Transformations to sustainability: Processes, practices, and pathways

Fabio de Castro*, Marjo de Theije, Akriti Jain, W. Neil Adger

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Transformations of economies, norms and social relations are required to achieve the sustainability of earth systems as part of wider sustainability. This Special Issue examines how sustainability transformations are shaped by processes, practices, and pathways as sets of collective action. The contributions showcase interdisciplinary research, empirical studies, and community engagement with may arguing that such holistic approaches are essential to achieving sustainable transformations. Here we highlight both critical barriers, such as economic constraints, political resistance, and justice conflicts, and mechanisms that enable systemic change, such as scaling up, institutionalizing sustainability innovations, strengthening multi-level governance, and participatory decision-making. Future research requires on understanding the stages and scales of transformation, identifying power dynamics and governance structures that enable systemic change, and the importance of integrating co-produced knowledge into policymaking.
Original languageEnglish
Article number103007
Pages (from-to)1-5
Number of pages5
JournalGlobal Environmental Change
Volume92
Early online date9 May 2025
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 9 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025

Funding

The research is financially supported by the Belmont Forum Research Programme on Transformations to Sustainability, Economic and Social Research Council, United Kingdom (Grant ES/S007687/1 ), and the Dutch Research Council, The Netherlands (Grants 462.17.201 and 462.17.210 )

FundersFunder number
Economic and Social Research CouncilES/S007687/1
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek462.17.201, 462.17.210

    Keywords

    • Co-production
    • Transformation to sustainability
    • Transformative pathways
    • Transformative practices
    • Transformative process

    VU Research Profile

    • Science for Sustainability

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