviews, show that the programme has been a success in several respects. Not only have most municipalities created a wealth of new ways to engage local organisations and citizens in nature conservation and recreation, but they have also broadened the ways they think about how nature is important to their constituencies. Due to innovative ways to count voluntary work as local matching of funding, smaller and less resourceful municipalities have also become engaged. Still, the local needs for further initiatives are deemed considerable. State support coupled with knowledge sharing is important to show policy priority to such bottom-up initiatives.
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| 15. |
- Edvardsson Björnberg, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Gendering local climate adaptation
- 2013
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 18:2, s. 217-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Empirical evidence suggests that climate change will hit women disproportionately hard. Lack of political power, small economic resources, gender-bound patterns in the division of labour, entrenched cultural patterns and possibly biological differences in heat sensitivity combine to make women and girls particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and other climate-related events. Adaptation responses will likely reduce some of these vulnerabilities. However, just as climate change is likely to impact more severely on women than men, the costs and benefits of adaptation could be unevenly distributed between the sexes. Unless adaptation measures are carefully designed from a gender perspective, they may contribute to preserving prevailing gender inequalities and reinforce women's vulnerability to climate change. Institutions and decision-making processes need to be remodelled so as to guarantee that gender issues are adequately targeted within adaptation. This article identifies a number of methodologies and decision tools that could be used to mainstream gender in local adaptation planning.
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| 16. |
- Emilsson (Gustafsson), Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Managing indirect environmental impact within local authorities' standardized environmental management systems
- 2007
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 12:1, s. 73-86
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many local authorities use standardized environmental management systems (EMSs) to improve their environmental management. These authorities often find it difficult to manage environmental impact caused by their exercise of authority i.e. indirect environmental impact (IEI) within their EMSs. Since this is connected to their core activities, it is important to understand how IEI could be more efficiently managed with respect to EMS work. The purpose for this paper is to study if and how IEI could be managed within the framework of EMS. In this study we have identified two different approaches to managing IEI. Because managing IEI is complex, it is often ignored when initiating EMSs or managed by explicitly avoid mentioning the concept. Managing IEI is seen as a matter of maturity within the organization. The paper concludes with a discussion regarding a developed definition of IEI and how management of IEI could be facilitated.
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| 17. |
- Emilsson (Gustafsson), Sara, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Towards sustainability management systems in three Swedish local authorities
- 2009
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 14:8, s. 721-732
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores the development towards sustainability management systems (SMSs) in three Swedish local authorities. Many local authorities have extensive experience in using standardised Environmental Management Systems (EMSs). Recently EMSs have extended their reach by widening the scope of the systems including other dimensions of sustainable development. Case studies have been performed in three of the most EMS-experienced local authorities in Sweden. These authorities have extended their EMSs into a sustainability management approach in different ways. This paper discusses the development, possible contributions, and constraints with this development. Expanding EMSs into SMSs can be seen as a learning process in which a larger systems perspective leads to increased awareness that the management system becomes limited by only managing environmental issues. Expanding the EMSs into SMSs may lead to a more complete view of the organisation's total impact on nature and society, and issues that need to be managed.
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| 18. |
- Evans, James, et al.
(författare)
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Smart and sustainable cities? : pipedreams, practicalities and possibilities
- 2019
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 24:7, s. 557-564
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Smart cities promise to generate economic, social and environmental value through the seamless connection of urban services and infrastructure by digital technologies (Hollands 2008, Viitanen and Kingston 2014), but there is scant evidence concerning their ability to enhance social well-being, build just and equitable communities, reduce resource consumption and waste generation, improve environmental quality or lower carbon emissions (Cavada et al. 2015). This special issue addresses the gap between the pipedream and the practice of smart cities, focusing on the social and environmental dimensions of real smart city initiatives, and the possibilities that they hold for creating more equitable and progressive cities. We argue that social equity and environmental sustainability are neither a-priori absent nor de-facto present in technological designs of smart city initiatives, but have to be made, nurtured and maintained as they materialise in particular places. This is the ‘possibility’ alluded to in our title, and where the focus of the Special Issue on the gap between the pipedreams and practicalities of smart cities leads. In this introduction we unpack this argument in greater detail and situate our six contributions within it.
