Au ho s:
Dick Magnusson (co esponding au ho ), Depa men o Thema ic S udies – Technology and Social Change,
Linköping Uni e si y, Sweden, [email protected] , ORCID: 0000-0001-7060-9282
K is ina T ygg, Depa men o Thema ic S udies – Technology and Social Change, Linköping Uni e si y, Sweden,
k is ina. [email protected], ORCID: 0000-0003-0121-2729
Ida G undel, Depa men o Thema ic S udies – Technology and Social Change, Linköping Uni e si y, Sweden,
ida.g [email protected], ORCID: 0000-0002-3691-0044
Sab ina F edin, Depa men o Spa ial Planning, Blekinge Ins i u e o Technology, Sweden, sab i[email p o ec ed] ,
ORCID: 0000-0003-3866-3961
Resea ch a icle
SPECIAL ISSUE: Spa ial T ans o ma ion om a Planning Pe spec i e
We Can Build a New Tomo ow – Compe encies o
T ans o ma i e Spa ial Planning in Swedish
Municipali ies
Dick Magnusson, Linköping Uni e si y
K is ina T ygg, Linköping Uni e si y
Ida G undel, Linköping Uni e si y
Sab ina F edin, Blekinge Ins i u e o Technology
Abs ac
This a icle highligh s he u gen need o explo e how ans o ma i e
planning can be pu in o p ac ice and wha compe encies u ban and
egional planne s need o acili a e his ansi ion. The e is a consensus
ha adi ional planning, wi h i s igid and s uc u ed app oaches, is
inadequa e o add ess he challenges o clima e change. Ins ead, mo e
p oac i e, ans o ma i e planning p ac ices a e needed. This s udy
p esen s he esul s o a ques ionnai e conduc ed among planning
manage s in Swedish municipali ies, aiming o deepen he
unde s anding o how municipali ies can achie e clima e neu ali y by
iden i ying he necessa y compe encies among planne s. The esul s
iden i y i e compe ence ca ego ies: echnical knowledge (including
clima e adap a ion), b oad knowledge in a ious a eas, analy ical
skills, coo dina ion and coope a ion, and communica ion. Ou indings
hus sugges ha cu en planning p ac ices in Swedish municipali ies
a e la gely adi ional a he han ans o ma i e, bu also ha he
ocus is on adap a ion a he han mi iga ion. We a gue ha his can
pa ly be explained by he concep o obdu acy, and how ames and
pe sis en adi ions a ec he way planning manage s hink o he
u u e, making i di icul o en ision a u u e beyond cu en challenges
and demands, bu also he impo ance o hinking mo e isiona y abou
planning o achie e clima e neu ali y and ans o ma ions.
Keywo ds
T ans o ma i e
spa ial planning,
obdu acy, u ban
and egional
planning, Sweden
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
149
In oduc ion
Mo e and mo e ci ies, bo h la ge and small ones, a e p oclaiming hemsel es o be clima e-
neu al in a o eseeable u u e, as a esponse o he u gen clima e c isis. One o he main
challenges o manage his ans o ma ion is no he lack o clima e- iendly ideas and
echnologies, bu he capaci y and knowledge o implemen hese and he g owing demand o
ans o ma i e planning p ac ices (Alb ech s e al., 2020; Shi & Fi zge ald, 2023). This implies
ha adical changes in cu en planning p ac ices a e needed (Alb ech s e al., 2020; Cas án
B o o e al., 2019; Hölsche & F an zeskaki, 2021; Hölsche e al., 2022; Hölsche , 2019;
Wol am, 2019), and ha oday's socie al challenges canno be add essed wi h adi ional
planning app oaches ha a e ine and in lexible (Alb ech s e al., 2020; Gunn and Hillie , 2014;
Pe sson, 2019; Rauws e al., 2014). T ans o ma ion and ans o ma i e planning a e o en
discussed in he con ex o a changing ole o planning, and especially as some hing di e en
om adi ional planning (Olesen, 2023; Pe sson, 2019). Planning encompasses a a ie y o
p ac ices, cen ing on planne s' ac i i ies, ac ions, and in e ac ions o guide u u e
de elopmen s. Howe e , he e emains unce ain y abou how o implemen ans o ma i e
p ac ices. Unlike adi ional planning, ans o ma i e planning aims o be mo e p oac i e and
inno a i e (Alb ech s, 2010; 2020). This equi es planne s o en ision a u u e ha is adically and
s uc u ally di e en om he p esen (Alb ech s, 2020), while con inuously acing he
unce ain ies posed by clima e change. Planne s equen ly g apple wi h managing unce ain ies
in hei daily wo k (Healey, 1992). Se e al s udies ocusing on he p o essional ole, p ac ices,
skills and compe encies o planne s poin o a g owing demand o planne s o add ess mo e and
mo e complex planning issues, especially in ela ion o he g owing challenges posed by clima e
change (c . Fa hangi e al., 2023; Pa ke e al., 2020). The ques ion is whe he he complexi y o
dealing wi h ans o ma i e p ocesses and clima e change equi es new ways o wo king
(p ac ice) beyond he mo e echnical expe ise o planning and place-based decision making
(O heng a en & Le in-Kei el, 2019).
We a gue ha he e is a p essing need o examine how ans o ma i e planning can be
ope a ionalized in p ac ice and wha compe encies u ban and egional planne s equi e o
acili a e such a ansi ion. This s udy p esen s indings om a ques ionnai e conduc ed among
planning manage s in Swedish municipali ies, explo ing hei iews on he compe encies
necessa y o ad ance ans o ma i e planning p ac ices owa d clima e neu ali y. Ou indings
indica e ha cu en planning p ac ices in Swedish municipali ies emain la gely adi ional
a he han ans o ma i e.
T adi ional and a ional planning app oaches end o be expe -d i en, p ima ily emphasizing
echnical compe encies in decision-making (Allmendinge , 2017). Since he 1980s, ollowing he
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
150
communica i e u n in planning, he e has been an inc easing emphasis on planne s as
acili a o s and media o s, equi ing skills in nego ia ion, collabo a ion, and s akeholde
engagemen (Healey, 1997). Mo e ecen ly, he discou se on ans o ma i e planning (Alb ech s
e al., 2020) has unde sco ed he need o isiona y, o wa d-looking app oaches. Howe e , he
planning li e a u e highligh s signi ican challenges in ins i u ionalizing ans o ma i e p ac ices
and ensu ing hei con inui y beyond isola ed ini ia i es (Healey, 2006). Gi en ha spa ial
planning inhe en ly in ol es unce ain y, ins abili y, and alue con lic s (Schön, 1983), many
ans o ma i e e o s s uggle o pe sis , o en cu ailed by poli ical shi s o cons ained by
s uc u al limi a ions wi hin municipali ies. As a esul , planne s equen ly p io i ize sho - e m,
immedia e conce ns o e long- e m s a egic ans o ma ions, which becomes especially clea
in ou s udy when analysing compe encies needed ega ding clima e mi iga ion, which is
egula ly pu aside in a ou o clima e adap a ion.
