Inclusive low-carbon transformations – dialogues on sustainable life beyond the cityscape

Our society is facing extensive transformations if we are to reach the Swedish goal on becoming the world’s first fossil-free welfare state by 2045.

The Swedish Climate Action Plan and the European Green Deal both emphasise that low-carbon transformations must be inclusive and pay attention to the circumstances of people that live outside cities and run the risk of losing out in the process.

But there is a lack of concrete measures and visions targeting low-carbon transformations beyond the cityscape, and a lack of research to base measures and visions on.

We will contribute new perspectives on low-carbon transformations through empirical studies of how these are framed by people in sparsely populated areas.

In focus groups and study circles people are invited to make sense of ongoing transformations, formulate desired measures, and challenge personal norms and practices through transformative learning.

We will study how transformative learning processes unfold in dialogical settings while advancing the scholarship on the role of said processes in facilitating engagement in low-carbon transformations. 8 groups in sparsely populated municipalities in Northern Sweden will participate, these represent areas and people whose perspectives are scarce in climate policies and who run the risk of being negatively affected by low-carbon transformations.

The ABF will contribute by recruiting participants and providing expertise on organising study circles in the selected areas.