And the award goes to... : a critical analysis of environmental reforms in Upplands Väsby

Abstract: Climate change is exponentially becoming one of the most pressing issues of our time. While it is an issue that plaques the international community it is an issue that needs to be addressed on all levels. Local government has been highlighted as the level closest to the people and is uniquely positioned to instigate a range of activities that directly address climate change and sustainability. This study will highlight the local government of Upplands Väsby as it was awarded in 2013 as the Most Environmentally Conscious Municipality in Sweden. The thesis will explore what initiatives the municipality have pursued and the reasons behind them. The study draws on previous research on possible reasons for why local decision-makers implement sustainability initiatives. The main data have been collected through a document review and by conducting semi-structured interviews with local officials and interest groups in the municipality. The findings show that the most important initiative was implementing an environmental management system. The system has improved the municipality’s internal environmental work. The main drivers behind the sustainability actions have been committed leadership and skilled local officials. The results also show that several challenges such as focusing more on community-wide initiatives and engaging the local residents still persist. By examining the present reforms in Upplands Väsby this study hopes to contribute to an understanding of the reasons behind pursuing environmental sustainability at a local level.