This s udy con ibu es o he deba e on how o embed ans o ma i e planning as a
sus ained wo king me hod in Swedish municipali ies. We a gue ha wi hou a undamen al shi
in compe encies and planning me hodologies, municipali ies will s uggle o d i e he adical
changes necessa y o add ess con empo a y c ises—mos c i ically, clima e change.
T ans o ma i e planning mus mo e beyond an aspi a ional concep and become an in eg a ed
and ins i u ionalized app oach wi hin municipal planning s uc u es. By iden i ying he speci ic
expe ise and compe encies needed o enable his shi , ou s udy aims o deepen he knowledge
on how municipali ies can wo k wi h clima e neu ali y.
To unde s and he analysed planning p ac ices in his speci ic con ex , some co e aspec s
de ining he Swedish planning con ex need o be men ioned. In Sweden, he municipali ies ha e
axa ion igh s, a s ong sel -go e nmen and wha usually is called ‘planning monopoly’, i.e. he
sole esponsibili y o d awing up land-use plans, as egula ed in he Planning and Building Ac
(2010:900). Compa ed o o he coun ies, he municipali ies do hus ha e a s ong posi ion
conside ing u ban and egional planning, especially in ela ion o he weak egional le el, and
hey ha e possibili ies and a manda e o ha e a la ge in luence o he clima e mi iga ion and
adap a ion measu es, bo h in planning and in b oade s a egy making (Fen on e al., 2015;
Pe sson, 2019). This does no mean ha hey ha e comple e con ol o e all planning ma e s,
as he s a e, h ough he Coun y Adminis a i e Boa d, e iews he plans (Planning and Building
Ac , 2010:900). The planning manage (o en called 'planche ’ bu may ha e di e en i les) has
a cen al ole in u ban and egional de elopmen ma e s in he municipali ies. They lead and
coo dina e planning, bo h in e ms o comp ehensi e planning and de ailed de elopmen
planning and a e usually esponsible o ec ui ing s a and alloca ing asks. Thus, he
esponden s in ou su ey a e he planning manage s, as hei knowledge o p esen challenges,
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
151
compe encies as well as s a egic conside a ions a e o in e es o us o unde s and
compe encies o ans o ma i e planning.
This a icle he e o e e lec s on he p ac ices, compe encies and expe ise needed o
ans o ma i e planning p ac ices now and in he u u e, wi h a ocus on clima e change and
clima e neu ali y. E en hough he ocus is on Sweden, we belie e ha he esul s a e o
ele ance o o he con ex s, as he challenges when add essing clima e change a e simila in
a ious coun ies, esul ing in a need o discuss ele an planning compe encies in di e en
coun ies.
We begin by de eloping he heo e ical concep s used in he pape , ocusing on
ans o ma i e planning and compe encies and he concep o obdu acy, ollowed by a
desc ip ion o he me hods used. This is ollowed by a p esen a ion o he esul s om he
ques ionnai e, he discussion, and inally he conclusion.
Theo y
T ans o ma ion equi es pu pose ul in e en ions o e-con igu a e ci ies owa ds
sus ainable ci ies (McCo mick e al., 2013). Al hough he le el o ambi ion a ies widely among
ci y policies and p og ams, clima e policies o en pose signi ican challenges o con empo a y
poli ical, economic, echnological, and adminis a i e sys ems. This means ha en i e
economic and spa ial sys ems need o be s uc u ally ans o med and edesigned o
deca bonize ene gy and anspo sys ems (Hölsche & F an zeskaki, 2021).
T ans o ma i e go e nance capaci ies o s ee owa ds sus ainabili y a e widely discussed
in he li e a u e on ans o ma i e change, o en in combina ion wi h adical change and planning
o mo e unp edic able u u es (Cas án B o o e al., 2019; Hölsche e al., 2022; Hölsche e al,
2019a; Wol am, 2016; 2019). In line wi h he inc easing u gency o add ess clima e change and
shi o mo e adical change p ocesses, planne s a e seen as one o he key ac o s in add essing
hese u gen c ises. Schola s emphasize he need o e ec i e ans o ma i e go e nance
(Bulkeley & Cas án B o o, 2013; Bulkeley & Newell, 2010; Cas án B o o e al., 2019) and mo e
long- e m solu ions o each clima e neu ali y (Alb ech s e al., 2020; Loo bach, 2014). This pu s
p essu e on planne s o be bo h o wa d-looking and e icien and esponsi e o challenges and
c ises. The li e a u e on ans o ma ion has emphasized he impo ance o expe imen a ion and
‘co-c ea ion’, whe e a a ie y o ac o s om ci il socie y, esea ch ins i u ions, business and
indus y should wo k oge he o ind solu ions ha can deal wi h he inc easing complexi y o
socie y and mo e complex socie al challenges (Loo bach, 2010). Municipal wo k wi h
expe imen a ion h ough co-c ea ion has been desc ibed as a shi owa ds expe imen al
go e nance (Be glund-Snoddg ass, 2020; K onsell, 2018), including planning h ough
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
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expe imen a ion, li ing labs, es beds, and pilo s. Cu en go e nance s uc u es make i
di icul o planne s o be mo e adical and inno a i e, whe eas expe imen al go e nance aims
o open up o he ways o wo king ou side he mo e igid municipal s uc u es. As much o he
p ac ice o planning has shi ed and pa ly akes place h ough and in ne wo ks whe e many
ac o s ha e powe and esponsibili y o sol ing complex socie al challenges, i could be
expec ed ha planne s will ha e o ake on mo e leade ship oles o os e pa icipa ion and
collabo a ion, build coali ions o change, and engage in policy making (Pu ka ho e , 2022). As
such, his is no a new phenomenon, as planning has e ol ed owa ds agmen ed go e nance
sys ems whe e planne s ha e become impo an key ac o s as ne wo k manage s nego ia ing
be ween public and p i a e in e es s (Sehes ed, 2009).
The complexi y and changing en i onmen o planning may equi e new skills and a eas o
expe ise among planne s, as hey will also need o unde s and he d i e s o p i a e ac o s and
hei business models, as well as he unc ions and ole o implemen ing new echnologies ha
can help s ee owa ds clima e neu ali y (Walls en, e al., 2021). This is u he d i en by he ways
in which p i a e ac o s a e inc easingly in ol ed in shaping u ban ans o ma ions, ac ing beyond
he ole o adi ional public sec o planne s and enginee s, bu h ough an e ol ing ange o
u ban expe ise, including p i a e consul ancies, a chi ec u al i ms, local economic
de elopmen specialis s, he i age and en i onmen al expe s, communi y ad iso y agencies,
enginee ing and in as uc u e i ms, and IT companies (Robin & Acu o, 2023). This includes he
inc easing in ol emen o global consul ancies ha a e de eloping new e alua ion me hods,
ools and indica o s o measu e he p og ess o , o example, he 2030 Agenda, pu ing
inc easing p essu e on planne s o de elop new echnical skills and be able o in e p e new
o ms o da a (C oese & Duminy, 2023). Campbell (2014) has al eady wa ned o an inc easing
end owa ds specializa ion in planning, and he need o planning gene alis s o ackle wicked
planning p oblems.
