Value-driven sustainability transitions in large organisations Applying a Transition Management Lens to the Swedish Church’s Intended Change of Forestry Practices

Abstract

The urgent need to mitigate climate change has placed the forestry sector under intense scrutiny, calling into question the widespread use of clear-cut practices. In Sweden, this issue has turned into a conflict within the Church of Sweden, which manages approximately 470,000 hectares of forest land through its historically acquired clergy salary assets. Replacing the previous stance on forestry as a means to generate income, in November 2025, the Church of Sweden adopted a new church order which balances four equal sustainability-dimensions: economic, ecological, social, and spiritual. This master’s thesis explores how this is currently being translated into practical action. Combining transition management theory with organisational concepts, such as structural silos and institutional logics, this study looks at the behavioural and organisational dynamics that shape the early phases of the transition. The empirical data were drawn from 24 semi-structured interviews with a variety of handpicked participants from various parts of Sweden, including elected officials, church board members, foresters, and sustainability administrators. The thematic analysis highlights a widespread willingness to incorporate the new regulations into forestry. However, several internal barriers still exist. The findings reveal differing logics within the church, perhaps driven by established organisational silos between the relatively isolated estate management departments and the rest of the dioceses. Furthermore, geographic, ecological, and economic differences between the 13 dioceses, make the church suited for local governance, something that also is a long standing tradition in how the church is run. This, however, complicates the establishment of shared goals, and vision necessary for sustainability transitions. Specifically within the church, despite its traditional bottom-up organisation, parishes and congregations remain somewhat excluded from the early-stage vision-setting. Moreover, lock-ins within the Swedish forestry sector, for example, knowledge gaps regarding alternative methods, industrial interests, historical purpose of forests, and uncertainty in a changing climate, further hinders change. Finally, the long timeframes inherent to forests clash with the quick organisational expectations for change, and therefore demands a high level of patience.