This study examines the application of the Integrated Landscape Character Assessment (ILCA) within the Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) process in land use and transport planning through the lens of the transformative capacity framework. By applying this framework, the study identifies key elements of transformative capacity in the planning process. Notably, ILCA contributes to transformative capacity by fostering a systems perspective that strengthens the understanding of spatial interconnections, multi-functionality, and ecosystem services. This, in turn, supports planners in addressing complex sustainability challenges and enhances their ability to implement integrated and forward-looking planning strategies. Furthermore, the integration of ILCA into the SCM process contributed to transformative capacity by enabling knowledge co-production through inclusive stakeholder engagement. By involving actors from multiple governance levels, NGOs, and private sector representatives in working groups and workshops, the process fostered mutual learning, built shared understanding, and aligned diverse perspectives. This collaborative approach not only strengthened legitimacy but also supported the formulation and justification of measures aligned with sustainability goals, such as promoting cycling and walking infrastructure and implementing nature-based solutions (NBS), thereby enhancing both procedural and substantive dimensions of transformation.

Addressing cross-cutting issues such as climate change, urbanization, andenvironmental degradation in policy and planning is key for transitioning toa sustainable society. In the work of societal and transport systemdevelopment, the integration of environmental and sustainabilityperspectives has never been more crucial. In urban areas, the interconnection between transport and land use is evident, and integrated transport and land use planning plays an important role in promotingsustainable transport systems. However, both the integration ofenvironmental and sustainability considerations in transport planning and the integration of land use and transport planning are complex challenges.This thesis explores the consideration of environmental aspects andsustainability perspectives in strategic transport planning, with a focus onthe Swedish Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) approach and lessonslearnt from planning approaches in the Nordic countries. The thesis is primarily based on case studies of SCM processes in the Stockholm region. Empirical material has been collected through observations of SCMs involving public officials from the Swedish Transport Administration,municipalities in Stockholm Region, and Stockholm's public transportauthority, as well as through semi-structured interviews, focus groupinterviews, informal interviews and document studies, with a qualitative research approach.The thesis is a compilation of four scientific papers. Three of the papers (1,2, and 4) discuss the SCM process, and in two of the papers (2 and 4), SCM processes in the Stockholm region are used as empirical cases of howstrategic choices of measures have been made in transport and land useplanning. Paper 3 explores and draws lessons from Nordic planning instruments to coordinate transport and land use planning with the aim of promoting sustainable development. The results highlight the difference between engaging and non-engagingenvironmental aspects and advocate for a systems perspective in planning to understand connections and promote holistic solutions. Planning approaches from different Nordic countries, such as the Finnish MAL and the Norwegian Urban Growth Agreements, demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating transport and land use planning through instruments based oncollaboration between transport and land use actors. The results also identify challenges related to fragmented transport and land use planning,and that actors' vary in their engagement when addressing environmental and sustainability considerations in the SCM planning context. Effective collaboration and sustainable choices of measures relies on knowledgeable professionals being capable of interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative thinking, being part of and coordinating the planning process, i.e.SCM. The use of Integrated Landscape Character Assessment (ILCA) can provide a framework for cross-actor collaboration and has the potential to identify multifunctional solutions contributing to a sustainable societal transition. Overall, the results of the thesis emphasize the importance of integrating environmental and sustainability perspectives into transport planning to promote sustainable development.