In line wi h he communica i e and collabo a i e u n in planning by he end o he 1980s
(see e.g. Healey, 1992; Innes, 1995) a p e ious s udy in Cali o nia on how u ban planne s alue
skills and compe encies in hei wo k, communica ion was iden i ied as he mos impo an skill
needed (Guzze a & Bollens, 2003). Planning and planne s ha e changed o e he las 20 yea s.
Fi s ly, because he wo ld a ound us is changing and we a e acing new socie al challenges.
Secondly, and as men ioned ea lie , planning is a p ocess whe e bo h planning and planne s
need o adap o he inc easing complexi y whe e planning is a key ins umen o deal wi h
ans o ma i e change. E en hough he e a e ea lie s udies ocusing on planne s’ skills and
compe encies (e.g. Campbell, 2012; Fo es e , 1999; G ange, 2016; Howe & Kau man, 1979;
Howe, 1980; Lau ia & Long, 2017), hose s udies a he add ess he planne ’s e hics and mo al
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
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compass. So a , ew s udies ha e add essed he p ac ices, compe encies and expe ise needed
o deal wi h ans o ma i e change. In a mo e ecen s udy o planne s in Ge man ci ies,
O heng a en & Le in-Kei el (2019) iden i ied six ideal ypes o planne s based on planne s' own
pe cep ions and he oles hey end o ake on in p ac ice o ‘ge hings done’. These ideal ypes
a e he locally speci ic analys s, he expe ienced gene alis s, he eac i e p agma is s, he
p ojec -o ien ed planne s, he compensa o y acili a o s, and he inno a i e designe s. In mos
o he oles, he mo e adi ional planning p ac ices, such as echnoc a ic planning models and
mo e goal-o ien ed asks, means and ou comes, we e dominan . This can be explained by
exis ing legisla ion and go e nmen s uc u es, ocusing on mo e goal-speci ic and sho - e m
asks and ollowing he legal and echnical equi emen s o land use planning.
In o de o be e unde s and he ac o s ha in luence and may limi he unde s anding o
u u e planning p ac ices, we use he concep o obdu acy as a way o ind explana ions beyond
ins i u ional s uc u es, which will be u he explained in he nex sec ion.
Obdu acy in planning
Mo ing owa ds ans o ma i e planning p ac ices will equi e o e coming u ban obdu acy,
highligh ing ha adop ion o clima e neu ali y does no necessa ily mean implemen a ion.
U ban a i ac s, a legacy o pas planning decisions, can become obs acles when u ning
owa ds mo e ans o ma i e planning p ocesses o deal wi h clima e change and which equi es
a change o exis ing s uc u es in he municipali ies (Hommels, 2005). This is exp essed by
Hommels (2005), a guing ha exis ing u ban design and in as uc u es limi possible u u e
econ igu a ions by gene a ing obdu acy and s abili y:
“Once he high- ol age elec ici y dis ibu ion sys em is in place, i is ha dly
concei able o decons uc i and shi o a decen alized sys em o windmill powe
gene a ion; once a ci y's down own a ea, including all i s buildings, oads, and
dis ibu ion ne wo ks, is he e, i displays obdu acy and o e s esis ance o change”
(Hommels, 2005, p. 329).
Hommels (2005) p oposes h ee explana ions and concep ualisa ions o obdu acy1, which
ela es bo h o echnological de elopmen and o b oade sys emic changes: dominan ames,
embeddedness and pe sis en adi ions.
1 Hommel's use o he concep o obdu acy s ems om he STS ield, wi h e e ences o ac o -ne wo k heo y and he
social cons uc ion o echnology. Howe e , i bea s esemblance o he concep o pa h dependence. The concep
has been widely used in economic heo y and he his o y o echnology. Fo example, Da id uses he QWERTY
keyboa d as an example o pa h dependence (Da id, 1985). The concep has also been used in o ganiza ional heo y
(Sydow, Sch eyögg & Koch, 2009), which ocuses on how o ganiza ions de elop ine ia and become in lexible and
ine icien o e ime. C i ique has been aised agains he concep because i is some imes used supe icially o
a gue ha “his o y ma e s” wi hou del ing deeply enough in o he analysis (Da id, 2007).
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
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F ames ela e o he ole and s a egies o ac o s in ol ed in he design o echnological
a e ac s and sys ems, and how ci y planne s, enginee s, use s and o he g oups a e cons ained
by ixed ways o hinking and in e ac ing. The ocus is he e di ec ed owa ds domina ing
pa adigms and highligh ing he s uggle o dominance among g oups wi h di e ging iews (Foley
e al., 2020; Gopakuma , 2020). I ela es o he SCOT-model (Pinch & Bijke , 1984), as how he
echnological ame is de eloped du ing in e ac ions among ele an social g oups and how
a e ac s and sys ems a e closu e becomes a pa o a echnological ame (Hommels, 2005).
Embeddedness e e s o how each a i ac is embedded in a la ge sys em o ne wo k. The
ocus is he e di ec ed owa ds he in e connec edness o elemen s. The change o one a i ac
will equi e o he a i ac s o adjus o his change meaning ha he deg ee o embeddedness
de e mines he deg ee o obdu acy. The u ban biogas sys em is o example embedded in a
g ea e ne wo k o egional ag icul u al esou ce p o ision and was e managemen (Mu e ,
2019). In ha sense, exis ing s uc u es and sys ems a e di icul o change and adjus o mo e
sus ainable s uc u es and sys ems.
Pe sis en adi ions, acco ding o Hommels (2005), ocus on unde s anding how long- e m
alues and adi ions keep in luencing he de elopmen o echnology o a long ime, i is o an
endu ing cha ac e . Emphasis is pu on he wide cul u al con ex and on he ‘momen um’ ha
echnical sys ems gain when hey ha e expanded o a size and impo ance ha i in ol es many
di e en ca ego ies o ac o s, subs an ial economic in es men s, and u he echnical and
o ganisa ional connec ions o o he sys ems. This makes sys ems mo e di icul o change (c .
Hughes, 1983). Legacy and his o y help explain he ajec o ies and egimes o u ban
de elopmen , and how he ole o collec i ely sha ed ules and alues shape de elopmen on a
meso- and mac o-le el. Pe sis en adi ions a e also he b oade and aken- o -g an ed alues
and p ac ices (Hommels, 2005).
