PhD: How do local actors make climate change actionable here and now?
Jakob Grandin defended his PhD thesis on 23.11.2022 at the University of Bergen. The thesis is titled: "Sustainability here and now: The governance of urban transformation in Oslo and Addis Ababa".
Main content
In recent years, cities worldwide have established themselves as key actors in enabling rapid, equitable, and sustainable climate transitions. In practice, this is based on the ability of local actors to make climate change relevant for decisions here and now. This thesis demonstrates how this work is based on the ability to pragmatically mobilize resources from international networks, coordinate actions locally, and navigate between different time horizons.
Oslo and Addis Ababa are cities highlighted as pioneers in climate and sustainability, with ambitious initiatives around sustainable mobility and climate governance, among other areas. The thesis is based on multi-located, qualitative fieldwork on the implementation of a bus rapid transit system in Addis Ababa and a climate budget in Oslo. It highlights how this work is based on close collaboration and exchange of experiences with other cities. At the same time, it underscores the importance of creating connections between different actors and initiatives within cities.
As climate change increasingly relies on partnerships within and between cities, the thesis demonstrates the need for a comprehensive assessment of how such collaborative models shape sustainability policies. By emphasizing the breadth of actors shaping the city, it shows how urban climate transitions are not merely a technical process that can be fully controlled but must be based on fostering mutual relationships.
The main contribution of the thesis is that it develops a model for analyzing the temporal dimensions of transition. In this way, the methods for translating climate change from an abstract and long-term issue into concrete actions here and now are elucidated. It also enables a nuanced analysis of how local and often experimental sustainability measures can contribute to more long-term societal changes.
About the author:
Jakob Grandin (b. 1984) has completed his doctoral degree associated with the research group SpaceLab at the Department of Geography and the Center for Climate and Energy Transition at the University of Bergen. The thesis is part of the research project "European Cities as Actors in Climate and Energy Transformation," supported by the Trond Mohn Foundation. The supervisor is Professor Håvard Haarstad at UiB, with co-supervisor Josefin Wangel at FORMAS. Grandin also leads the Collaboratory platform at UiB.
