Exploring a green Swedish model : Coinciding and contradictory interests on a just climate transformation in Sweden
Ergon, Jens ; Hildingsson, Roger LU
and Karlsson, Mikael
(2025)
In Ambio
54(7).
p.1237-1249
- Abstract
Climate policies are challenged around the world, a development coinciding with the backlash of globalisation. The emergence of the modern welfare state, however, indicates that similar tensions may give rise to transformative change, if coinciding interests for change develop. This article explores the case of Sweden, critical due to its longstanding role as an environmental frontrunner, now experiencing climate policy rollback. Based on 31 in-depth interviews, we analyse perceptions on a just transformation among business, trade union and civil society actors. The analysis reveals new and coinciding interests, driven by desire to restore climate leadership, and includes financial reform, more active state interventions and new policy... (More)
Climate policies are challenged around the world, a development coinciding with the backlash of globalisation. The emergence of the modern welfare state, however, indicates that similar tensions may give rise to transformative change, if coinciding interests for change develop. This article explores the case of Sweden, critical due to its longstanding role as an environmental frontrunner, now experiencing climate policy rollback. Based on 31 in-depth interviews, we analyse perceptions on a just transformation among business, trade union and civil society actors. The analysis reveals new and coinciding interests, driven by desire to restore climate leadership, and includes financial reform, more active state interventions and new policy tools to ensure public legitimacy. Views diverge on the depth of a just transformation, and power relations are different compared to the emergence of the welfare state. Nevertheless, a green Swedish model can be discerned, forging enhanced climate mitigation and renewed welfare state arrangements.
(Less)
- author
- Ergon, Jens
; Hildingsson, Roger
LU
and Karlsson, Mikael
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Backlash, Green state, Just transition, Swedish model, Transformation, Welfare state
- in
- Ambio
- volume
- 54
- issue
- 7
- article number
- 102291
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39971840
- scopus:85218168544
- ISSN
- 0044-7447
- DOI
- 10.1007/s13280-025-02144-6
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
- id
- 4208d42a-e407-4910-a640-b8a7e2090fc4
- date added to LUP
- 2025-07-04 14:05:07
- date last changed
- 2025-07-05 03:00:05
@article{4208d42a-e407-4910-a640-b8a7e2090fc4,
abstract = {{<p>Climate policies are challenged around the world, a development coinciding with the backlash of globalisation. The emergence of the modern welfare state, however, indicates that similar tensions may give rise to transformative change, if coinciding interests for change develop. This article explores the case of Sweden, critical due to its longstanding role as an environmental frontrunner, now experiencing climate policy rollback. Based on 31 in-depth interviews, we analyse perceptions on a just transformation among business, trade union and civil society actors. The analysis reveals new and coinciding interests, driven by desire to restore climate leadership, and includes financial reform, more active state interventions and new policy tools to ensure public legitimacy. Views diverge on the depth of a just transformation, and power relations are different compared to the emergence of the welfare state. Nevertheless, a green Swedish model can be discerned, forging enhanced climate mitigation and renewed welfare state arrangements.</p>}},
author = {{Ergon, Jens and Hildingsson, Roger and Karlsson, Mikael}},
issn = {{0044-7447}},
keywords = {{Backlash; Green state; Just transition; Swedish model; Transformation; Welfare state}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{7}},
pages = {{1237--1249}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
series = {{Ambio}},
title = {{Exploring a green Swedish model : Coinciding and contradictory interests on a just climate transformation in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02144-6}},
doi = {{10.1007/s13280-025-02144-6}},
volume = {{54}},
year = {{2025}},
}