Bylicki, Veronika; Kattel, Rainer; Kurth, Anna; (2025) Directionality and Public Sector Capabilities for the Twin Transition in Local Governments. (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) Working Paper 2025-05). UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP): London, UK.

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Abstract

This paper explores the implementation of the twin transition in the Spanish city of Barcelona and the London borough of Camden. We examine how these two urban areas are conceptualising and governing the twin transition. We focus on the types of directionality that are embedded in the twin transition and how they relate to the distinct capabilities required for government to implement them. We find that the different directionalities underlying the green, digital and twin transitions require different capabilities for their implementation. This is because the green transition is driven by normative, political goals, while the digital transition is driven by economic and efficiency goals, and the twin transition seems to be predominantly a rhetorical construct not used in city practice. As a result, we show how local governments have developed separate strategies and capabilities to advance digital and green transitions, without any effective focus on twin transition. Our findings have implications for policymakers at all levels of government. First, policymakers need to be aware of the different directionalities underlying the green and digital transitions. Second, in order to advance the twin transition, policymakers need to develop a unique set of capabilities that is tailored to the specific challenges of the twin transition.

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