Why Organization May Be the Primary Limitation to Implementing Sustainability at the Local Level: Examples from Swedish Case Studies

E. Carina H. Keskitalo and Elias Andersson
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E. Carina H. Keskitalo: Department of Geography and Economic History, Umeå University, S-90187 Umeå, Sweden
Elias Andersson: Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-90183 Umeå, Sweden

Resources, 2017, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Much of the effort to address environmental issues at the local level has focused on defining principles and aims rather than addressing the operational difficulties of implementation. Drawing upon insights from sustainability scholarship, this study reviews two cases: the development of a Swedish standard for implementing sustainable development at municipality, county council, and regional levels, and attempts by a small rural municipality to establish a process towards implementing the Aalborg Commitments. The research illustrates the specific organizational and managerial complexity of these case study experiences. It concludes that an organizational focus on integration and mainstreaming deserves particular attention to achieve broader sustainability, or related environmental or adaptation goals. The results, in particular, highlight the role that integrated management systems can play for sustainability work at the local level.

Keywords: sustainability; Sweden; local level; public management; integrated management systems; organization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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