Local carbon budgets as a tool for sustainability transitions : Three emerging narratives of change and governance

Abstract: This study takes as a starting point that climate change must be seen as interrelated with other social, technological, political, and ecological challenges of our times, and that it is closely linked to the local arena of policy and planning. By this, the study is guided by the notion that sustainability transitions are needed to combat climate change. The aim of this study is to explore if and how local carbon budgets can be a tool for municipal governance in facilitating sustainability transitions. Through an analysis of narratives of change and modes of governing, the aim is pursued by studying how the local carbon budgets developed at the Climate Change Leadership node at Uppsala University approaches a framework for transition, and how these local carbon budgets have been received by municipal planning and policy actors in two case studies: Nyköping and Järfälla municipality. The study uses a qualitative case study approach with semi-structured interviews, document analysis and participatory observation as its methods. From the results and analysis, three narratives of change emerged: Tweak the system, Re-invent the system, and Shake the system. The three narratives suggest different pathways for sustainability transitions, as well as different approaches to local governance. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the local carbon budgets can be several different tools for sustainability transitions, and what kind of tool it becomes is dependent on what narratives of change and approach to local governance that shapes it. Finally, the study highlights the importance of using local carbon budgets to their full potential, allowing them to question, challenge and reimage what kind of change is needed and how it can come about, if more transformative sustainability transitions are to be reached.