Abstract
There is a sense of urgency about what is needed to achieve transformational change. The global objective of stabilizing the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous climate change requires immediate changes that go beyond sectoral or national borders and extend into the long-term future. This means large-scale transformations in human societies, from the way that we produce and consume energy to how we use the land surface. To achieve this objective, it is not sufficient to become more sustainable gradually: comprehensive changes in patterns of production and consumption are needed in our societies and economies. The term Transformational Change (TC) reflects the fundamental change needed to prevent dangerous climate change and to ensure sustainable development globally. TC must promote a systemic transformation of world views, institutions and technologies together, viewed as an integrated system. As opposed to incremental changes, TC must be
• large enough to have a transformational impact;
• comprehensive and consistent across sectors in order to avoid other changes nullifying the impacts of the project to propel TC toward the global goals of sustainable development and limiting global warming;
• and sustainable in the long-term, thus avoiding so-called rebound effects, which compensate or even overcompensate for emissions reductions through economic growth effects.
• large enough to have a transformational impact;
• comprehensive and consistent across sectors in order to avoid other changes nullifying the impacts of the project to propel TC toward the global goals of sustainable development and limiting global warming;
• and sustainable in the long-term, thus avoiding so-called rebound effects, which compensate or even overcompensate for emissions reductions through economic growth effects.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 13 |
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Publication status | Published - 2017 |