In ha sense, obdu acy se s limi s o agency es ic ing wha people can pe cei e, en ision,
desi e and decide (Ki kman, 2008). As Hommel’s concep is closely connec ed o socio echnical
s udies o in as uc u e, in his a icle we u ilize he concep as an analy ical lens o unde s and
he planning manage s’ iews o he u u e compe ences in ela ion o clima e change and
clima e neu ali y. Technology is embedded in hose iews, as well as he pe sis en adi ions,
based on expe ience and educa ion, as a way o unde s and how his o ical s uc u es shape
p esen and u u e de elopmen , bo h h ough ma e ial es ic ions bu also in e ms o alues
and p ac ices.
In summa y, he wo main pe spec i es in he heo y sec ion ocus on he ole o planne s in
sus ainabili y and ans o ma i e p ac ices, as well as he concep o obdu acy. Planne s a e
conside ed key ac o s in u ban ans o ma ion, ye eme ging challenges highligh he need o
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155
new skills and compe encies, pa icula ly in unde s anding and engaging wi h new echnologies
and in ol ing p i a e s akeholde s. Rega ding obdu acy, he amewo k emphasizes he
cons ain s on ways o hinking and in e ac ing, he long- e m pe sis ence o adi ions, and he
close in e connec edness o social and echnical componen s. These pe spec i es help us
analyse he esponses in ou su ey o unde s and he challenges o ans o ming ci ies and
planning p ac ices.
Table 1 - Summa y o models o obdu acy. Sou ce: Hommels, 2005.
F ames
Embeddedness
Pe sis en T adi ions
Explana o y
mechanisms
Obdu acy explained by
cons ained ways o
hinking and in e ac ing
Obdu acy explained by
he close
in e connec edness o
social and echnical
elemen s
Obdu acy explained
by he long- e m
pe sis ence o
adi ions
Concep s and
me apho s
Technological ame
Pa adigms
Men al models
(P o essional)
wo ld iews
Ac o ne wo ks
I e e sibili y
Fixi y and mobili y
o space
Momen um
T ajec o ies
Ci y-building egime
A che ypes
In ellec ual adi ions
whe e hese concep s
can be ound
Social cons uc ion o
echnology (SCOT)
His o y o planning
Ac o -ne wo k heo y
(ANT)
U ban geog aphy
La ge echnical
sys ems app oach
(LTS)
His o y o echnology
U ban his o y
Type o explana ion
In e ac ionis
concep ion o obdu acy
Rela ional concep ion
o obdu acy
Endu ing concep ion
o obdu acy
Me hods
The da a collec ion was conduc ed in he o m o an open-ended ques ionnai e, whe e he
collec ed da a we e gene ally quali a i e bu wi h possibili ies o some quan i a i e analysis.
This me hod was chosen in o de o ob ain a b oad esponse a e wi h a geog aphical and
demog aphic sp ead among planning manage s in Swedish municipali ies. The app oach was
impo an because we wan ed o include all municipali ies in Sweden and o be as
comp ehensi e as possible, which would no be possible i he s udy was conduc ed h ough
semi-s uc u ed in e iews.
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The ques ionnai e was sen ou as pa o a la ge esea ch p ojec (“Planne s as agen s o
he ansi ion owa ds sus ainable ci ies and egions”, 2021-2025) wi h se e al ounds o
empi ical da a collec ion. The o e all p ojec ocuses on compe encies o ans o ma i e
planning p ac ices in he u u e and, mo e speci ically, how planning educa ion p og ams a he
bachelo and mas e le el should e ol e o ain u u e planne s o mee he challenges posed
by clima e change and clima e neu ali y policies.
Su ey design and dis ibu ion
The ques ionnai e was de eloped in wo kshops wi hin he esea ch g oup and la e sen as
a es e sion o he esea che s and colleagues in ol ed. The ques ionnai e included an
in oduc ion o he esea ch p ojec , he pu pose o he su ey, and con ac in o ma ion o he
p incipal in es iga o . A o al o 12 ques ions we e asked, di ided in o ou pa s, wi h he i s
pa including backg ound ques ions such as which municipali y hey wo ked in, job i le, ime in
he posi ion, ime in he u ban and egional planning p o ession, and educa ion. The backg ound
ques ions we e based on pa ame e s ha could be used o u he analysis. We used open-
ended ques ions because we did no wan o limi he esponden s' answe s, and we wan ed o
lea e open he possibili y o using quo a ions o show hei easoning, which is close o
quali a i e da a. An ad an age o his app oach, combining ques ionnai es wi h a high deg ee o
open-ended ques ions, is ha we we e able o ob ain a b oad ep esen a ion o esponden s
geog aphically (May & To hell, 2013) and esponses ha ga e us he possibili y o a deepe
quali a i e analysis, compa ed o a mainly quan i a i e analysis. The disad an age is he amoun
o da a ha needs o be managed and he need o a igo ous coding scheme. The coding p ocess
is desc ibed in mo e de ail below.
The open-ended ques ions hen ocused on he main challenges municipali ies a e acing
oday, he mos impo an compe encies planne s ha e o deal wi h clima e change, lacking
compe encies, changing compe ency equi emen s in ecen yea s, u u e changes (10-15 yea s
om oday) in planne s' compe encies in gene al as well as in ela ion o clima e change
speci ically, and inally, wha ecommenda ions hey ha e o planning educa ion o mee u u e
challenges.
One sho coming o he su ey is ha he ques ions we e a he open-ended in e ms o he
con ex hey could add ess. By asking abou he challenges and necessa y compe encies,
esponden s could in e p e he ques ion as mainly e e ing o p esen challenges in hei own
municipali y o mo e b oadly. P o iding open-ended ques ions allows us o see i he esponse
has a na owe ocus o con ains a b oade discussion. We ook his in o accoun when d awing
conclusions om he da a. The ques ionnai e was sen o planning manage s om all
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
163
p oblems” (C owley & Head, 2017) ha canno be sol ed wi hou conside ing hose who gain and
hose who lose om decisions.
Table 5 – Resul s om he ques ion “Wha a e he mos impo an compe encies (such as expe ise, abili ies and skills)
planne s ha e oday o add ess clima e issues?”
Ca ego y
Numbe o
occu ences
Example quo a ions
Deepe unde s anding o
echnical issues and
solu ions
(Clima e adap a ion,
s o mwa e managemen ,
looding, geo echnical
compe ence, wa e and
sewage compe ence)
54
‘Unde s anding o he possible consequences o a
changing clima e and wha his means wi h ega d o, o
example, s o mwa e managemen , managemen o
looding p oblems’
‘ ake in o accoun e osion isk, p ese e g eene y o a oid
hea islands in u ban a eas, a oid building in a eas wi h a
isk o looding, e c.’
‘Knowledge o clima e adap a ion and how i can be
add essed in physical planning’
B oad knowledge in
a ious a eas
(e.g. clima e change in
gene al, egula ions, b oad
knowledge, sus ainable
mobili y, economy, g een
s uc u es)
53
‘Gene al knowledge abou planning o new p ojec s and
dis ic s, and he anspo needs i gi es ise o.’
