Eric Brandstedt, Senior Lecturer, Human Rights Studies and Georgia de Leeuw, postdoctoral researcher, Human Rights Studies.

An effective, as well as democratically and ethically defensible, transition to a sustainable society depends on popular support for coming transformative changes. Social justice aspects have therefore been a focal point in academic literature on how to implement the low-carbon transition. There are, however, few examples of successful integration of justice aspects into climate policy, especially at the local level. Many decision-makers find it difficult to consider equity issues as decision-making processes are dominated by economic considerations. The low-carbon transition is also increasingly challenged on the basis of a plurality of perceived injustices. Using interviews and focus groups with citizens and municipal employees, this project aims to investigate the meaning and significance of justice in the transition to sustainable societies at the local level, and to formulate scalable solutions that address similar problems in other municipalities and cities, in Sweden and internationally. The project is a collaboration between Falköping Municipality and Lund University and is motivated by Falköping's expressed ambition to integrate social sustainability more systematically in their climate strategy. The project partners have identified three challenges to be investigated in the project: the transition to fossil-free transport, steps towards sustainable meat and milk production and consumption, and local opposition to e.g. wind power and restoration of wetlands.