Scandinavian Cities Struggle with Institutional Capacity to Handle Climate Protests
New research reveals a critical gap in Scandinavian cities' ability to integrate climate protests into decision-making, risking populist backlash and delays in climate action.
A study by Lukas Smas, Associate professor in Human Geography at Stockholm University, and Norwegian researchers Gro Sandkjaer Hanssen, Hege Hofstad, and Håvard Haarstad, published in Local environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, examines how cities manage rising climate conflicts. Based on fieldwork in Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, and Gothenburg, the article analyzes civil society protests in densification and mobility policies using an institutional governance lens. It identifies formal channels for citizen input in land-use planning but a lack of established mechanisms in mobility, leading to controversies and new protest parties. Key finding: Cities aspire to participation but lack capacity, highlighting the need for responsive governance to avoid delays in climate transformations. Keywords: Climate protests, urban planning, local democracy, participation.
Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2026.2621333
Lukas Smas is associate professor, docent in Human Geography at Stockholm University.
Last updated: 2026-02-05
Source: Department of Human Geography