‘Knowledge o he de ailed de elopmen plan ins umen
(Swedish – de aljplan) and how i can be used o a oid isks
linked o clima e change.’
Analy ical skills
(Holis ic pe spec i e,
ade-o s, complexi y)
46
‘A holis ic app oach wi h b oad knowledge, unde s anding
o connec ions and consequences is equi ed’
‘I is impo an o be able o make ade-o s be ween
di e en in e es s. Some imes one hing weighs mo e
hea ily han ano he and he planne mus be able o make
ha assessmen . I is aising con lic s o in e es and he
impo ance o making assessmen s and ade-o s ha
needs o be de eloped.’
Coo dina ion and
collabo a ion
(Collec da a om expe s,
p ojec manage s, manage
knowledge om
in es iga ions, b ing in
compe ence om o he
depa men s)
42
‘I don' hink ha he planne s who wo k wi h de ailed
de elopmen plans need o ha e expe knowledge; we
ha e colleagues a he Depa men o Wa e and
Sani a ion and also consul an s who p oduce s udies.’
‘ he abili y o manage p ojec s and a he know wha
expe knowledge is equi ed and when. This is because
p ojec s a e becoming inc easingly complex and planne s
canno ely on all he knowledge’
‘Collabo a ion skills, so ha hey can ge help om o he s
wi h expe ise in a eas such as lood issues, in as uc u e
and echnical ope a ions.’
Communica ion 12
‘Rhe o ical skills so ha clima e issues a e aken
se iously.’
‘An impo an abili y in his con ex would be o ansla e
and make comp ehensible bo h he complex socie al
challenges and echnical in icacies in o some hing ha is
unde s andable o decision-make s and laypeople, and o
explain why a choice o pa h in he small (de ailed
de elopmen plan) is impo an in he la ge con ex (global,
clima e, e c.)’
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
164
Linked o analy ical skills is an inc easing demand o skills in coo dina ion, collabo a ion,
and p ojec and p ocess leade ship. Many o he esponses elabo a ed on he poin ha planne s
canno ha e all he skills hemsel es bu need o collabo a e and d aw on he esea ch o
expe s. I is hen a gued ha in o de o be able o place quali ied o de s o in es iga ions, i is
necessa y o ha e some basic knowledge o he issues, bu no o be an expe . Ra he , i is
impo an o be able o ead and make decisions based on he esea ch. The e a e also se e al
esponses ha ocus on he abili y o wo k wi h o he depa men s wi hin he municipali y and o
use he skills o o he s.
The ca ego y “communica ion” mainly e e s o he abili y o communica e wi h poli icians
and he gene al public. This shows ha he impo ance o communica ion as an impo an skill
o planne s has no diminished o e he yea s as e.g. Guzze a & Bollens poin ed o in 2003. I
a he seems ha communica ion skills ha e become e en mo e impo an in ela ion o he
inc easing complexi y o planning and o planne s be able o na iga e many di e en in e es s
and s akeholde s. Many o he esponses e lec he need o p esen complex issues in a clea
bu pe suasi e manne . In hese esponses we can see a mo e no ma i e s ance compa ed o
o he esponses, e lec ing he esponden s' opinion ha clima e issues should be aken mo e
se iously.
To summa ize his sec ion, i is clea ha adap a ion issues a e mo e p esen han mi iga ion
issues, some hing ha can be seen h oughou he esponses in he su ey.
Lacking compe ences
We asked he planning manage s i he e a e speci ic skills ha a e lacking among planne s
oday. In gene al, he mos equen answe was ha he e is no speci ic compe ence missing,
bu ha i migh be a ques ion o esou ces, o ha planne s a e no conside ed expe s, bu
a he gene alis s who need o wo k wi h o he s: “A physical planne o simila is no an expe
on hese issues. Expe ience con ibu es o he ac ha knowledge can a y”. Mos o he
esponses a e in line wi h his and ela e o he esponses p esen ed in he sec ion abo e.
One aspec ha s ands ou is he esponses ha e e o e y speci ic echnical issues.
These a e gene ally wa e - ela ed issues, such as looding (numbe o esponden s s a ing his
being 10), clima e adap a ion (n=9), and geo echnology (n=8). One esponse also e lec s he
ension be ween heo e ical and p ac ical knowledge:
“I see a isk ha oo many younge people inc easingly wan o mo e away om
inding good echnical solu ions in de ailed de elopmen plans and ins ead wan o
wo k mo e s a egically owa ds comp ehensi e plans and he like. Then a la ge
p opo ion o u ban planning educa ion p og ams a Swedish uni e si ies ha e
become oo heo e ical and no aimed a inding echnical solu ions. The e is also a
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
165
lack o knowledge wi hin municipali ies in issues conce ning geo echnics and mo e,
which esul s in cos ly in es iga ions.”
“O e all, he e is a lack o eal cu ing-edge expe ise and i is possible ha many o
he coun y's planne s adop an app oach ha is oo comp ehensi e when i comes
o clima e issues.”
The quo es abo e a e in e es ing as he ole o uni e si y educa ion can be deba ed. The ole
o an educa ion needs o be gene alised o ce ain ex en and eaching “solu ions” is no eally
possible as con ex and place speci ici y ma e , as well as he planning le els. The ole o
comp ehensi e planning and app oaches is o iden i y he challenges, and based on ha consul
expe knowledge. I is also clea in he esponses ha hose who esponded o hese speci ic,
o en echnical, ques ions as lacking compe ence a ely e lec ed on he gene al compe ence o
planne s, bu also esponded o he same lack o compe ence as he g ea es challenges hey
cu en ly ace. Fo example, one municipali y esponded ha hey ha e he ollowing challenges
“Flooding, high wa e , o en ial ain” and eplied he ollowing as lacking compe encies:
“Expe ise in geo echnical/bea ing capaci y and enginee ing and na u al measu es ela ed o
wa e . Expe ise in wa e issues.” This was e iden in mos o hese esponses, which also
showed some signs o us a ion a he lack o in-house compe ence.
When e u ning o O heng a en and Le in-Kei el’s (2019) and hei six ypes o planne s i is
also clea ha he compe ences asked o by he planning manage s a e mainly ocusing on
echnical knowledge and o mal p ac ices, a he han on skills o app oaches suppo ing
ans o ma i e planning such as expe imen a ion, li ing labs o social inno a ions.
Fu u e compe ences
Two o he ques ions asked wha u u e compe encies a e lacking. The ques ions add essed
u u e compe encies in gene al, bu also mo e speci ically ela ed o clima e change. As he
answe s did no di e signi ican ly om he p e ious ques ions (issues ela ed o analy ical skills,
basic knowledge, coo dina ion, echnical issues and he o ic a e among he mos common
answe s), we will p esen in his sec ion he speci ic issues ha di e om he p e ious
ques ions.