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| 19. |
- Fenton, Paul David, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Stakeholder participation in municipal energy and climate planning – experiences from Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 21:3, s. 272-289
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article analyses the factors influencing stakeholder participation in municipal energy and climate planning, together with stakeholder experiences of participation in such processes. The article presents findings from a survey of 60 Swedish municipalities and detailed case studies of energy and climate planning in five Swedish municipalities to explore which stakeholders are involved, how and why they are involved, and the impacts of participation on both stakeholder experiences. The results of this study provide insight into the role of stakeholders in municipal energy and climate planning.The study proceeds as follows: the Introduction is followed by a discussion of theoretical perspectives on stakeholder participation and energy and climate planning. The Methods used to conduct the study are presented, followed by Results and Analysis. In the subsequent Discussion, the authors propose a conceptual approach that may assist municipalities in development of energy and climate strategies. The Analysis and Discussion inform Conclusions in which the authors advocate early and active stakeholder engagement in energy and climate strategy planning and emphasise the possible utility of their conceptual approach in supporting stakeholder participation.
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| 20. |
- Freytag, Tim, et al.
(författare)
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Living the green city : Freiburg’s Solarsiedlung between narratives and practices of urban sustainable development
- 2014
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 19:6, s. 644-659
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The solar settlement (Solarsiedlung) in Freiburg, Germany, has been widely hailed as an eco-city or green city neighbourhood and a blueprint for sustainable urban development. However, as there is a noticeable lack of critical analysis of what constitutes Solarsiedlung as an “eco-city”, this paper studies narratives and practices of sustainable urban development. First, we look at Solarsiedlung as a best-practice model – a narrative that was produced and perpetuated by architects, urban planners, investors and academics celebrating this neighbourhood as a technologically leapfrogging, economically sound and socially integrated project. Second, we explore the everyday practices and lived experience of the residents in Solarsiedlung. Bringing together these two perspectives, we contribute to a more comprehensive understanding and critical reading of the interplay between the ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development as seen from different viewpoints. Findings indicate that Solarsiedlung as a best-practice model is embedded in growth-oriented neoliberal strategies that are in conflict with the everyday practices and lived experience of the residents. Our findings put into question the widely assumed transferability of best-practice models in sustainable urban development.
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| 21. |
- Glaas, Erik, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Managing climate change vulnerabilities: formal institutions and knowledge use as determinants of adaptive capacity at the local level in Sweden
- 2010
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - London : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 15:6, s. 525-539
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Though managing vulnerabilities posed by climate change calls for effective strategies and measures, its challenges have hitherto not been fully understood. In Sweden, municipalities have recently started incorporating vulnerability management into their political and administrative agendas. This study discusses such experiences and explores how institutional determinants may influence adaptive capacity within a local case study area, to illustrate emerging challenges and opportunities for Swedish municipalities in managing climate vulnerabilities. Specifically, formal institutional structure and the use of knowledge are analysed, concluding that vulnerability management often is focused on technical and reactive fixes, due to limited cooperation between local sector organisations, lack of local co-ordination, and an absence of methods and traditions to build institutional knowledge. Even so, opportunities, such as a high capacity to examine risks to technical systems and important establishments which in turn facilitates protection of technical infrastructure exposed to climate variability and change, also exist.
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| 22. |
- Granberg, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Dealing with uncertainty : a case study of controlling insect populations in natural ecosystems
- 2008
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 13:7, s. 641-652
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper analyses the political process for handling an outbreak of an insect causing human allergic reactions. In the southern part of the Swedish island Gotland in the Baltic Sea, an outbreak of the northern pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pinivora, has occurred. With regard to the human nuisance and long-term effects on the tourist industry, demands have been raised for intervention to reduce and control the insect population. At the same time, there have been warnings against treating the insect population because there are knowledge gaps concerning the wider ecological consequences, including effects on biodiversity. This paper analyses the political process and its problemsolving efforts. Of particular interest is how it dealt with the issue of uncertainty. It was found that the uncertainty associated with the issue hindered the development of a shared understanding of the problem and a possible solution. There seems to be a growing need in society to develop the institutional capacity to handle complex issues that cross different sectors, regulatory frameworks and policy targets.
