"Twin Transition” in Swedish municipalities and cities

This policy brief is a compilation of research and experiences from European and Swedish cities on how digital and climate transitions can be integrated – that is, a twin transition, to enable a faster and deeper transition. Digital tools and IoT solutions are already contributing to climate work in the energy, transport, mobility and construction sectors.

However, achieving climate goals requires changes at both the sectoral and systemic levels. At the same time, the digital transition brings new sustainability challenges, such as increased energy consumption, risks of privacy breaches and other negative social consequences.

EU initiatives, including European Green Deal and Competitiveness Compass, offer strategies and financial support to promote twin transition. But how well does this work in practice?

A review of experiences from Swedish municipalities and cities shows that organizational conditions and the issue of competence are crucial to achieving the digital maturity required to accelerate and deepen the climate transition. Both hard and soft digital infrastructure are required, as well as organizational conditions and capacity to achieve results.