Eighteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Climate change is the largest challenge of our times. Although irreducible changes in biophysical and societal systems can yet only be speculated upon, enough is known to warrant increased efforts to mitigate emission of greenhouse gasses. Despite the overwhelming scientific research showing the need for action, surprisingly little is done. There are gaps between words and action and calls for governments to do more are often loud, but social science research is remarkably silent on realistic analyses of how to choose and implement appropriate and sustainable policy tools. Individual action is not sufficient, policy tools are not only are cost-effective but as importantly perceived as legitimate by the public and therefore politically viable. Collective action theory can be used to analyse the circumstances individual incentives are compatible with collective action, that is, what is required to turn individual willingness to act into support of political strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sweden has been selected for this case study because of its long record of proactive environmental policies and recent transformative turn towards low-carbon industrial production in steel and mining sectors as well as in large scale battery production. Using collective action theory as an analytical framework, Swedish national political climate mitigation strategies are analysed, probing to what extent both cost-effectiveness and public legitimacy is addressed in selection and development of specific policy tools. This study provides both improved understanding of the roles of effectiveness and legitimacy in climate policy, and policy implications for sustainable climate policy.