One o he mos impo an di e ences is ha digi aliza ion is men ioned mo e explici ly,
especially wi h ega d o gene al compe ences. The equency is s ill no e y high (n=13), which
is su p ising since digi iza ion issues a e inc easingly emphasized in socie y and by na ional
au ho i ies, such as he digi iza ion o he planning p ocess, as well as he g owing issue o AI.
Howe e , AI, GIS and isualiza ion a e aspec s ha a e speci ically men ioned, as can be seen in
hese h ee quo es: “emb ace he digi al planning p ocess wi h all ha i en ails”, “AI-GIS,
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
166
someone who can use he powe o AI o c ea e scena io analyses, maps and o he
documen a ion” and “also be able o manage he condi ions o subsequen de elopmen s,
whe he i is he use o pa ame ic design, AI o some hing else ha is di icul o p edic oday”.
Ano he speci ic di e ence is ha 15 o he esponden s answe ed ha planne s need a
b oade knowledge base. This is simila o he p e ious ques ions, bu he speci ic a gumen is
ha he e is a need o a b oade knowledge base as issues, especially hose ela ed o clima e
change, become mo e complex:
“Expanded knowledge in i ually all issues ela ed o clima e, bo h how planning can
a ec clima e emissions and how we can mee clima e change wi h adap a ion in
planning. Knowledge is g owing wi hin he planning p o ession bu needs o g ow
u he .”
“Di icul o answe , I see challenges in gene al wi h planne oles becoming
inc easingly b oade and expec ed o handle mo e and mo e issues. I see a need o
planne s in combina ion wi h expe ise o he wo k o be he esul o be success ul.”
Ques ions ega ding compe ence among indi iduals s o ganiza ions we e gene ally
ph ased simila ly compa ed o he p e ious ques ions, ha he compe ence, skills and
knowledge is necessa y wi hin he o ganiza ion o h ough consul an s a he han being key
compe ences among planne s. A ew esponses s ood ou , as hese poin ed o he impo ance
o suppo om he na ional le el: “We see a need o ei he ha e mo e cu ing-edge expe ise
wi hin he municipal o ganiza ion, o be e da a om go e nmen agencies o be able o make
comp ehensi e assessmen s.”
One aspec ha is mo e equen ly men ioned in his ques ion is he need o cons an
u he educa ion. I is men ioned in ela ion o he aspec o a need o mo e b oad knowledge,
and ha i means ha knowledge needs o be upda ed, and ha planne s need o keep up wi h
he la es esea ch. In he UK, he discussion on li e-long lea ning in planning has g own o e he
las yea s, as o example Pa ke and Maidmen (2024) discuss he impo ance o c ea ing space
and possibili ies o e lexion, i.e. owa ds an ou wa d-looking pe spec i e and he impac o
planning, and his de eloping a s onge collec i e p o essional cohe ence. The deba e e ol es
a ound p ac ices o u he educa ion and connec ing o he planning educa ion once aken,
while u he de eloping skills, knowledge and keeping up wi h he la es esea ch, and which
spaces o e lec ion and e lexion ha a e a ailable. A key challenge in Sweden is he limi ed
esou ces in smalle municipali ies (c . G undel & Magnusson, 2023), which can make i di icul
o p io i ize hese kinds o ac i i ies. The e a e clea endencies o eplies ha e lec he
limi a ions ound in he obdu acy heo y. This also lies in he co e o planning, he embeddedness
o echnologies, a e ac s, sys ems, and social ac o s: “The abili y o unde s and he speci ic
condi ions o a place and he oppo uni ies and limi a ions i c ea es”. The co e o planning is he
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
167
analysis o a place and unde s anding he di e en solu ions possible and making judgemen s
abou hem. This can also be e lec ed in he ollowing quo e, which also poin s owa ds how
ames and pe sis en adi ions es ic s possibili ies.
“I would say ha he e is a ocus on ca s om, o example, o he ci il se an s he e
a he municipali y, and ha esiden s expec o be able o d i e e e ywhe e. I ha e
no ye had ime o y ou ideas such as sugges ing pa king ha is no igh ou side
he doo . Howe e , his is a municipali y wi h long dis ances and no public anspo
o speak o (o e y limi ed, in o he wo ds). So, I can also see ha he e is, and will
con inue o be, a desi e and a need o d i e ca s. Bu he e would p obably need o
be a change in a i ude, o a leas some unde s anding ha i migh be wo hwhile
ying some hing new.”
Finally, i should be men ioned ha se e al esponden s answe ed ha i was e y di icul
o answe his ques ion. In combina ion wi h he ac ha clima e adap a ion was men ioned
much mo e equen ly ha mi iga ion ques ions, i is in e es ing o see ha he u u e pe spec i e
was no e y di e en compa ed wi h oday.
Discussion
In his sec ion we will discuss he esul s om he ques ionnai e conduc ed among planning
manage s in Swedish municipali ies and aim o deepen he unde s anding o how municipali ies
can achie e clima e neu ali y by iden i ying he necessa y compe encies among planne s.
Speci ically, we ha e asked wha he mos impo an compe encies planne s need o add ess
clima e change a e, wha he compe encies ha a e cu en ly lacking a e, how compe ency
equi emen s ha e e ol ed in ecen yea s, wha he an icipa ed changes in planne s'
compe encies o e he nex 10-15 yea s bo h gene ally and speci ically ela ed o clima e change
a e, and ecommenda ions o planning educa ion o p epa e o u u e challenges. We e lec
on he esponses h ough he lens o obdu acy and ans o ma i e planning p ac ices.
Obdu acy limi ing u u e isions?
The esul s om he ques ionnai e showed ha he ideas o u u e compe encies needed
om planne s, bo h gene ally and in ela ion o clima e change, s ill emained ela i ely close o
he compe encies expec ed oday, bu a e also aligned wi h pas s udies. Tha was especially
clea when compa ing he ques ion ocusing on bo h p esen compe ence as well as
compe ences needed 10-15 yea s om now. A b oad compe ence, wi h ce ain speci ic
knowledge a eas, oge he wi h communica i e, analy ical and coo dina ion skills, has been a
he co e o he planning p o ession o a long ime (Healey, 1992; O heng a en & Le in-Kei el,
2019).
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
168
The main ocus was also mainly connec ed o aspec s o adap a ion, a he han mi iga ion.
Some explana ions o his migh be ound h ough he obdu acy concep (Hommels, 2005), and
how ames and pe sis en adi ions a ec he way planne s and, in his case, planning
manage s hink abou he u u e. The concep ualiza ions o obdu acy can be ound in he
esponses highligh ing how ames, embeddedness and adi ions se he bounda ies wi hin
which sus ainable ans o ma ion can happen. These can emain igid, e en when hey a e no
longe bene icial o ele an . This can esul in social s agna ion o esis ance o p og essi e
ideas. Ac o s migh also be s ongly in luenced by he cul u e and habi s om wi hin he
o ganiza ion hey wo k in (Pu ka ho e , 2022). The esponden s emphasize ha i is impo an o
make he complex social challenges unde s andable o a a ie y o di e en g oups.