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| 23. |
- Granberg, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Local governance and climate change : reflections on the Swedish experience
- 2007
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 12:5, s. 537-548
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The focus of this article is the Swedish experience of local governance and climate change, including mitigation and adaptation. The municipal response to these two challenges is set within a broader policy context that acknowledges Sweden as a pioneer in environmental governance, including its comparatively high ambitions with regard to the reduction of greenhouse ga emissions. Central–local relations in climate policy are analysed, and climate change mitigation and adaptation are exemplified by some snapshots of municipal initiatives, including the popular habit of networking between municipalities within as well as across national borders. In conclusion we briefly evaluate the Swedish local governance experience of climate change mitigation and adaptation to date as characterized by radical rhetoric and ambitious goals combined with a lot of promising initiatives, although still with fairly modest results in terms of tangible outcomes. Finally, we reflect upon what we consider to be the most important questions for future research on local governance and climate change.
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| 24. |
- Guinea Barrientos, Héctor Estuardo, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Stakeholders' views towards flood risk management in the Paz River catchment area of Guatemala and El Salvador
- 2015
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 20:8, s. 892-907
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The river Paz is a transboundary river that flows through Guatemala and El Salvador. Its frequent floods endanger the lives and livelihoods of downstream communities. Attempts have previously been made to develop flood management programmes for this watershed. However, these approaches were generally made by high-level governmental institutions with few if any contributions from floodplain communities and other stakeholders. Recognising that public consultation is a key aspect in flood management programmes, we intend in this work to extract different stakeholders' views regarding current and future flooding and flood management programmes in the Paz River basin. This is achieved using Future Scenarios Workshops with a projected time horizon of 30 years. The exercise was expected to identify consensual short- and medium–long-term flood management strategies for the Paz River basin that draws on input from inhabitants of flood-prone areas and other stakeholders.
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| 25. |
- Gustafsson, Karin, 1983-
(författare)
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Made in conflict : local residents' construction of a local environmental problem
- 2011
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Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 16:7, s. 655-670
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to understand how local residents participate in the construction of local environmental problems and to evaluate a particular analytical approach in environmental sociology to study this phenomenon. The paper is based on an interview study with a sample of local residents. The analysis demonstrates how the local residents attempt to construct a local environmental problem. In particular, the study focuses on how involved actors are positioned, how different sorts of knowledge claims are used, and how the neglect the residents perceive from the authorities affects the attempt to construct a local environmental problem. The study shows that the local residents play a central role in the construction of the situation and that the evaluated model could be very helpful as an analytical tool in the investigation of local residents' participation in the construction of environmental problems.
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| 26. |
- Gustavsson, Eva, 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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Cocky and climate smart? : Climate change mitigation and place-branding in three Swedish towns
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 17:8, s. 769-782
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainable development has emerged as a distinctive marker of place identity in addition to traditional markers such as buildings and spectacles. Climate change mitigation as a potential place brand, indicating sustainable development, is in focus of this article, comparing such efforts in three Swedish towns. Based on documentary studies and interviews, it demonstrates how one town has been successful in branding itself as “the Greenest City in Europe”, whereas mitigation efforts in two other towns are barely known outside the town halls. In the first case, a combination of material, symbolic, and institutional components has been decisive in establishing a brand with internal and external legitimacy. This case highlights the importance of a dedicated network of influential actors and a potent governance structure visualising the will of a town to make its climate mitigation efforts known. Despite similar material conditions, the two others come short on the symbolic and the institutional dimensions, although they may still have a potential for future success in terms of mitigation both in practice and as a marker of identity.
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| 27. |
- Hebinck, Aniek, et al.
(författare)
-
Capturing change in European food assistance practices : a transformative social innovation perspective
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 23:4, s. 398-413
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The food system's decreasing ability to deliver food security has led to the emergence of food assistance initiatives. Food assistance is highly contested; as some argue, it is a failure of the state, while others regard food assistance to be an extension of the welfare state. Either way, research suggests that actors within food assistance are rethinking their role in the food system. In this paper, we study three food assistance initiatives, in the Netherlands, Italy and Ireland, that perform new food assistance practices while embedded in specific institutional contexts, and analyse their potential to transform the food system, drawing on Transformative Social Innovation theory. Building on transition and social innovation theory, this recently developed theory distinguishes different levels within systems, named shades of change, that are associated with societal transformation. By exploring these shades of change in the analysis, we describe aspects of the initiatives' novel practices, and in relation to the initiative and institutional relations their motivations and expectations. We compare the three cases and discuss how food assistance practices relate to and change (or do not change) the food system. In particular, we elaborate on how these three food assistance initiatives contribute in various ways to local food and welfare system innovation. In doing so, we offer a novel perspective on food assistance initiatives. We argue that they show dynamics that have the potential for more substantial transformation towards food security over time, by building momentum through small wins.
