Tackling Consumption-Based Emissions - A Study in the Development of Planning Approaches in Danish Municipalities
Authors
Gundersen, Mille Hagn-Meincke ; Andersen, Marie Smedegaard ; Karlskov, Sara
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-27
Abstract
Many Danish municipalities have climate action plans, but consumption-based emissions (CBE)—emissions linked to the goods and services residents and businesses use—are rarely addressed systematically. As a result, a significant part of Denmark’s climate footprint remains unaccounted for. This thesis examines how municipalities can accelerate the transition to include CBE in climate plans. Its novel contribution is to view climate planning as a social learning process. Drawing on critical utopian action research, the study both analyzes current practice and co-explores possibilities for change. A theoretical foundation in New Institutionalism and Transition Theory is used to identify pathways to new planning practices. The empirical work focuses on three case municipalities, analyzed through Scott’s Three Pillars of Institutions (rules, norms, and shared meanings), and is complemented by a visioning process with key actors. The thesis proposes a Transition Framework for Climate Planning Paradigms with five paradigms: Supply, Efficiency, Decarbonization, Circular, and Justice-Centered. The first three are common in practice, while the last two are mostly theoretical or rhetorical. Of these, only the Circular and Justice-Centered paradigms systematically address CBE. Findings highlight lock-ins such as a narrow focus on emissions and technical fixes, siloed organization, political resistance, and norms that sustain consumerism and local growth. Opportunities include cross-disciplinary collaboration, vision-led approaches, richer datasets, and redefined planning roles that embrace advocacy and education. The thesis concludes with actionable recommendations to enable a fundamental shift in values and approaches needed to integrate CBE, including a refined version of the proposed Transition Framework informed by the study’s insights.
Mange danske kommuner har klimaplaner, men forbrugsbaserede udledninger (CBE) – udledninger knyttet til de varer og tjenester, som borgere og virksomheder bruger – bliver sjældent behandlet systematisk. Dermed overses en væsentlig del af Danmarks klimaaftryk. Afhandlingen undersøger, hvordan kommuner kan fremme omstillingen, så CBE bliver integreret i klimaplaner. Nyheden i arbejdet er at forstå klimaplanlægning som en social læringsproces. Med inspiration fra kritisk utopisk aktionsforskning analyserer og medskaber studiet muligheder for forandring. En teoretisk ramme med nyinstitutionalisme og transitionsteori bruges til at pege på veje til nye planpraksisser. Det empiriske grundlag er tre casekommuner, analyseret med Scotts tre institutionelle søjler (regler, normer og fælles forståelser), suppleret af en visionsproces med nøgleaktører. Afhandlingen præsenterer et transitionsrammeværk for klimaplanparadigmer med fem paradigmer: forsyning, effektivitet, dekarbonisering, cirkulær og retfærdighedscentreret. De tre første ses i praksis, mens de to sidste primært er teoretiske og retoriske. Kun den cirkulære og den retfærdighedscentrerede tilgang adresserer CBE systematisk. Analysen identificerer fastlåsninger som endimensionelt fokus på udledninger og tekniske løsninger, silo-tænkning, politisk modstand og normer, der understøtter forbrug og lokal vækst. Samtidig peger den på muligheder i tværfagligt samarbejde, visionsdrevne greb, bedre og bredere data samt nye planlægningsroller med fortalervirksomhed og undervisning. Afhandlingen afslutter med handlingsnære anbefalinger, der kan understøtte et grundlæggende skifte i værdier og tilgange, så CBE bliver integreret i klimaplanlægning, herunder en videreudviklet version af det foreslåede transitionsrammeværk.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords