Photo: Lars Thulin/Scandinav/imagebank.sweden.se

In this chapter, we explore the methodological approach adopted in the project. The study design is based on case studies, representing a robust research strategy for answering complex questions about contemporary issues within their real-life context (Yin, 2009). The case studies can potentially uncover new findings and inspire further research, especially in unexplored or insufficiently studied areas (Berg, 2001). Such a study design was deemed most appropriate to produce contextualised knowledge about Nordic municipalities' institutional capacity to drive the transition to carbon neutrality. The case study analyses were mainly based on qualitative methods, which will be explained in detail in this section, but a quantitative approach provided a robust framework for selecting the cases.

The selection of case studies was guided by two key criteria:

First, the focus was on medium-sized cities, excluding both large cities and small settlements. Among the 1,123 municipalities in the Nordic Region, only five have populations exceeding 500,000, making them unrepresentative of the region as a whole. Conversely, small settlements with populations below 40,000, while also facing the challenges of a changing climate, may lack the institutional and political capacity to address these issues effectively and are less likely to have climate plans in place. As a result, the study excluded municipalities with populations of over 500,000 or under 40,000, narrowing the selection to 75 municipalities (see Table 4).

Second, we further narrowed the selection to cities with populations of between 40,000 and 500,000 that exhibited pronounced densification trends. Specifically, we focused on cities that had experienced urban population growth of at least 15% between 2008 and 2022 (see Table 5). This analysis was facilitated by the Nordic urban-rural typology (Stjernberg et al., 2024), which provides detailed population density data at a 1 km x 1 km grid level and categorises land use into several classes: (a) inner urban area, (b) outer urban area and (c) peri-urban area. This classification enabled us to identify where population growth occurred within these municipalities and to infer varying patterns of spatial development, such as compact growth or urban sprawl.

While the quantitative criteria shortlisted the options, further discussions with the members of the Nordic Thematic Group for Green and Inclusive Urban Development (TGA) guided the final choice of the cases. To facilitate a robust analysis of ambitions and strategies for achieving climate neutrality, the case study cities were categorised into two typologies: (1) Frontrunner cities, which meet all selection criteria and are participants in the European Programme for 100 Climate-Neutral Cities and (2) Striver cities, which also meet all the established criteria but are not part of the programme. Table 5 provides a detailed list of the case study cities.

Several strategies were employed for collecting data, including a review of scientific and grey literature, semi-structured interviews, a workshop and document analyses of policies and strategies.

In addition to local climate plans and strategies, the document analysis included planning documents relevant to the three analysed spatial planning sectors: land use, transport and mobility, and buildings and construction. While these documents outline visions and strategies to address key challenges, they often lack detailed performance data. To bridge this gap, technical reports served as a crucial resource, providing insights into implementation measures, outcomes, challenges and opportunities related to achieving climate goals. The policy documents and reports included in the case studies are listed in Appendix B.

To gain insight into the factors that influence institutional capacity and political will in each of the case study cities, interviews with municipal representatives were conducted. The interviewees were planners and officials with relevant responsibilities for integrating climate issues into their departments and thematic areas. Each case study involved four interviews with civil servants possessing competencies in: (1) defining and implementing the overarching climate strategies in the municipality (2) land use planning, (3) buildings and construction and (4) transport and mobility. The case study interviews were conducted in the local language, except for the Norwegian and Swedish cases, which were conducted in English. The interviews for the Icelandic case study were conducted in person, while the remainder were conducted digitally. All the interviews lasted about one hour and were recorded and transcribed. The participants’ answers were anonymised, stored and treated confidentially.

Furthermore, to gain an understanding of how national climate networks help municipalities to transition to climate neutrality, interviews were also conducted with representatives of these networks (i.e. K2020 and CONCITO in Denmark; Viable Cities in Sweden; HINKU in Finland). The drafts of the case studies were sent for review to all the interviewees. A comprehensive list of interviews and the interview guide can be found in Appendixes C and D.

The text based on the interviews was submitted to the interviewees for review to ensure that their views had been accurately interpreted and to avoid any potential misunderstandings in the representation of their perspectives. Given that the information provided by the interviewees reflected their personal opinions and experiences, it was deemed critical to approach these insights with caution. To enhance the reliability of the findings, complementary document analysis (explained above) and an in-depth examination of the local context were conducted.

To gain input on the policy messages in this report (see Chapter 8), a workshop was held during the Nordregio Forum 2024: Nordics Turning Green. The workshop was attended by practitioners and researchers from Nordic and Baltic countries. During the workshop, participants were invited to discuss the challenges, barriers and potential solutions and measures for the three sectors covered in the report (land use, buildings and construction, transport and mobility). The key recommendations and actionable insights presented in this report draw on the research findings and the discussions held during the workshop.