Local spatial planning processes and integration of sustainability perspective through a broad systems perspective and systematic approach

Cities play an important role in forwarding sustainability. In Sweden,municipalities have a monopoly on spatial planning and are, therefore, keyactors for developing sustainable cities. Through integrating sustainabilityconcerns early in the planning processes they have a significant possibility tohave an impact on other actors’ towards increased sustainability. The aim of thispaper is to discuss a process for how sustainability concerns can be addressed inmunicipalities’ spatial planning. It is based on experiences from an on-goingplanning process in Linköping, Sweden. There is a rapid increase in the numberof index-based assessment and planning tools for sustainable cities (e.g.BREEAM communities, LEED neighbourhood, CASBEE-City). In Sweden,there is a newly developed tool: Citylab action, which has clear connections tothe UN sustainable development goals. However, from a city planningperspective the existing tools are often complex and lack conformity with othermunicipal processes. There is therefore a need for municipalities to reflect onwhich tools that are useful, what the local needs for support are, and to developinclusive and broad planning processes with a broad systems perspective inwhich actor involvement is key, and where the city’s overall strategies andpolicies, as well as national and international goals, are clearly disseminated