Advances in the social construction of energy management and energy efficiency in industry

Thollander, P., M. Andrei, N. Jalo, P. Rohdin, J. Palm, A. Sannö, J. Colding, S. Barthel, G. Salah Uddin, and B. M. Xavier. 2025. Advances in the social construction of energy management and energy efficiency in industry. Nature Communications 16:4075.

Energy efficiency is essential for climate change mitigation. Energy management, shaped by both technical artefacts and social constructions, can overcome barriers and achieve greater emission reductions than technology-focused approaches alone. Nine social constructions of energy management emphasize the need for a broader view that includes operations, processes, and knowledge creation and diffusion. By adopting these strategies, corporations and policymakers can substantially reduce industrial energy use...

Community climate commons for collective climate action

Nässén, N., M. Lilja, S. Sjöberg, and J. Colding. 2025. Community climate commons for collective climate action. Sustainable Development 33(2):2078–2095.

Mitigating and adapting to climate change is a vital challenge that cannot rely solely on technology or macro policies but need also be tailored to local social and ecological contexts. As theory suggests, institutional designs that increase collective climate action could potentially speed up climate action in society. In this article we explore the concept of ‘community climate commons’ (CCCs) to foster interconnected and holistic...

Community climate commons for collective climate action

Nässén, N., M. Lilja, S. Sjöberg, and J. Colding. 2024. Community climate commons for collective climate action. Sustainable Development https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3227.

Mitigating and adapting to climate change is a vital challenge that cannot rely solely on technology or macro policies but need also be tailored to local social and ecological contexts. As theory suggests, institutional designs that increase collective climate action could potentially speed up climate action in society. In this article we explore the concept of ‘community climate commons’ (CCCs) to foster interconnected and holistic...

Smart Cities for All? Bridging Digital Divides for Socially Sustainable and Inclusive Cities

Colding, J., C. Nilsson, and S. Sjöberg. 2024. Smart Cities for All? Bridging Digital Divides for Socially Sustainable and Inclusive Cities. Smart Cities 7(3):1044-1059.

This paper aims to emphasize the need for enhancing inclusivity and accessibility within smart-city societies. It represents the first attempt to apply Amartya Sen’s capability approach by exploring the implications of digital divides for promoting inclusive and climate-friendly cities that prioritize well-being, equity, and societal participation. Sen’s framework recognizes individual variations in converting resources into valuable ‘functionings’, and herein emphasizes the importance of aligning personal,...

Climate Proofing Cities by Navigating Nature-Based Solutions in a Multi-Scale, Social–Ecological Urban Planning Context: A Case Study of Flood Protection in the City of Gothenburg, Sweden

Egegård, C.H., M. Lindborg, Å, Gren, L. Marcus, M.B. Pont, and J. Colding. 2024. Climate Proofing Cities by Navigating Nature-Based Solutions in a Multi-Scale, Social–Ecological Urban Planning Context: A Case Study of Flood Protection in the City of Gothenburg, Sweden. Land 13(2), 143.

Due to unsustainable land management and climate change, floods have become more frequent and severe over the past few decades and the problem is exacerbated in urban environments. In the context of climate-proofing cities, the importance of nature-based solutions (NBSs), obtaining relevant outcomes in the form of ecosystem services, has been highlighted. Although the role of ecosystem services in building resilience against negative climate change...

Placing Urban Renewal in the Context of the Resilience Adaptive Cycle

Marcus. L. and J. Colding. 2024. Placing Urban Renewal in the Context of the Resilience Adaptive Cycle. Land 13(1), 8.

Resilience thinking provides valuable insights into the dynamics of complex adaptive systems. To achieve resilience in urban systems, it can be fruitful to delve into the intricacies ofresilience processes. This paper theorizes about how the specific characteristics of resilient systems can be integrated into the spatial design of cities. Emphasizing the importance of the built form and spatial systems in maintaining order within urban processes,...

Digital technology and energy sustainability: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities

Wei, C., C.Z. Li, A. Löschel, S. Managi, and T. Lundgren. 2023. Digital technology and energy sustainability: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 190:106803.

Digitalization and sustainability represent two global mainstreams, which affect many dimensions of economic activity and daily life. However, their interaction remains still underexploited with different synergies and tradeoffs between these goals. This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) entitled “Digital technology and energy sustainability: impacts and policy needs” presents recent research on the nexus between digital technology and energy sustainability. This editorial introduces seven recent studies on...

FAIRTRANS Policyslutsatser 1: Rättvisa koldioxidbudgetar för Sverige (FAIRTRANS Policy Conclusions 1: Fair Carbon Budgets for Sweden)

Hahn, T., M. Karlsson, I. Fetzer, A. Linell, E. Alfredsson, S. Barthel, and J. Colding. 2023. FAIRTRANS Policyslutsatser 1: Rättvisa koldioxidbudgetar för Sverige (FAIRTRANS Policy Conclusions 1: Fair Carbon Budgets for Sweden). FAIRTRANS.

FAIRTRANS Kunskapsunderlag 1. Rättviseperspektiv på digitaliseringens roll för omställning mot ett fossilfritt Sverige (Justice perspectives on the role of digitalisation in the transition towards a fossil-free Sweden)

Colding, J., S. Sjöberg, S. Barthel, M. Svensson-Wiklander, A. Rex, P. Andersson, and K. Nordin. 2023. FAIRTRANS Kunskapsunderlag 1. Rättviseperspektiv på digitaliseringens roll för omställning mot ett fossilfritt Sverige (Justice perspectives on the role of digitalisation in the transition towards a fossil-free Sweden). FAIRTRANS.

Opportunities and barriers to net-zero cities

Hsu, A. et al. 2022. Opportunities and barriers to net-zero cities. One Earth 5(7):739-744.

Today, more than 700 cities worldwide have made net-zero pledges. Managing these bold targets, however, is not easy given the complexity of urban systems. Although holistic mitigation efforts are vital, individual sectors are likely to face their own challenges and require tailor-made solutions. This Voices asks: what are the challenges and opportunities in transforming cities toward net-zero carbon emissions?