Dagens utmaningar såsom klimatförändringar, urbanisering och miljöförstöring ställer krav på tvärsektoriell aktörssamverkan och åtgärder som bidrar till omställningen till ett hållbart samhälle. I detta sammanhang spelar integreringen av miljö- och hållbarhetsperspektiv i transportplaneringen en viktig roll. Genom att studera det komplexa samspelet mellan transport- och markanvändningsplanering kan olika strategier och åtgärder identifieras för att främja hållbara transportsystem i urbana områden. Avhandlingen utforskar integreringen av miljöaspekter och hållbarhetsperspektiv i strategisk transportplanering, med fokus på Åtgärdsplanering samt lärdomar från nordiska planeringsverktyg som möjliggör en samordning av transport- och markanvändningsplanering. Avhandlingen är i huvudsak baserad på fallstudier av åtgärdsvalstudier (ÅVS) i Stockholmsområdet. Empiriskt material har samlats in genom observationer av ÅVS:er där representanter från Trafikverket, kommuner i Stockholms län samt Stockholms kollektivtrafikförvaltning har medverkat, och genom semistrukturerade intervjuer, informella intervjuer, fokusgrupper samt dokumentstudier, utifrån en kvalitativ forskningsansats. Avhandlingen är en sammanläggning av fyra vetenskapliga artiklar. Tre av artiklarna (1, 2 och 4) handlar om ÅVS processen och i två av artiklarna (2 och 4) används ÅVS processer i Stockholms region som empiriska fall av hur strategiska val av åtgärder gjorts i koordinerad transport och markanvändningsplanering. I artikel 3 utforskas och dras lärdomar av tillämpningen av planeringsverktyg i Norden som syftar till att samordna transport och markanvändningsplanering för att främja hållbar utveckling.  Resultaten visar på utmaningar relaterat till den fragmenterade transport- och markanvändningsplaneringen och till aktörernas varierande engagemang i att hantera olika miljö- och hållbarhetsfrågor i ÅVS. Vidare belyser resultaten skillnaden mellan miljöaspekter som engagerar respektive inte engagerar deltagarna i planeringsprocessen, vilket pekar på behovet av ett systemperspektiv i ÅVS för att förstå samband och främja helhetslösningar. I den Nordiska studien redovisas olika Nordiska planeringsverktyg, bland annat finska MAL och norska Byveksavtal, som visar på möjligheter att integrera markanvändnings- och transportplanering som bygger på samverkan mellan de olika aktörerna. Effektiv samverkan, samt val av åtgärder som främjar hållbarhet, förutsätter kompetens och förmåga till tvärvetenskapligt samarbete och innovativt tänkande. Resultat från tillämpningen av Integrerad landskapskaraktärsanalys (ILKA) i ÅVS visar att verktyget har potential att identifiera multifunktionella lösningar i planeringen som bidrar till hållbar samhällsomställning. Sammantaget understryker avhandlingen vikten av att integrera miljö- och hållbarhetsperspektiv i transportplanering för att främja utvecklingen av ett hållbart samhälle.  Metodmässigt säkerställs tillförlitlighet, trovärdighet och överförbarhet av resultaten från denna studie till andra studier genom omfattande datainsamling, triangulering och internationella jämförelser. För att hantera subjektivitet i forskningen, utgår studien ifrån ett reflexivt tillvägagångsätt genom att spegla metodval och resultat utifrån olika perspektiv, med avsikt att stärka forskningskvaliteten. Slutligen lyfter avhandlingen fram förslag till hur aktörssamverkan och integrering av miljö- och hållbarhetsperspektiv i strategisk transportplanering kan förbättras, vilket kan bidra till att identifiera åtgärder för att möta komplexa samhällsutmaningar och främja en omställning till hållbar samhällsutveckling.

Drawing on examples from the Nordic countries, this article aims to explore the practical application of strategic policy and planning instruments and approaches that facilitate the integration of land use and transport planning and promote sustainable policy measures through collaboration among stakeholders across various governance levels. This research applies a qualitative research design including literature research, interviews, and workshops involving practitioners from the five Nordic countries. In this paper, we present an overview of the planning structure in the Nordic countries, including institutions that govern land use and transport planning. We identify different approaches to bridge the gap between land use and transport planning, such as the Finger Plan in Denmark, MAL in Finland, Concept Studies in Norway, and Strategic Choice of Measures in Sweden. Many of the examples employ informal collaborative approaches among authorities to form a shared vision and seek consensus on a combination of policy measures and actions. The paper examines collaborative approaches in relation to regulatory planning and discusses the role of these processes in advancing integrated land use and transport planning and fostering sustainable urban development.

Population ageing and shrinking are demographic phenomena with far-reaching implications for sustainability in the current context of extensive and rapid urbanization. This Perspective rationalizes their interface by (a) identifying the challenges and opportunities that ageing and shrinking urban populations will have for implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and (b) discussing some emerging interventions to capitalise on the opportunities and reduce the challenges to achieving sustainability. We argue that a diverse set of context-specific technological, socioeconomic, institutional and governance interventions would be needed to leverage effectively the opportunities and minimize the risks posed by ageing and shrinking urban populations for long-term sustainability.

The Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) approach aims to integrate different perspectives and identify measures to adapt new infrastructure projects to their local context at an early stage of Swedish transport planning. SCM is a loosely structured framework for collaboration between actors from, e.g., municipalities and the Swedish Transport Administration, in order to facilitate the coordination of transport planning and land use planning. This paper aims to explore the consideration of environmental aspects in early-stage transport planning by analyzing the SCM approach. An explorative research approach is applied based on literature studies, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group interview. The result shows that in the SCM process, environmental aspects such as noise and air pollution generated by road traffic in urban areas, engage the actors, whereas aspects related to landscape and water were perceived as poorly addressed and received less attention. The consideration of environmental aspects in the SCM process is affected by the local and national authorities' different interests and the competences involved. To consolidate environmental aspects in early transport planning, these aspects need to be explicitly addressed in the SCM guidelines and the link between the SCM and preceding and following planning stages needs to be strengthened.

This study investigate the effectiveness of the Integrated Landscape CharacterAssessment (ILCA) within the Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) processin transport and land use planning. The research emphasizes a systemsperspective crucial for understanding the complex interdependencies betweentransport, land use and sustainability concerns in planning. The ILCAprovides a structured approach to integrate social, natural, and culturaldimensions into the SCM, enhancing baseline knowledge essential for longtermplanning across various scales. Findings illustrate that ILCA promoteda deeper understanding of landscape interrelations and supported informeddecision-making aligned with sustainable development goals. Furthermore, itrevealed the ILCA's potential in fostering multi-actor coordination andtransdisciplinary collaboration, crucial for addressing sustainability challengesholistically. However, challenges persist, particularly in aligning scale andsectoral engagement, underscoring the need for flexible and inclusiveplanning approaches to effectively address cross-cutting policy issues intransport and land use planning.