Karin Bradley

Karin Bradley’s research deals with sustainable urban development – what the transition to more sustainable societies might entail and possible paths towards these futures. To reach international and national environmental and sustainability goals, significant changes are needed in the way we live, dwell, work, consume, and transport ourselves in the context of Sweden.

Karin investigates the types of governance – plans, policy instruments, strategies, and practices – that may be required to achieve set goals and how this relates to the governance in use today. She has focused on the roles municipalities, regions, and civil society groups can play in the transition. Her research also addresses the environmental impacts of different societal groups and what a just transition can entail.

Karin played a key role in initiating Mistra Sustainable Consumption, Sweden's largest research program on sustainable consumption – an eight-year program that involves an interdisciplinary research team, municipalities, regions, state authorities, companies, and civil society organisations. Here, they research how sustainable consumption practices, currently practiced by a few, can be scaled up and become more mainstream.