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| 28. |
- Hector, Philip, et al.
(författare)
-
Experimenting with sustainability education : the case of a student-driven campus initiative in Finland
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experiments are deemed not only useful, but necessary in sustainability transformation to enhance local decision-making. This is especially apparent in Finland where national government programmes and city administrations promote sustainability experimentation and bottom-up initiatives in the interest of equitable participation. At the same time, universities are expected to respond to societal calls for major infrastructural transformations, while neoliberal principles shift responsibility from authorities to individual citizens. This paper examines the case of a student-driven sustainable campus initiative called “Test Site” in a university committed formally to sustainability education. The students questioned whether sustainability should be taught in air-conditioned classrooms, what topics were socially just and worth pursuing, and rather sought material engagement, creative exploration and autonomy. Invested faculty members were dependent on demonstrations and proof of impact, or at least convincing visuals, to sustain the initiative. The outcome of experimenting most valued by the students however was the material-based social learning on how to self-organise. The meaning of such “minor” experiments thus becomes muddled, involving local, situated power dynamics among university management, faculty and students and what is regarded as useful space and activity for learning. The case illustrates how an experimental site partly removed from university constraints rendered explorations of self-organising participants as valuable yet depended on visible proofs to justify this very exploration as worthwhile. Even within a neoliberal and highly hierarchical governance structure, some participants are able to make small gains to pursue socially just solutions.
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| 29. |
- Hellberg, Sofie, 1979
(författare)
-
What constitutes the social in (social) sustainability? Community, society and equity in South African water governance
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Local Environment : the International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 28:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article explores the question of what constitutes the “social” in (social) sustainability. It applies a governmentality perspective and focuses especially on how social sustainability is understood in relation to the concepts of society and community. Furthermore, it investigates what social sustainability means, or could mean, in the specific context of water governance in South Africa – one of the most unequal countries in the world. This case study is based on original fieldwork in the country, conducted between 2017 and 2018. The theoretical exploration, together with the empirical study, demonstrate that there are two interrelated tensions between understandings of social sustainability, between approaches that place society/social cohesion in focus and those that emphasise community and between approaches that focus on basic needs and those that emphasise equal access. At stake here, between these different understandings, is the role of equity and to what extent social sustainability takes into account the situation of individuals and groups in relation to one another. Ultimately, the article raises the question of the (South African) elephant in the room: to what extent can large inequities between individuals and groups be accepted in a society considered to be (socially) sustainable?
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| 30. |
- Hesse, Arielle, et al.
(författare)
-
The data treadmill : water governance and the politics of pollution in rural Ireland
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 28:5, s. 602-618
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper draws on fieldwork in rural Ireland to argue that environmental data can reinforce knowledge systems that shield structural problems and blunt efforts to rethink the role of community engagement in environmental governance. It offers a cautionary reading of how data has been instrumentalised by the EU and Irish State by showing how data diffuses responsibility and depoliticises environmental activism in cycles of funding and data collection. Since the 2000 Water Framework Directive, water governance in the European Union has increasingly relied upon extensive scientific, evidence-based decision-making and community and stakeholder involvement. We explore how these changes shape efforts to document and remediate water pollution. We expand upon Shapiro et al.’s (2018)’s “data treadmill” to understand how data rescales responsibility for pollution and its effects. The “data treadmill” gives name to cycles of data and funding that propel logics and strategies of environmental governance. We show how the data treadmill operates by perpetuating a narrative that effective action requires more precise data and evidence and solves questions of responsibility through bespoke approaches to environmental pollution. The data treadmill constrains communities through prevailing logics that surround data and environmental governance: communities become tied into European funding programmes that require, on one hand, the expertise of various professionals and consultants, on the other, place-based knowledge and social relationships to deliver innovative responses to structural problems. We offer a critical analysis of current institutional and policy in the EU and Ireland to highlight perils and contradictions of data-centric environmental governance as practiced.
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| 31. |
- Hjerpe, Mattias, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
-
“There is nothing political in it” : triggers of local political leaders' engagement in climate adaptation
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 20:8, s. 855-873
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Local government is attributed a vital role in climate-change adaptation. Previous studies contend that conflicting priorities, insufficient institutional incentives and knowledge of risks, and inadequate resources all impede local climate adaptation. Though the importance of local political support in enabling climate adaptation is widely acknowledged, the views of local politicians have rarely been analysed. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with local politicians in Sweden, we explore what affects their engagement in climate adaptation. The study claims that climate adaptation contrary to mitigation is not viewed as political beyond directing attention and sanctioning guidelines set by officials. A limited number of interviewees claim a more strategic political role in adaptation. The combined effect of institutional incentives (e.g. fragmented national guidelines, unappealing goals, and lack of funding), relative weight in local politics, and ability to exercise political leadership (e.g. campaign value, public and media pressure, and lack of ideology) is perceived as too insignificant to trigger strong political engagement. In less-populous municipalities, adaptive measures were highly valued for demonstrating political action.
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| 32. |
- Holmgren, Lina, et al.
(författare)
-
Protected area governance in Sweden : new modes of governance or business as usual?
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 22:1, s. 22-37
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores whether ambitions to open up the traditional Swedish model of top-down conservation methods to local influences are indicative of an actual transition in governance of Swedish national park policy (NPP), and examines whether such a shift entails an increase in local influence over local interests and needs. Methodologically, we analyse a combination of governance types and incorporate theoretical definitions of power and accountability. The establishment of new governance arrangements – where power is shared, interactions promoted and accountability is directed downwards – indicates that Sweden's NPP is undergoing a change in its mode of governance. This change also seems to include ceding some influence to local interests, and the possibility of combining conservation with the utilisation of certain natural resources. The results of our research also provide valuable insights into when the establishment of shared-governance arrangements are likely to succeed; in short, this seems more likely when there are established sectors sited in a robust legal framework and where strong international commitments potentially play a role. In conclusion, we contend that when seeking diversified governance arrangements it is not enough simply to take local practices and customs into consideration – they have to be strengthened.
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
- Jansson, Märit
(författare)
-
Children's perspectives on playground use as basis for children's participation in local play space management
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 20, s. 165-179
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Implementing children’s perspectives into playground management could be a way of improving play possibilities for children in the local public space and supporting sustainable development, but it requires adults’ understanding. Children’s perspectives on playground use were studied through group interviews in two Swedish towns and were also compared with the understanding among the local park workers. Children described their playground use through challenges, manipulation and place-making, something which was partly recognised by the park workers. The results indicate that children’s perspectives on playground use, particularly manipulation, should be implemented more fully into management work. Children’s participation in on-site management activities is discussed as a way of making playgrounds more adapted to children’s use and perspectives.
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| 35. |
- Johansson, Johanna, 1983-
(författare)
-
Towards democratic and effective forest governance? : The discursive legitimation of forest certification in northern Sweden
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 19:7, s. 803-819
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forest certification, particularly that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is frequently claimed to constitute an effective and democratic private governance arrangement for responsible forestry. It has, however, recently been questioned whether this view holds true for the northernmost countries, which have traditionally been presented as successful examples of forest certification. Yet there is little research on the perceived legitimacy of forest certification at the local level, which is where the standard implementation takes place. This paper examines how the perceived legitimacy of forest certification is created as well as challenged at the local level in Sweden, drawing on Steffek's [2009. Discursive legitimation in environmental governance. Forest Policy and Economics, 11, 313–318] conceptualisation of discursive legitimation and Bernstein's [2011. Legitimacy in intergovernmental and non-state global governance. Review of International Political Economy, 18 (1), 17–51] definition of legitimacy as well as semi-structured interviews with forest companies, reindeer husbandry (indigenous Sámi) and environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs). The results reveal that local ENGOs question the FSC's decision-making process and results, while both the ENGOs and reindeer husbandry see few opportunities to influence long-term forest management. These findings highlight the difficulties of managing power asymmetries in certification and the challenges involved when certification standards are translated from policy to practice.
