Identifying opportunities and pathways for transitions to sustainable transport in Sweden and the UK

The paper argues that incremental improvements are insufficient to address the unsustainability of current road transport, which is locked into a regime of oil and car dependence. Using a multi-level perspective, the authors identify three 'niches' for radical innovation: novel vehicle/fuel technologies (Niche 1), a shift from product ownership to mobility services (Niche 2), and post-industrial lifestyles that reduce overall travel demand (Niche 3). In Sweden, Niche 1 is seen as reaching a 'take-off' phase, particularly with biofuels and hybrids, supported by a history of niche experiments and targeted policies. In the UK, the transition is slower and more 'technology push' driven, though congestion charging in London is highlighted as a successful intervention. The authors conclude that a sustainable future requires the co-evolution and 'niche-accumulation' of all three pathways, as technology alone cannot solve social issues like congestion or obesity, nor can it fully mitigate climate change without demand reduction.

• The current land-based transport system is locked into a stable state of oil and car dependence, reinforced by infrastructure, manufacturing, and consumer behaviours, making incremental technological or policy improvements unlikely to be sufficient for a sustainable transition.
• The authors identify three primary niches for sustainable transport: novel vehicle technologies (focused on renewable energy and efficiency), a product-to-service shift (focused on shared mobility and public transport), and post-industrial lifestyles (focused on reducing travel demand through values and ICT).
• In Sweden, the transition to alternative fuels has moved into a 'take-off' phase, with the estimated share of environmentally friendly vehicles sold reaching roughly 13% in 2006, compared to 4% in 2005.
• The UK transport market is characterized by a 'technology push' from government and industry rather than public demand, with a high prevalence of diesel vehicles and a slower uptake of biofuels compared to Germany or Sweden.
• Congestion charging, such as the scheme in London which saw a 30% reduction in congestion since 2003, is identified as a decisive policy tool that can simultaneously support all three sustainable transport niches.
• Technological solutions alone are insufficient for climate mitigation; OECD research indicates that technology can only provide 41% of the necessary reductions, with the remainder requiring changes in transport demand and use.
• There is evidence of a declining interest in obtaining driving licenses among the youngest age groups in both Sweden and the UK, potentially signaling an emergent cultural shift away from car-centric lifestyles.
• The authors argue that the most promising pathway to sustainability is 'niche-accumulation,' where different innovations co-evolve; for example, the shift to mobility services (Niche 2) can accelerate the adoption of new vehicle technologies (Niche 1).

APA

Nykvist, B., & Whitmarsh, L. (n.d.). Identifying opportunities and pathways for transitions to sustainable transport in Sweden and the UK. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Identifying%20opportunities%20and%20pathways%20for%20transitions%20to%20sustainable%20transport%20in%20Sweden%20and%20the%20UK%20-%20MATISSE%20working%20paper%20final.pdf

Chicago

Nykvist, Björn, and Lorraine Whitmarsh. Identifying opportunities and pathways for transitions to sustainable transport in Sweden and the UK. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Identifying%20opportunities%20and%20pathways%20for%20transitions%20to%20sustainable%20transport%20in%20Sweden%20and%20the%20UK%20-%20MATISSE%20working%20paper%20final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nykvist |first1=Björn |last2=Whitmarsh |first2=Lorraine |title=Identifying opportunities and pathways for transitions to sustainable transport in Sweden and the UK |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Identifying%20opportunities%20and%20pathways%20for%20transitions%20to%20sustainable%20transport%20in%20Sweden%20and%20the%20UK%20-%20MATISSE%20working%20paper%20final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nykvistndidentifying, author = {Nykvist, Björn and Whitmarsh, Lorraine}, title = {{Identifying opportunities and pathways for transitions to sustainable transport in Sweden and the UK}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Identifying%20opportunities%20and%20pathways%20for%20transitions%20to%20sustainable%20transport%20in%20Sweden%20and%20the%20UK%20-%20MATISSE%20working%20paper%20final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }