This article makes a comparative analysis on how the global idea-complex of sustainable developmentisinterpretedandinstitutionalisedonthelocallevel.Localinstitutionalisation is analysed from the theoretical framework of new institutionalism’s theme of policy diffusion and adaptation. From a most different case-study design, the article analyses four Swedish local governments in the region of Örebro: Hällefors, Karlskoga, Lekeberg and Örebro. The results show that the four local governments adapt to sustainable development in quite different ways, from local translation processes (Hällefors and Örebro) to resistance and ignorance (Karlskoga and Lekeberg). This variation is interpreted in relation to the importance of local contexts. There is no intra-regional spreading of ideas leading to convergence among the cases. However, not only the local context matters, but also policy areas and development projects constitute contexts, indicating the importance of intra-local differences.