Systemförändring för klimatet - från ambitioner till kärnverksamhet: En kvalitativ studie om organisatoriska utmaningar i Malmö stads klimatomställningsarbete

Sammanfattning

Climate change poses increasing challenges to all life on Earth. Ecosystems and biodiversity are driven towards unsustainable states. There is a growing consensus that cities play a crucial role in leading the climate transition, and municipalities have been identified as key actors. The research field draws attention to barriers between policy and practical implementation, such as legal and financial constraints, as well as issues related to governance. This suggests that existing organizational structures hinder climate transition processes. Based on a qualitative case study using semi-structured interviews with the officials of the City of Malmö, Sweden, this study explores where and how challenges arise in relation to achieving the transition to climate neutrality by 2030, focusing on the allocation of responsibility and coordination between municipal departments. The study shows that organizational challenges with the climate transition cannot be explained by a single cause, but rather by a complex set of interconnected organizational and structural conditions, including silo mentality and limitations within traditional management structures. Decision-making hierarchies, complex coordination processes, and the lack of holistic understanding across the organization, delay the implementation of climate measures. The findings do not indicate a lack of ambition or willingness to drive climate action, but rather a need for flexible approaches that challenge established structures and enable silos to work together.