Dominan ames wi hin obdu acy a e compe ing ideas o in e p e a ions used by di e en
g oups in hei s uggle o con ol o e a speci ic echnology, building, o s uc u e. On he one
hand, planne s will be na iga ing be ween domina ing ames om di e en g oups such as
expe s and consul an s, bu also poli icians, all wi h compe ing in e es s, which a guably calls
o a conse a i e way o hinking o he possibili ies o planning. On he o he hand, planning
manage s hemsel es a e an impo an g oup, which does ec ui u u e planne s, and hei own
iews o u u e de elopmen will likely shape he compe encies hey hink a e needed. I ha
ame is qui e adi ionalis and cau ious, mainly based on oday’s equi emen s and challenges,
ans o ma i e change is a guably less likely. Howe e , as was p esen ed abo e, he
esponden s also poin owa ds he lack o poli ical suppo , which limi s possibili ies o be
ans o ma i e, as well as he e y ac ha planning is highly con ex dependen and how
embeddedness is always p esen , and ha lies in he co e o he hinking o planne s. I is hus
di icul o impossible o expec planne s o hink o ally di e en ly abou he u u e.
One can u he a gue ha while planne s will be exposed o di e en domina ing ames
allowing o di e en pe spec i es, he e is a isk ha planne s adop some o hese domina ing
ames un e lec i ely and by doing ha ein o ce domina ing ames. These domina ing ames
migh suppo o hinde sus ainable ans o ma ion. Bu i econcilable domina ing ames migh
also lead o inac ion which indi ec ly en o ces he s a us-quo and hus hinde s sus ainable
ans o ma ion.
Because pe sis en adi ions a e aken- o -g an ed alues, which de elop o e ime h ough
expe ience, educa ion, and con inuous knowledge acquisi ion, i equi es a conside able
amoun o sel - e lec ion on he pa o he planne o become awa e o hese unde lying alues
meaning hey migh play an impo an ole when weighing di e en in e es s o me hods.
Responses poin owa ds he ac ha ade-o s a e a he hea o planning, and we can sugges
ha pe sis en adi ions a e e lec ed in he e y managemen o ade-o s. They may
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
169
subconsciously s ee planne s in a pa icula di ec ion when weighing di e en in e es s o
di e en me hods o a p oposal. Pe sis en adi ions may also limi how eadily planne s can
inco po a e a long- e m ans o ma i e pe spec i e in o es ablished decision-making
p ocesses, bu hey can also gene a e opinions on he challenges and solu ions ha need o be
implemen ed, oge he wi h he expec ed compe ences needed.
Many o he su ey esponses ocus on he al eady buil en i onmen and how he buil
en i onmen can be adap ed. In his sense, he esponses highligh he embeddedness ha
makes i di icul o change exis ing s uc u es and sys ems, especially in ela ion o isks o e.g.
looding. Mo e ambi ious goals o sus ainable ans o ma ion may be cons ained by exis ing
s uc u es and sys ems ha limi wha is possible and wha is no , which may also e lec he
g ea es challenges ha a e a hand a he momen , which mos ly ela e o clima e adap a ion,
which is also he esponsibili y hey can con ol. This may e lec a mo e modes iew among
planne s o wha is possible in e ms o ans o ma i e planning.
One o he di e ences be ween he expec ed p esen and u u e compe ences needed
conce ned digi aliza ion, e en hough he numbe o esponses ocusing on his was, in ou iew.
su p isingly low gi en he a en ion posed on o example AI a he momen . Digi aliza ion has
been pa o he planning p ocess o a long ime h ough GIS and isualiza ions. The e is also a
g owing deba e abou he possibili ies and limi a ions o AI (c . Sanchez e al., 2022). Since he
su ey ocused on he u u e o he planning p o ession, we expec ed his opic o ecei e mo e
a en ion in he esponses. Howe e , i was gi en limi ed ocus. S ill, some o he answe s
poin ed owa ds i s po en ial impac . I is howe e unde s andable ha planning manage s migh
ha e limi ed expe ience and hus unde s anding on hese e ol ing echnologies, and ha is a
challenge o planne s in gene al, how o unde s and and e en assess possibili ies and
limi a ions o inno a i e echnologies.
Adap a ion and compe encies
Recen calls o mo e ans o ma i e and adical change in planning ha e ocused on wha
should be achie ed and he ole planne s should play in mo e complex planning issues. I is o en
men ioned ha i is necessa y o be esponsi e and p oac i e o achie e ans o ma i e goals o
clima e change (c . Alb ech s e al, 2020; Bulkeley & Cas án B o o, 2013; Healey, 2007). A mo e
consis en unde s anding o planning p ac ices seems o be needed o be e unde s and his.
The deba e abou wha compe ences, skills, expe ise o p ac ices a ans o ma i e planne
needs, poin s owa ds a gumen s ha planne s need o be isiona y, o wan o change he
cu en si ua ion and o imagine some hing adically di e en om oday (Alb ech s, 2010;
Healey, 2007). As we ha e shown in his a icle, he ole o he planne is s ill wha is o en
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
170
e e ed o as adi ional planning (c . Alb ech s, 2020; Gunn and Hillie , 2014; Pe sson, 2019;
Rauws e al., 2014), wi h compe encies ela ed o echnical expe ise, such as unde s anding
mo e echnical issues,and, as shown in his a icle, dealing wi h adap a ion. Howe e ,
esponden s also poin ed o mo e gene al and gene ic compe ences such as communica ion
skills, he abili y o wo k wi h o he ac o s and analy ical skills. This is no new and has been
shown in p e ious s udies (Guze a & Bollens, 2003, Healey, 1992). Communica ion is o en seen
as an impo an skill o planne s as na iga o s and acili a o s. G ange (2016) a gues ha
planning is unde going poli iciza ion unde he umb ella o neolibe al ideas. This poli iciza ion
may silence planne s, making he ension be ween iewing planne s as neu al expe s and
iewing hem as ac o s wi h agency in he p ocess mo e appa en . G ange a gues ha planne s
may be silenced in hese p ocesses and ha he e is a need o ea less speech. Howe e ,
planning o ganiza ions in Sweden a e becoming mo e hie a chical. This could explain he ocus
on adap a ion a he han mi iga ion in ou esponses; he poli ical and ins i u ional p essu e o
wo k wi h p ac ical solu ions ha a e a guably mo e alue-neu al akes p ecedence o e o he
ideas. Howe e , as he manage s poin ed ou , planne s' abili y o acili a e p ocesses migh also
open up possibili ies o discuss al e na i e solu ions, al hough ha is no an easy ask.
