The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Jenny Palm

Jenny Palm

Head of department

Jenny Palm

Sustainable energy and climate strategies : Lessons from planning processes in five municipalities

Author

  • P. Fenton
  • S. Gustafsson
  • J. Ivner
  • J. Palm

Summary, in English

Swedish municipalities have traditionally had significant powers and played a major role in implementing national energy strategies. This paper describes the factors influencing development of municipal climate and energy plans in five Swedish municipalities and assesses the relevance and importance of these factors from theoretical and practical perspectives. The questions raised in the paper are: what are the characteristics of municipal climate and energy planning processes in the five municipalities, do these municipalities include stakeholders in the process, if so how? Results suggest that a number of factors influence the development of municipal climate and energy strategies and their content. These include the importance of a clear, shared vision and engaged politicians; the size and organisational structure of the municipality and its willingness and capability to act; the organisation of the process and extent to which stakeholders have been involved; the need for clarity about financial aspects, such as planned financing of implementation; and the need for greater clarity concerning selection of targets and their relevance to global climate and energy trends. The study and its results may be used to inform policy-makers on the national and local levels about factors influencing municipal energy planning and also contribute to a discussion on benefits and problems of involving stakeholders and citizens in the strategic work to reduce climate impacts and energy consumption.

Publishing year

2015-07-01

Language

English

Pages

213-221

Publication/Series

Journal of Cleaner Production

Volume

98

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Energy Systems

Keywords

  • Energy and climate strategies
  • Municipalities
  • Planning processes
  • Stakeholders

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0959-6526