Open AccessLevers and leverage points for pathways to sustainability
Author(s) -
Chan Kai M. A.,
Boyd David R.,
Gould Rachelle K.,
Jetzkowitz Jens,
Liu Jianguo,
Muraca Barbara,
Naidoo Robin,
Olmsted Paige,
Satterfield Terre,
Selomane Odirilwe,
Singh Gerald G.,
Sumaila Rashid,
Ngo Hien T.,
Boedhihartono Agni Klintuni,
Agard John,
Aguiar Ana Paula D.,
Armenteras Dolors,
Balint Lenke,
BarringtonLeigh Christopher,
Cheung William W. L.,
Díaz Sandra,
Driscoll John,
Esler Karen,
Eyster Harold,
Gregr Edward J.,
Hashimoto Shizuka,
Hernández Pedraza Gladys Cecilia,
Hickler Thomas,
Kok Marcel,
Lazarova Tanya,
Mohamed Assem A. A.,
MurrayHudson Mike,
O'Farrell Patrick,
Palomo Ignacio,
Saysel Ali Kerem,
Seppelt Ralf,
Settele Josef,
Strassburg Bernardo,
Xue Dayuan,
Brondízio Eduardo S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
people and nature
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2575-8314
DOI - 10.1002/pan3.10124
Subject(s) - sustainability , deliberation , business , incentive , leverage (statistics) , transformative learning , environmental economics , economics , public economics , environmental resource management , political science , computer science , microeconomics , sociology , ecology , machine learning , pedagogy , law , biology , politics
Humanity is on a deeply unsustainable trajectory. We are exceeding planetary boundaries and unlikely to meet many international sustainable development goals and global environmental targets. Until recently, there was no broadly accepted framework of interventions that could ignite the transformations needed to achieve these desired targets and goals. As a component of the IPBES Global Assessment, we conducted an iterative expert deliberation process with an extensive review of scenarios and pathways to sustainability, including the broader literature on indirect drivers, social change and sustainability transformation. We asked, what are the most important elements of pathways to sustainability? Applying a social–ecological systems lens, we identified eight priority points for intervention (leverage points) and five overarching strategic actions and priority interventions (levers), which appear to be key to societal transformation. The eight leverage points are: (1) Visions of a good life, (2) Total consumption and waste, (3) Latent values of responsibility, (4) Inequalities, (5) Justice and inclusion in conservation, (6) Externalities from trade and other telecouplings, (7) Responsible technology, innovation and investment, and (8) Education and knowledge generation and sharing. The five intertwined levers can be applied across the eight leverage points and more broadly. These include: (A) Incentives and capacity building, (B) Coordination across sectors and jurisdictions, (C) Pre‐emptive action, (D) Adaptive decision‐making and (E) Environmental law and implementation. The levers and leverage points are all non‐substitutable, and each enables others, likely leading to synergistic benefits. Transformative change towards sustainable pathways requires more than a simple scaling‐up of sustainability initiatives—it entails addressing these levers and leverage points to change the fabric of legal, political, economic and other social systems. These levers and leverage points build upon those approved within the Global Assessment's Summary for Policymakers, with the aim of enabling leaders in government, business, civil society and academia to spark transformative changes towards a more just and sustainable world. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.