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| 36. |
- Jonsson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Cities’ capacity to manage climate vulnerability : experiences from participatory vulnerability assessments in the lower Göta Älv Catchment, Sweden
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 17:6-7, s. 735-750
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Within the scope of this project, tools for conducting systematic and integrated climate vulnerability and sustainability assessments have been developed. Two municipalities in the lower Göta Älv catchment were selected as study cases. Together with representatives from key municipal departments and national government agencies, the interdisciplinary research team designed and conducted a co-production process. Results obtained using the developed tools demonstrate that conducting such a systematic assessment of the current situation and potential impacts of climate change adaptation measures would contribute to synergies between adaptation strategies and other policy arenas. Our recommendation for enhancing the capacity of local vulnerability management in Sweden is to shift foci in four fields: from static analysis of climate vulnerability to a dynamic approach to social vulnerability, from a sectorwise fragmented approach to integrated management, from a focus on technical fixes and physical measures to institutional adaptation measures, and, finally, from sustainability-blind adaptation investments to long-term sustainable climate adaptation measures. The processes and mechanisms for succeeding in this requires that knowledge be produced, shared, and managed in partly new ways, allowing stakeholders both inside and outside local government administration to voice and synergise their concerns and solutions.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Krank, Sabrina, et al.
(författare)
-
Constraints to implementation of sustainability indicator systems in five Asian cities
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 15:8, s. 731-742
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Contemporary studies on sustainability indicator systems (SISs) typically focus on the technical advancement of indicator construction, on qualitative impacts of indicatorprogrammes and on impacts on governance, decision-making and sustainability as a social construct. Yet, their implementation so far has rarely been addressed, eventhough monitoring and the use of indicator results fall far behind the number of SISs developed. This study aims at the identification of requirements for the developmentof and constraints to the implementation of SISs in five Asian cities of developing countries. Interviews with local key actors are held, and a qualitative content analysisis carried out. Findings include evidence on the degree of indicator implementation in the case study cities, a hexagonal model for the classification of requirements andconstraints, as well as general conclusions for barriers to the use of SISs.
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| 39. |
- Kronsell, Annica
(författare)
-
Legitimacy for climate policy: politics and participation in the Green City of Freiburg
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 18:8, s. 965-982
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cities are crucial to mitigating climate change and can serve as sites for innovations, providing examples of ways to conduct effective politics in transport, energy and land-use. What does it take to become a model for climate politics? This article argues that a few innovative measures will not suffice. A common vision based on broad legitimacy is crucial to achieving this position. Using a theoretical framework on input and output legitimacy with the City of Freiburg as the case, this article explores the political dimensions of the climate innovative city. The study shows that a specific kind of ‘green conservative’ politics and a consensual view on climate issues across parties have been very important to creating political legitimacy. This has been supported by extraordinary and extensive citizen engagement in combination with the actual output i.e. what environmental policies have delivered. The legitimacy for the Green City model also means that Freiburg is viewed as a highly livable city, in turn, creating self-enforcing dynamics that challenge its innovative potential.
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| 40. |
- Lindqvist, A., et al.
(författare)
-
A regional cadmium inventory : Interpretation and management
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 7:3, s. 295-310
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Local authorities in Sweden are responsible for the management of sewage treatment and municipal solid waste. Due to this, they handle large flows and stocks of materials and substances that may be harmful for the environment. However, knowledge about these flows is sometimes deficient. In addition, the capacity to influence the composition of these flows is mainly beyond the jurisdiction of the local authorities. Flow-oriented studies, such as substance flow analysis (SFA), have proven to be a useful tool in order to understand and quantify these flows. Furthermore, SFA is sometimes claimed to be beneficial to the process of decision making, since it generates comprehensive overviews of the substance in focus. However, quantification of stocks and flows of a certain substance does not necessarily provide sufficient information for environmental management on the local level. Hence, for SFA to further contribute to the environmental management process, there is also a need for development in the interpretation of the results. The main objective of this paper is to contribute to the discussion about (1) how to interpret the results from SFA and (2) how the results from an SFA can be used in environmental management by local authorities. A tentative framework for interpretation is discussed in the paper, focusing on five aspects: total material quatities, exposure to humans and the environment, resource economy, function and capacity to influence the substance flows. Furthermore, the paper discusses the suggested framework applied to results of a regional cadmium inventory.
