Climate Resilience or Displacement? : A case study on potential climate adaptation gentrification by public rental housing organizations in Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: This master’s thesis explores indications of climate adaptation gentrification in Framtiden, public rental housing association in Gothenburg Sweden. It intends to provide insights into how increasing climate change adaptation could have social implications by problematizing it, to contribute to a just climate change adaptation. It contributes to the emerging body of research on climate gentrification by exploring a Swedish context and public actors. The aim of the study is to identify and explore potential climate adaptation gentrification in practices for climate change adaptation in public rental housing in Gothenburg. The study uses a case study approach, with semi-structured interviews of public officials working for or with Framtiden. The interviews are complemented with a map-analysis to provide geographical context of which areas are susceptible to climate gentrification. A deductive thematic analysis applying a green gentrification theoretic framework was used for the interviews. Findings include indications of practices that could lead to a gentrifying process, a lack of recognition of possible negative social implications, unclarity in effect on rent and a lack of participation. Further findings are that some practices counter gentrifying processes, current financial beneficiaries and spatial changes. Lastly some counterstrategies to gentrification are suggested, existing participatory approaches used in other processes than climate adaptation that could be integrated, focused action on vulnerable areas and recognizing different needs, and ensuring affordable housing. The study contributes to increasing the knowledge of public actors on opportunities and potential impacts of current and future broad climate change adaptation.