Study of the Interactions between Political Changes and Energy-Climate Policies Case of the District Heating System in Stockholm

Abstract: Most urban regions of the worlds are involved in energy transition processes towards a lowcarbon society and set climate strategies in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This master’s thesis looks at these processes through a political perspective and in particular aims at analysing the ways in which political changes interact with energy-climate policies, in the case of city of Stockholm. Some interests will be especially given to the question of the challenge raised by the short-term nature of political changes and the long-term perspective of energy-climate policies. This approach is based on the analysis of the actual practices of actors involved in the implementation of these policies, on a day-to-day basis, to reveal the interaction with political changes. The case study of the district heating system in the city of Stockholm is analysed as a zoom in one of the major measures taken by the City against greenhouse gas emissions. The method used leans mostly on interviews of the principal actors responsible for the formulation, planning and contestation of energy-climate policies in the City of Stockholm. The research shows that besides the post-political character of climate policies in Stockholm, their implementation creates some conflicts and tensions which re-politicize them.