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| 41. |
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
- Magnusson, Dick, 1983-
(författare)
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Between municipal and regional planning : The development of regional district heating systems in Stockholm from 1978 to 2010
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 16:4, s. 319-337
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- District heating (DH) is an important part of the Swedish energy system and one of the most important climate measures at the municipal level. The Swedish planning system gives a large amount of power to municipalities, thus leaving the regional level weak. Despite this, the DH systems in Stockholm have developed into regional systems; how has this development occurred and what made it possible? Regional and municipal strategies concerning DH and energy from 1978 to 2010 have been studied through Regional plans and comprehensive plans. The conclusions show that the municipal DH systems have grown and become interconnected, thus fulfilling one of the most important regional strategies: to expand and interconnect the systems to be able to build combined heat and power plants. This is not entirely due to the regional strategies, however; the local importance of the system, economic reasons and supply security are other explanations. The study shows that regional importance generally has grown, and thus also the regional focus on DH. As environmental and climate issues have risen on the agenda, the importance of DH from the municipal perspective has become more evident, as well as a shift from supply orientation to more focus on energy efficiency.
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| 44. |
- Mancilla Garcia, Maria
(författare)
-
Negotiating in the absence of trust : exploring the interactions between officials and residents in a waste management project in Copacabana, Bolivia
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 22:6, s. 667-681
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates the effects of the absence of trust in shaping relationships between officers and managers in Copacabana, Bolivia, particularly regarding the construction of a sanitary landfill for the city. The article builds on an abductive thematic analysis of observation and interview data. The data suggest that prior negative experiences and the absence of shared values are common arguments used by the residents to negotiate the conditions of public programme implementation. The study is inspired by the literature identifying the specific components of trust and the literature on lack of trust and distrust as it highlights the positive effects of scepticism. I conclude that a climate in which trust is absent leads residents to counter the risks involved in accepting the project. These findings can be used to revise and refine the well-established thesis that lack of trust leads to rejection.
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| 45. |
- McLean, Bronwyn L., et al.
(författare)
-
Barriers to implementing sustainability locally : a case study of policy immobilities
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 20:12, s. 1489-1506
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aims to contribute to the field of urban planning by applying policy mobilities and transfer theories to a case study of the Capital Regional District and its 13 municipalities in British Columbia, Canada, in order to analyse and understand the dynamics of how sustainability is governed locally, with a special focus on barriers to sustainability policy mobility. The empirical material is primarily based on interviews with key stakeholders who guide policy development and creation in the region to inform an understanding of how sustainable development initiatives are developed and shared. This study finds that while there is interest and demand in sustainability, policy-makers are frustrated with their lack of success in implementing sustainability programmes. While there are some instances of policy sharing and transfer among municipalities in the region, there is a clear desire for more exchanges which would allow municipalities to respond more effectively to the demands placed upon them. Significant barriers to policy mobility are also identified, in particular, an unclear understanding of sustainability, a culture of competition and hostility among municipalities, difficulty with the process of transfer itself, and a lack of time, money and resources. These barriers are in part a result of a broken governance structure which does not provide clear leadership to the municipalities, sets municipalities to be competitive with each other and provides ineffective support for municipalities through an unwieldy regional administrative body which is not well regarded by the municipalities.
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| 46. |
- Murphy, Melissa Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Cultivating inclusive public space with urban gardens
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 28:1, s. 99-116
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A promise of urban gardening (UG) is allowing individuals to shape and engage with the built environment, bringing people together in public space. Municipalities may promote UG in public space for a wide variety of reasons such as enabling integration, reducing crime, or promoting area attractivity. While there is a general sense that UG can contribute to inclusive public space in these efforts, previous research provides ambiguous findings. UG in public space requires balancing inclusive and exclusive practices to create common values, as a select group of engaged members inherently shape space in their interest. UG initiatives vary considerably with respect to their aims, organisational forms, and spatial contexts - affecting inclusion in public space in different manners. The article seeks to unpack how urban settings, organisational forms, and municipal enabling affect UG practices towards inclusion in public space. To do so, the article draws on the theory of urban commons and intertwines it with research on inclusion in public space. This provides an understanding of multi-faceted UG governance and its exclusionary aspects. A framework is not only developed and applied to critically, but also constructively, to review how municipalities enable UG. A comparative analysis of UG initiatives in three Northern European municipalities explores both municipal enabling and the co-production of inclusive public space. The research abductively refines the framework for understanding the co-production of inclusive public space in UG. We argue that the findings and resulting framework have implications for research and for municipal enabling of UG towards inclusive public space.
