”Har vi med allt nu?” – En kvalitativ studie om hur strategiskt miljö- och klimatarbete integreras på kommunal nivå.

Sammanfattning: This study aims to illustrate the complexity when integrating environmental and climate strategic questions in local governments. The study gives an account for significant aspects when mainstreaming environment and climate consideration in municipality organizations, what obstacles there are and how it can be organized in order to be more successful. For this purpose a qualitative approach has been used. Eleven strategic planners of different kind in the environmental and climate sector have been interviewed in order to reach an understanding about their experiences when trying to mainstream environment and climate into local government. The study shows that to successfully integrate these questions comes with a great deal of complexity. There are structural obstacles and the question of climate and environmental strategy is argued to be situated in an institutional void where the existing structures leave no room for this new area of politics. The consequence is failure when trying to include it into ongoing local processes. Important aspects are also how different processes in the municipality is formulated and which involvement and responsibilities different actors have, and should take. The vague formulation of political goals often give reasons for conflict and is a significant obstacle for the environment and climate questions to be implemented successfully and thereby integrated and perceived as legitimate. Conclusions are that the structures in local governments are not adapted to long term strategic questions and therefore they hinder the implementation of measures taken against climate change and for a better environment. However, the strategic questions are reaching higher priority. The controlling processes within the municipality are going through changes and are becoming clearer and more systematic, this is understood as an important aspect for successful integration.