Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Optimism and pragmatism in mission cities: Exploring narratives for climate neutrality in Stockholm and Amsterdam

Chakravarty, Jasmine ; Wickenberg, Björn LU orcid and Mccormick, Kes LU orcid (2026) In Energy Research & Social Science 131.
Abstract
Climate neutrality of cities has emerged as a critical goal for sustainable urban development. This is typified by the mission in the European Union (EU) to achieve 100 climate neutral and smart cities by 2030. The idea of carbon or climate neutrality holds diverse interpretations. This paper investigates the dominant socio-technical imaginary for urban climate neutrality within the context of the EU Cities Mission, focusing on the cities of Stockholm and Amsterdam. Through narrative analysis of interviews and documents six key narratives are identified: 1) sustainable mobility and transport, 2) community engagement and just transition, 3) frontrunners in urban climate action, 4) the city as an experiment, 5) green economy and business... (More)
Climate neutrality of cities has emerged as a critical goal for sustainable urban development. This is typified by the mission in the European Union (EU) to achieve 100 climate neutral and smart cities by 2030. The idea of carbon or climate neutrality holds diverse interpretations. This paper investigates the dominant socio-technical imaginary for urban climate neutrality within the context of the EU Cities Mission, focusing on the cities of Stockholm and Amsterdam. Through narrative analysis of interviews and documents six key narratives are identified: 1) sustainable mobility and transport, 2) community engagement and just transition, 3) frontrunners in urban climate action, 4) the city as an experiment, 5) green economy and business innovation, and 6) the city as a complex system. This paper sheds light on the overlaps and contradictions between the narratives, suggesting opportunities for integrated policies centred on justice, leadership and experimentation. The analysis also reveals contrasting perspectives on the 2030 goal – namely an optimistic approach in the case of Stockholm and a pragmatic approach in the case of Amsterdam. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate neutrality, Cities Mission, Missions, Socio-technical imaginaries, Narratives
in
Energy Research & Social Science
volume
131
article number
104468
pages
12 pages
publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
2214-6296
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2025.104468
project
Breaking Up Silos – Can a mission approach for climate neutral cities accelerate energy transitions?
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6c8aa88a-f6f1-4967-81f0-b0e6dfd749f3
date added to LUP
2025-12-04 10:05:03
date last changed
2025-12-05 07:14:52
@article{6c8aa88a-f6f1-4967-81f0-b0e6dfd749f3,
  abstract     = {{Climate neutrality of cities has emerged as a critical goal for sustainable urban development. This is typified by the mission in the European Union (EU) to achieve 100 climate neutral and smart cities by 2030. The idea of carbon or climate neutrality holds diverse interpretations. This paper investigates the dominant socio-technical imaginary for urban climate neutrality within the context of the EU Cities Mission, focusing on the cities of Stockholm and Amsterdam. Through narrative analysis of interviews and documents six key narratives are identified: 1) sustainable mobility and transport, 2) community engagement and just transition, 3) frontrunners in urban climate action, 4) the city as an experiment, 5) green economy and business innovation, and 6) the city as a complex system. This paper sheds light on the overlaps and contradictions between the narratives, suggesting opportunities for integrated policies centred on justice, leadership and experimentation. The analysis also reveals contrasting perspectives on the 2030 goal – namely an optimistic approach in the case of Stockholm and a pragmatic approach in the case of Amsterdam.}},
  author       = {{Chakravarty, Jasmine and Wickenberg, Björn and Mccormick, Kes}},
  issn         = {{2214-6296}},
  keywords     = {{Climate neutrality; Cities Mission; Missions; Socio-technical imaginaries; Narratives}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Research & Social Science}},
  title        = {{Optimism and pragmatism in mission cities: Exploring narratives for climate neutrality in Stockholm and Amsterdam}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104468}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.erss.2025.104468}},
  volume       = {{131}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}