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| 47. |
- Nastar, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
-
A case for urban liveability from below : exploring the politics of water and land access for greater liveability in Kampala, Uganda
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 24:4, s. 358-373
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improving urban liveability and prosperity is commonly set as a priority in urban development plans and policy around the world. Several annual reports produced by international consulting firms, media, and global agencies rank the liveability of cities based on a set of indicators, to represent the quality of life in these cities. The higher is the ranking, the more liveable is the city. In this paper, we argue that such quantitative approaches to framing and addressing urban liveability challenges leave little room to reflect on people's experiences of this liveability, which cannot be expressed through numbers. To illustrate our argument, we draw on empirical evidence of urban liveability challenges in access to water and land in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, ranked recently as the most liveable East African city by various global agencies and media outlets. By showing that increasing the number of water connections does not guarantee improved access to water and sanitation in the long run, first, we demonstrate how urban liveability challenges are tightly linked with land-title issues in the city. Second, we highlight the political game-playing between the central government, the opposition, the traditional leadership, and the slum dwellers in governance processes of service delivery. Finally, by arguing that urban liveability can be enhanced by broadening political participation in city development planning, we discuss some of the strategies that can be used by communities to make collective claims towards improving their quality of life and the environment.
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| 48. |
- Nilsson, Annika E., et al.
(författare)
-
Knowledge for local climate change adaptation in Sweden : challenges of multilevel governance
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 17:6/7, s. 751-767
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adaptation to climate change is often perceived as a local concern; yet local stakeholders are influenced by knowledge and politics from international and national contexts. Based on a review of Swedish climate change adaptation policy and interviews and focus groups in the Stockholm region, this paper discusses how knowledge relevant to climate change adaptation has been institutionalised in Sweden and how this may affect the potential for learning. The results indicate that the institutionalising of knowledge and knowledge exchange has been weak, especially compared to the implementation of Local Agenda 21, which also calls for action at the local level. So far, Swedish adaptation policy has relied mainly on soft governance tools. Further, we conclude that there is need for improved mechanisms for feedback from the local to the national level in this rapidly evolving policy field.
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| 49. |
- Nursey-Bray, Melissa, et al.
(författare)
-
Old ways for new days : Australian Indigenous peoples and climate change
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 24:5, s. 473-486
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores how Australia's Indigenous peoples understand and respond to climate change impacts on their traditional land and seas. Our results show that: (i) Indigenous peoples are observing modifications to their country due to climate change, and are doing so in both ancient and colonial time scales; (ii) the ways that climate change terminology is discursively understood and used is fundamental to achieving deep engagement and effective adaptive governance; (iii) Indigenous peoples in Australia exhibit a high level of agency via diverse approaches to climate adaptation; and (iv) humour is perceived as an important cultural component of engagement about climate change and adaptation. However, wider governance regimes consistently attempt to "upscale" Indigenous initiatives into their own culturally governed frameworks - or ignore them totally as they "don't fit" within neoliberal policy regimes. We argue that an opportunity exists to acknowledge the ways in which Indigenous peoples are agents of their own change, and to support the strategic localism of Indigenous adaptation approaches through tailored and place-based adaptation for traditional country.
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| 50. |
- Ojala, Maria, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Mosquitoes as a threat to humans and the community : The role of place identity, social norms, environmental concerns and ecocentric values in public risk perception
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Local Environment. - : Routledge. - 1354-9839 .- 1469-6711. ; 22:2, s. 172-184
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a risk that climate change will cause an increase of mosquito populations in Europe. Due to their nuisance to humans, there are demands to combat mosquitoes, mainly through spraying. These interventions, however, are expensive and associated with uncertainties concerning effects on biodiversity. This poses a dilemma for policy-makers, which makes it important to gain knowledge on what people’s nuisance comprises. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore what factors are associated with this risk perception of mosquitoes. Theories about place identity, social norms, environmental concern and values were used to identify relevant factors. A questionnaire was distributed to 317 persons in a Swedish community where mosquitoes have increased radically. The items concerning risk perception fell out as a unidimensional scale in a principal component analysis and the internal consistency of the scale was good. Risk perception was positively related to place identity, descriptive social norms, and self-oriented environmental concern and negatively related to ecocentric values. The most important predictor was descriptive social norms, but the other factors and gender also contributed uniquely in explaining risk perception. Results are discussed in relation to the theory of social amplification of risks.
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