Governance and Politics of Peatlands Restoration: “Co-Producing Climate Solutions: Peatland Restoration, Governance & Power in Denmark”
Translated title
Governance and Politics of Peatlands Restoration
Author
Kommer, Johanna Nicola
Term
2. semester
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-29
Abstract
This thesis examines how peatland restoration becomes a climate solution in Denmark not only as a technical intervention but as a societal transformation. Recognizing peatlands’ substantial carbon stocks and growing prominence in EU and Danish climate policy, the study analyzes how knowledge, governance, and power interact across levels. It integrates three perspectives—restoration governance, political ecology, and co-production—to show how categories such as “degradation,” “success,” and “the rational farmer” are authorized in governance texts. The case centers on the EU Nature Restoration Law (2024), Denmark’s Green Tripartite Agreement (2024), which includes a commitment to rewet 140,000 hectares of carbon-rich peat soils by 2030, and project documentation from Lille Vildmose. Methodologically, it employs a critical policy analysis (the WPR—“What’s the Problem Represented to be?”—approach) to trace problem representations, underlying assumptions, silences, and subjectification effects, and to follow how EU obligations are translated into national frameworks and local practice. The analysis identifies recurring framings—including peatlands as a measurable climate problem, the farmer as an economic actor, and restoration as a governance success story—highlighting that restoration is an iterative, negotiated, and power-laden process. The thesis contributes a conceptualization of peatland restoration as a multi-level, co-produced socio-ecological transformation in which institutions, knowledge, and local interests mutually shape outcomes.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan genopretning af tørvemoser bliver til som klimaløsning i Danmark, ikke kun som en teknisk opgave, men som en samfundsmæssig forandringsproces. Med udgangspunkt i, at tørvemoser rummer store kulstoflagre og i stigende grad indgår i EU’s og Danmarks klimapolitik, analyserer studiet, hvordan viden, styring og magt samspiller på tværs af niveauer. Afhandlingen kombinerer tre perspektiver—restorationsgovernance, politisk økologi og co-produktion—for at belyse, hvordan begreber som “forringelse”, “succes” og “den rationelle landmand” bliver autoriseret i styringsdokumenter. Som casestudie undersøges den europæiske Nature Restoration Law (2024), den danske Grønne Trepartsaftale (2024), der bl.a. forpligter til genopvanding af 140.000 hektar kulstofrige tørvejorde inden 2030, samt projektmateriale fra Lille Vildmose. Metodisk anvendes en kritisk policyanalyse (WPR: “What’s the Problem Represented to be?”) til at kortlægge problemfremstillinger, forudsætninger, tavsheder og subjektiverende effekter i disse dokumenter, og hvordan EU-krav oversættes til nationale rammer og lokale praksisser. Analysen peger på gennemgående problemrepræsentationer—bl.a. tørvemoser som et målbart klimaproblem, landmanden som økonomisk aktør og restaurering som en styringssucces—og synliggør, at restaurering er en forhandlet, iterativ og magtfuld proces. Afhandlingen bidrager dermed med en forståelse af tørvemosegenopretning som en flerstrenget, co-produceret socio-økologisk transformation, hvor institutioner, vidensformer og lokale interesser gensidigt former hinanden.
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