Towards a decarbonized green state? The politics of low-carbon governance in Sweden

In this chapter we explore how a decarbonized green state might develop. Climate governance provides venues towards decarbonization and for greening the state by steering and enabling transformative social change. We study low-carbon transitions in Sweden in a set of policy sectors for their potential to reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation and enter policy paths towards decarbonization. Sweden has been successful in supporting transitions in the energy sector but decarbonization is not institutionalized in the transport and industry sectors. While lacking a strategic focus on long-term decarbonization climate policy is dominated by the market-liberal norm of cost-efficiency.