Cities hold significant importance in achieving climate goals. Here, actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change need to be taken while simultaneously attending to social justice and inclusion. Innovative partnerships between research and practice can help guide and realize just climate transitions.

Actions aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change encompass a diverse array of approaches. Urban development is intricate and context-specific, involving multiple stakeholders with diverse interests, operating across various sectors and levels of governance. In this complexity, efforts to address climate change must be coupled with the pursuit of equally momentous societal goals related to justice, equality, and inclusion. Merely addressing climate change without considering these factors will not yield sustainable outcomes.

Participants of this session will witness firsthand how capacity for just climate transitions need to be built at local and urban levels. The focus is on the capability of public organisations to facilitate such change. Partners of an innovative research school will give voice to how just climate transitions can be accelerated through close collaboration between research and practice. You will hear examples of how it responds to concrete dilemmas and needs in the urban context, and of the process of conducting research that responds to actual challenges and fit directly into a practice-based context. The aim is to build integrated knowledge and capacity that can transform our cities and communities in a sustainable manner.

Speakers

  • Prof. Stefan Holmlid, Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University
  • Prof. Merritt Polk, School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University
  • Kristofer Palmestål, Environment administration, City of Gothenburg
  • Line Rondestvedt De Verdier, Regional Development, Region Västra Götaland
  • Gavin Nilsson Lewis, Department of Thematic Studies (TEMA), Linköping University
  • Rikard Warlenius, School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University
  • Kerstin Hemström, Centre for Sustainable Urban Futures, Wexsus

About the organisers

Just Transitions – Swedish Research School on Governance for Just Urban and Regional Climate Transitions constitutes an innovative partnership between Linköping university, Gothenburg University, Chalmers University of Technology, the municipalities of Norrköping, Linköping and Gothenburg, the Region Västra Götaland, the County administrative board of Östergötland, and Urban Futures – Centre for sustainable urban futures.

It links together several fields of research and practice to develop integrated knowledge and solutions for achieving just climate transitions on the ground.