We can see ha i e clus e s o ca ego ies – echnical issues (including clima e adap a ion),
gene al knowledge in speci ic a eas, analy ical skills, coo dina ion and coope a ion, and
communica ion – a e wha planning manage s in Swedish municipali ies belie e and imagine o
be he mos impo an compe ences o dealing wi h clima e change. These a e no explici ly
compe ences ela ed o a ans o ma i e planne . Ob iously, he e a e no many ans o ma i e
p ac ice compe ences being used in planning depa men s in Sweden a he momen , and he
analysis shows ha he explana ion migh be ha he planning manage s do no see how hey
can wo k ans o ma i ely. We can also see ha he e is a s ong ocus on clima e adap a ion, as
ecen ly many municipali ies in Sweden had o ace looding, s o m wa e o i es, which makes
he si ua ion mo e ala ming. He e he municipali ies ha e o deal wi h hese issues in wha is
o en called a eac i e way.
I is in e es ing ha when hinking abou u u e skills needed o deal wi h clima e change,
planning manage s did no men ion mo e ans o ma i e skills, such as he abili y o inno a e,
en ision he u u e, ep esen in e es s and nego ia e be ween di e en s akeholde s o p ojec
manage s.
The buil en i onmen and o ganisa ional s uc u es, including o mal ules and legisla ion,
s ee he planning p ocess, especially in ela ion o land use planning (see also O heng a en &
Le in-Kei el, 2019), making i di icul o planne s o hink “ou side he box” o wi hin al eady
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
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exis ing and dominan amewo ks. O heng a en and Le in-Kei el (2019, p. 122), discuss how he
adi ional planning p ac ices a e s ill p esen :
“one clus e is dedica ed o collabo a i e p ac ices and only wo clus e s mo e o
less consequen ly aim a inno a ion, expe imen a ion and new app oaches. One
possible in e p e a ion would be ha bo h ins i u ional and indi idual p ac ices,
ou ines and habi s change e y slowly. Wi h ega d o ins i u ional p ac ices, his
migh ha e i s oo s in he ac ha u ban planning as a public ask is embedded in
he poli ical-adminis a i e sys em, whe e bo h subs an ial and p ocedu al legal
equi emen s ha e al eady been laid down, de e mining he scope o he planning
p ac ices a he local le el.”
This ies in well wi h ou unde s anding and in e p e a ion, as esponses and he esul ing
ca ego ies s ill s em om he ins i u ional and o ganiza ional s uc u es ha a e p esen . The
oom o manoeu e is limi ed, and he planning manage s a e highly awa e o ha .
The complexi y o planning may also lead planning manage s o ocus on gene ic
compe ences and ha planne s should ha e mo e o a acili a ing ole, which may explain he
main compe ences equi ed. To ha e a mo e coo dina ing ole, bo h in unde s anding speci ic
issues and in communica ing wi h expe s, poli icians, and he public, could hus be seen as
inc easingly impo an . We belie e ha his is a esul o he planning sys em, which is o en no
open o imagina i e and adical ideas and p ocesses.
We can see ha he esul in his s udy is no new in he con ex o p e ious s udies on
planne s' p ac ices and compe encies, bu i s ands in con as o he li e a u e on
ans o ma i e planning p ac ices abou wha planne s should ocus on. The si ua ion whe e
some o he e ec s o clima e change such as looding, hea wa es and g oundwa e p oblems
ha e mean ha municipali ies ha e had o deal wi h hem as hey occu . Many municipali ies
do no ha e su icien esou ces o wo k p oac i ely and in he long e m. This is also he eason
why municipali ies a e eac i e a he han p oac i e when i comes o ans o ma i e planning
p ac ices. This is also ela ed o he co e o planning, which is ha planning is inhe en ly con ex
and place speci ic. The e o e, locally embedded and aci knowledge as compe ence lies in
dealing wi h cu en p oblems such as loods and i es when hey occu .
One inal poin is ha economic in e es s and ci izen in ol emen we e ba ely men ioned in
he esponses, as hese a e co e componen s in planning p ocesses (c . Alb ech s, 2010). Gi en
Loo bach’s (2010) poin abou he impo ance o co-c ea ion in ans o ma i e p ocesses, he
lack o men ion o hese componen s is an in e es ing esul . Co-c ea ion p ocesses depend on
many ac o s, bu he ames wi hin which planning manage s wo k may limi hei abili y o
conside his spon aneously, as inding solu ions o clima e adap a ion o en seems o be a he
o e on o hei minds.
Eu opean Jou nal o Spa ial De elopmen 22(2)
172
Conclusion
This a icle has ocused on he cu en and u u e compe encies o u ban and egional
planne s in o de o achie e clima e change, clima e neu ali y and, by ex ension, ans o ma i e
planning. We ha e iden i ied he compe ence needs o Swedish municipali ies dealing wi h
hese issues by analysing he esul s o a ques ionnai e sen o planne manage s in Swedish
municipali ies. The esul s indica e ha i e ca ego ies (deepe unde s anding o echnical
issues and solu ions, including clima e adap a ion; b oad knowledge in a ious a eas; analy ical
skills; coo dina ion and coope a ion; communica ion) ha e been iden i ied as wha hey
conside o be he mos impo an compe ences.
Analysing he esul s, i is clea ha planne s a e mo e adi ional han ans o ma i e in hei
planning p ac ices. Wha we mean by his is ha when aced wi h mo e complex clima e change
issues, planne s become mo e eac i e han p oac i e. This can be explained by he concep o
obdu acy, as planning is e y much oo ed in he pe sis en adi ions (planning cul u e pe se)
and ames ( he ole o planne s in dealing wi h clima e change) based on bo h knowledge and
expe ience as well as pas planning decisions. This makes i di icul o planne s o s i e o
adical change and ans o ma i e p ac ices. Planning p ac ice is s uc u ed a ound amewo ks
o ules, cul u es and pa e ns. The ole o planne s o link knowledge o ac ion, o shape be e
u u es, is a he hea o planning. The planning manage s seems o see he u u e as no
pa icula ly di e en om oday, and his lies in he cul u e o planning, he scale o he
challenges ha we see as impo an o unde s and u he in his con ex .
We can see a shi in planning p ac ice ha sugges s ha he specialis skills, expe ise and
compe ence on speci ic issues a e being handled by consul an s, lea ing he planne in he
municipali ies o deal wi h mo e gene al skills such as coo dina ion and communica ion wi h
di e en s akeholde s. Gi en he complexi y o clima e change, he planne has o deal wi h
adap a ion a he han mi iga ion, which is also close o he esponsibili ies o municipali ies
and planne s, as hey ha e limi ed o no manda e o in luence GHG emissions, wi h he small
excep ion o sus ainable mobili y men ioned abo e. I is easy o all in o he ap o echnical
solu ions o he p oblems posed by clima e change, o he poin o o ge ing collec i e ac ion o
change. The answe o his could be communica ion and coope a ion o acili a e and media e.
