Karin Bradley, Director of the new research centre DO-LAB for Climate Transformations, which aims to accelerate climate action. (Photo: KTH)

Published Oct 26, 2026

Despite years of research, policy proposals and widespread public support for climate action, progress remains slow. KTH is now launching a research centre to accelerate the transition while strengthening social justice and crisis preparedness.

Policy instruments can accelerate climate action, but which ones work best in practice?

“One way to overcome inertia is to test new policy instruments on a small scale, evaluate the results, make adjustments and then implement them on a larger scale,” says Karin Bradley , Professor of Urban and Regional Studies and Director of DO-LAB for Climate Transformations, which has been awarded SEK 50 million by Formas, the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development.

The centre brings together KTH researchers in sustainability transitions, planning and design research, alongside partners from other research institutions and civil society.

The aim is to establish a so-called policy lab where researchers from different disciplines, municipalities and organisations collaborate to develop and test how new policy instruments for the climate transition work in practice.

The focus is on how municipalities can take a more proactive approach to the transition.

“We will explore and test the scope for local government action and promote knowledge exchange and learning between municipalities, both nationally and internationally,” says Karin Bradley.

The researchers will carry out three to four pilot projects in collaboration with the City of Stockholm and the Municipality of Karlstad. The projects will address local needs and investigate how the climate transition can be accelerated while strengthening social justice and crisis preparedness.

“Climate action that fails to take fairness into account often faces resistance and also risks contributing to further injustice and division, both globally and locally. The climate transition and efforts to promote inclusion are interconnected.”

What is your view on the recent UN report  stating that the 1.5°C target is no longer expected to be met?

“That the need to accelerate the transition is more urgent than ever. It is important not to get stuck in studies, inquiries and discussions, but also to push ahead with concrete action.”

Text: Christer Gummeson ( gummeson@kth.se )