Transforming Local Climate Adaptation Organization: Barriers and Progress in 13 Swedish Municipalities

Abstract

Local strategies and policies are key in climate adaptation, although research shows significant barriers to progress. Sweden, often seen as progressive in climate change issues, has struggled in adopting a sufficient local climate adaptation organization. This article aimed to describe and analyze the climate adaptation organization in 13 Swedish municipalities from five perspectives: Problem framing, administrative and political agency, administrative and political structures, measures and solutions, and the role of learning. The mapping of these perspectives provides an opportunity to analyze barriers to local climate adaptation. Key policy documents have been studied including climate adaptation plans, crisis management plans, and regulatory documents, as well as documents from private consultants. This study showed that few municipalities have a formal organization for climate adaptation, clear structures, political support, and specific climate adaptation plans. At the same time, many of the municipalities are planning for transformation, due to a push from the county board, a lead agency in climate adaptation. There are also ample networks providing opportunities for learning among municipalities and regions. This study concluded that one key barrier is the lack of focus and prioritization in a majority of the municipalities, leaving the administrators, often planners, in a more activist position. The need for organizational mainstreaming and resources is emphasized.

Governance and planning in a ‘perfect storm’: Securitising climate change, migration and Covid-19 in Sweden

“…Representing the national government at the regional level the CAB has a long history as the extended arm of the state. The Board is basically responsible for control functions related to municipal planning but since the 1980s these functions has to a large degree been relaxed ( Granberg & Nyberg, 2018 ), and increasingly become one of a supporting, coordinating, and collaborating actor rather than a controlling authority ( Kristanssen & Granberg, 2021 ; Sandström & Elander, 2021 ). As a ‘knowledge authority’ it incorporates elements of both the Regulatory State and the Networked Polity.…”

“…In 2007 the national risk and vulnerability inquiry ( SOU, 2007:60 ) addressed the climate related challenges facing Sweden ( Kristanssen & Granberg, 2021 ). It was stated that the threats identified required immediate action and that considerable resources needed to be allocated to short-term adaptation to climate-induced risks but that long-term planning and policy decisions also was needed.…”

“…At the same time, they are given considerable leeway to adjust their adaptations policies and measures to local circumstances and needs. Hence, there is considerable pressure on the municipalities and several studies show that local climate adaptation action has been rather slow and locked-in within existing structures, in particular those related to spatial planning ( Hjerpe et al, 2014 ; Kristanssen & Granberg, 2021 ).…”

Making Climate Risks Governable in Swedish Municipalities: Crisis Preparedness, Technical Measures, and Public Involvement

“…In Sweden, the municipality is central in the work of adapting society to climate change and creating preparedness for climate-related crises [8]. Preparedness in this context means to be in a state of readiness, to have resources available and to be organized to use them [9].…”

A Fair Distribution of Responsibility for Climate Adaptation-Translating Principles of Distribution from an International to a Local Context

“…The issue of responsibility for climate change adaptation has been discussed in the academic community, either empirically, often on a case-by-case basis [2,3], or ethically, most often as part of the wider climate justice debate focusing on climate change mitigation [4]. There have been some attempts to establish an ethical basis for the distribution of responsibility for adaptation within country contexts [5][6][7], but most articles discuss the distribution of responsibility from an empirical perspective, rather than from an ethical one [2,8,9]. There is thus much more work to be conducted when it comes to the ethical aspects of the question how responsibility for climate change adaptation can be distributed on the local level.…”