Cities and regions are facing extensive urban transformation and infrastructure projects. These processes present both challenges and opportunities. They require long-term priorities, coordination among actors, and the capacity to balance environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals. My research therefore centres on how planning processes can be developed to better address the implications of the transition for land use, mobility, the built environment, and strategic governance. A human-geographical perspective also makes it possible to highlight how planning affects different places and groups in different ways, and how spatial conditions shape both problems and potential solutions.
Kristina Trygg
Associate Professor, Docent
My research examines how urban and regional planning can enable sustainability transformation, with a focus on strategic planning, collaboration, climate neutrality, sustainable transport, and the circular economy.
Transformative planning
How can spatial planning contribute to a more sustainable society? Urban and regional planning is a key tool for shaping the built environment, guiding land use, and creating the long-term conditions needed for sustainable cities and regions.
Publications
2026
The limits and opportunities of the EU Cities Mission: bridging literatures and learning from frontrunner cities in Sweden
Urban Transformations, Vol. 8, Article 31
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42854-026-00117-w
A 'congealed' Swedish planning community?: Key constraints to planning zero-carbon cities and regions
Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsag006
City street experiment for transformative change: municipal challenges of re-making public spaces
Cities, Vol. 172, Article 106850
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.106850
2025
We Can Build a New Tomorrow - Competencies for Transformative Spatial Planning in Swedish Municipalities
European Journal of Spatial Development, Vol. 22, p. 148-177
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17672498
Harald as an agent of change
Stories of transforming cities, stories from the bike - a festschrift for Harald Rohracher, p. 29-38
(Chapter in book)
Google Scholar
Research
Current research projects
I lead research projects that address real-world challenges in spatial planning and are closely connected to planning practice.
Previous research projects
ULALABS
ULALABS is an Erasmus+ project under Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education. The project aims to develop a theoretical and practical framework for the implementation and operation of a European distributed Living Lab focused on urban challenges and climate change.
This “Lab of Labs” is conceived as a shared and interconnected infrastructure for research, development and innovation among higher education partners. Its purpose is to promote transformative innovation policies within and across European regions through the creation of open and collaborative learning communities and shared agendas.
Read more on the project website: ULALABS
Governance, planning and implementation of urban micromobility in Swedish municipalities: towards a transport-efficient society (SPIM)
To meet current climate challenges, a shift towards a more transport-efficient society is needed.
Micromobility solutions (light, low-speed electric or muscle-powered vehicles and walking) are more space-efficient than cars and produce less emissions and noise. However, as urban micromobility expands and diversifies at a rapid pace, including more vehicles of different types, diverse rhythms and increased electrification, many municipalities experience inadequate infrastructure. Regulations and policies have not kept pace with the rapid growth and differ between municipalities, and conflicts arise in the urban realm. The project engaged with what is required of urban planning to meet the future needs of planning, governance and implementation of urban micromobility. The aim was to design new approaches and strategies, through collaboration with urban planners in different municipalities, to steer the development of cities towards more energy efficient transport solutions.
Research leader Kristina Trygg and researcher Karin Edberg
Time Period: 2022-2025
Funding: Energy Agency
The role of urban and regional planning in promoting sustainability energy transitions in the transport sector
Planning for a sustainable energy transition in the transport sector is becoming increasingly important, especially with the implementation of the global sustainability goals, so also in Swedish municipalities and regions.
Currently there are few available strategies or tools that can be used to assess the social, organizational and technological consequences of rapid technological development or to promote sustainable and socially inclusive innovation in the transport sector. Thus, one way of achieving a sustainable energy transition can be by using strategic traffic planning.
In the transition of today's cities and regions to become more sustainable, the transport sector plays an important role. Such a transition requires long-term and sustainable transport planning that supports change in already established travel patterns, transportation systems and the ways we implement new solutions and innovations. Today, Swedish municipalities work in different ways regarding traffic planning and sustainability matters. There is also a great uncertainty on how a sustainable transition of the transport sector should look like. Often, there are set goals and visions, but the means and ways of achieving them is not as clear.
This project was carried out in collaboration with municipal and regional actors and aimed to evaluate and develop instruments and strategies that enable planners to take a more active role in creating a sustainable energy transition in the transport and mobility sector.
Time line: 2020-2024
Funding: Energy Agency
Research leader Kristina Trygg and researcher Ida Grundel