110 research outputs found
Policy Instruments for Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Experiences and Lessons from the Nordic Countries
The Nordic countries have often been seen as âfore-runnersâ of energy efficiency in buildings â in both the implementation of policy instruments and the evaluation of effects. Since the 1970s, the Nordic countries have introduced a range of policy instruments for energy conservation in buildings. The choice of instruments and experiences, however differs between countries. The aim of this study is to review policy instruments for energy efficiency in buildings in the Nordic countries as well as to analyse how to advance related learning processes. The study discusses traditional and innovative policy instruments, organisational matters, and policy evaluations. An overall observation from this study is that Sweden is âslowing downâ its energy efficiency activities in the building sector, while Denmark, Finland and Norway are all âspeeding upâ. Denmark is leading the way on implementing policy instruments, which are long-term, strategic, innovative and well-supported by the organisational structure. This study also concludes that energy efficiency often lacks influential organisations to âdriveâ efforts forwards â in terms of information, networking, research and innovation. Finally, there is often no strategic approach to evaluations in the Nordic countries with a focus on how to improve learning
Localizing SDGs: the case of city planning in Malmö
Cities have an important role to play in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to mobilize sustainability at the urban level. Yet, municipalities encounter challenges in localizing the SDGs into their governance structures, and there is a need to advance our understanding of cities strengths and weaknesses in such processes. In this article we provide knowledge and reflections gained in analyzing the process of localizing the SDGs into the spatial planning of Smörkajen, a former industrial harbor site in Malmö, Sweden. By applying the analytical framework of Institutional Capacity Building, the study explores the process of localizing the SDGs in terms of building relational and knowledge capacities and to provide mobilization capacity by the formation of a sustainability strategy. The results illustrate an inclusive approach supporting relational capacity and numerous measures to enhance knowledge capacity, bringing about the formation of a draft sustainability strategy, strongly supported by the municipal participants. But rather than formally adopting the full strategy in the spatial planning of the Smörkajen area, the results of the process were only to be considered to the extent the traditional documents and processes allowed. In all, the results illustrate a strong support for the use of localized SDGs among municipal administrative units to mobilize sustainability, but also the challenges in actually implementing these in the formal planning and development process
Transition governance for energy efficiency - insights from a systematic review of Swedish policy evaluation practices
Background
The transition towards a more sustainable energy system is urgent for addressing global environmental and social challenges, and will require transformative changes including improved energy efficiency in the built environment. To reach identified efficiency potentials, various policy instruments have been introduced but their effects are often unclear. In this paper, we argue that the outline of transformative policy strategies will require well-designed evaluations. The objective is to present a theory-based evaluation framework that can be used to assess existing evaluations, in order to support transformative policy strategies. The framework is also applied to provide insights from current Swedish evaluation practices.
Methods
The theory-based evaluation framework presented builds on evaluation theory, policy analysis and transition research and is arranged around methods, value judgements and use of the evaluations. Moreover, key aspects from transition research are included to provide guidance for transformative efforts in the evaluations. The systematic review presented in the paper is qualitative, covering 33 policy evaluations for energy efficiency in buildings in Sweden, commissioned by Swedish governmental authorities over a decade.
Results
The results of the review reveal a wide range of evaluations undertaken, using a sound methodological evaluation base that builds on a variety of methods for analysis, and application of multi-criteria analyses. Commonly, however, a rather narrow scope was applied and we note a missed opportunity for triangulation of findings. Key aspects for capturing transformative efforts, such as system-, scale- and multi-actor approaches, as well as visioning, experimentation and learning, were considered to varying extents, but could be more explicit and elaborate.
Conclusion
In all, we find the proposed theory-based evaluation framework useful for assessing and discussing both robustness and transformative efforts of current policy and evaluation practices. The review of the Swedish policy evaluations further indicates sound evaluation practices, and a foundational structure for identifying and analysing transformative efforts. To fully support transformative changes, we suggest a wider system perspective and a more thorough multi-actor approach and actor involvement in the evaluations. We also stress the need to further link evaluation theory with transition research to design evaluations that can support transformative changes in society
Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rÄd: Rapport 2019
Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rĂ„d bildades hösten 2018 med uppdrag attutvĂ€rdera hur Lunds kommuns samlade politik Ă€r förenlig med de klimatmĂ„lsom antagits av kommunfullmĂ€ktige. RĂ„det som Ă€r det första lokala klimatpolitiska rĂ„det i Sverige Ă€r en unik satsning för frĂ€mjandet av ett aktivt och framĂ„tsyftande lokalt klimatarbete.Sveriges kommuner har en viktig roll att fylla i klimatarbetet â för sĂ„vĂ€l minskad klimatpĂ„verkan som anpassning till ett förĂ€ndrat klimat. Lunds kommun har genom Ă„ren visat pĂ„ handlingskraft inom miljö- och klimatomrĂ„det och har antagit ambitiösa klimatmĂ„l. I bildandet av ett klimatpolitiskt rĂ„d befĂ€ster kommunen sin ambition om att bedriva ett kunskapsbaserat klimatarbete. Kommunens vision âLund skapar framtiden â med kunskap, innovation och öppenhetâ inspirerar Ă€ven till handling och engagemang i det lokala klimatarbetet. Samarbetet mellan Lunds kommun och akademin har sedan lĂ€nge stimulerat utvecklingen i Lund och utgör en viktig kĂ€lla till nytĂ€nkande och problemlösning. RĂ„det ser fram emot uppgiften att utvĂ€rdera kommunens klimatarbete men uttrycker samtidigt en ödmjukhet inför komplexiteten i detta arbete. RĂ„dets ambition Ă€r att bidra konstruktivt och lösningsorienterat till utvecklingen av det lokala klimatarbetet.Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rĂ„d kommer Ă„rligen att presentera en rapport i vilken rĂ„det granskar Lunds kommuns samlade klimatpolitik. Detta Ă€r rĂ„dets första rapport och granskningen utgĂ„r frĂ„n de mĂ„l som presenteras i LundaEko II under rubrikerna âMinsta möjliga klimatpĂ„verkanâ och âKlimatanpassningâ. I rapporten utvĂ€rderar rĂ„det i vilken utstrĂ€ckning kommunens arbete Ă€r tillrĂ€ckligt för att nĂ„ etappmĂ„len för 2020 samt identifierar utmaningar och rekommendationer för arbetet med att nĂ„ de övergripande mĂ„len för 2030 och 2050. RĂ„det pĂ„började sitt uppdrag först hösten 2018 och har behövt Ă€gna tid Ă„t att lĂ€ra kĂ€nna kommunens lokala klimatarbete. Granskningen i rĂ„dets första rapport Ă€r dĂ€rför av övergripande karaktĂ€r.Ett framgĂ„ngsrikt klimatarbete förutsĂ€tter en bred kunskapsbas. Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rĂ„d bestĂ„r av forskare med bred tvĂ€r- och mĂ„ngvetenskaplig kompetens frĂ„n Lunds universitet (LU) och SLU Alnarp. Ett lyckat klimatarbete krĂ€ver Ă€ven ett bredare engagemang, vilket rĂ„det avser bidra till genom god kommunikation och inkluderande dialog
Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rÄd : Rapport 2021
Lunds kommuns klimatpolitiska rĂ„d (RĂ„det) bildades hösten 2018 med uppdrag att utvĂ€rdera hur Lunds kommuns samlade politik Ă€r förenlig med de klimatmĂ„l som antagits av kommunfullmĂ€ktige. RĂ„det, som bestĂ„r av forskare frĂ„n Lunds universitet (LU) och SLU Alnarp, har sammantaget en bred tvĂ€r- och mĂ„ngvetenskaplig kompetens och en gedigen erfarenhet av samverkan med olika samhĂ€llsaktörer.Samarbetet mellan Lunds kommun och akademin har sedan lĂ€nge stimulerat utvecklingen i Lund och utgör en viktig kĂ€lla till nytĂ€nkande och problemlösning.RĂ„det uppskattar förtroendet att utvĂ€rdera kommunens klimatarbete men uttrycker samtidigt en ödmjukhet inför komplexiteten i detta arbete. RĂ„dets ambition Ă€r att strĂ€va efter att vara kritiskt granskande men ocksĂ„ konstruktiv och lösningsorienterad för att kunna bidra till utvecklingen av det lokala klimatarbetet.RĂ„det presenterar Ă„rligen en rapport i vilken Lunds kommuns klimatarbete granskas. Detta Ă€r RĂ„dets tredje rapport i vilken RĂ„det valt att fokusera pĂ„ Lunds kommuns förslag till nya klimatmĂ„l i miljömĂ„lsprogrammet LundaEko. Denna granskningkompletteras med en uppföljning av de klimatmĂ„l som antagits i den tidigare versionen av LundaEko (LundaEko II 2014-2020) inom omrĂ„dena Minstamöjliga klimatpĂ„verkan och Klimatanpassning. RĂ„det har i sin granskning utgĂ„tt frĂ„n tillgĂ€ngliga planer, dokument, redovisningar och data. Detta material har kompletterats med samtal med ansvariga tjĂ€nstepersoner. Under arbetets gĂ„ng har RĂ„det Ă€ven fört dialog med Ungdomspolitiken i Lund, som pĂ„ egen hand granskat LundaEko ur ett ungdomsperspektiv.Under 2020 har mandatet för nĂ„gra rĂ„dsledamöter löpt ut â Lena Hiselius (LU), Anna Peterson (SLU Alnarp), Markku Rummukainen (LU) och Catharina Sternudd (LU) â och de har avtackats för sina insatser under de inledande tvĂ„ Ă„ren. Samtidigt har nya ledamöter tillkommit â Cecilia Akselsson (LU), Susanne Arvidsson (LU), Anders Larsson (SLU Alnarp) och Lars J Nilsson (LU) â som tillsammans med övriga ledamöter har deltagit i den granskning som presenteras i denna rapport
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