Systems change. Transformation. Deep transition. These phrases are used so often they risk becoming buzzwords with diminished meaning.

And yet to limit global temperature rise, conserve nature, and build a fairer economy that benefits everyone, wewillneed deep change across every aspect of our economies at a pace and scale we have not yet seen.

The latest science tells us that we must limit warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) to prevent increasingly dangerous and irreversible climate change impacts. It also tells us that we must protect, sustainably manage and restore ecosystems, among other actions, to halt biodiversity loss as soon as possible. To achieve all this, we need fundamental change across nearly all major systems by 2030 — power, buildings, industry, transport, forests and land, and food and agriculture. Cross-cutting transformations of political, social, and economic systems must also occur to enable this and ensure the change is socially inclusive with equitable outcomes for all.

To be blunt, action that is incremental or confined to one agenda, region or sector will not be enough.

The global crises we face today — climate, ecological, health, equity, geopolitical and beyond — are closely interconnected. Changes in one system can cause unforeseen consequences in others. If we are to create a sustainable and just future for all, we must navigate these with a systems lens to fully grasp the complex dynamics.

我们创建了Systems Change Labin response to the urgent need for transformational change. The new initiative aims to spur action at the pace and scale needed to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges across climate, nature and equity.

But what exactlysystems change, and how can a systems approach help us solve complex environmental and development challenges? Below, we answer six key questions.

1) What Is Systems Change, and Why Is it Important?

Systems change can be defined as shifting component parts of a system — and the pattern of interactions between these parts — to ultimately form a new system that behaves in a qualitatively different way.

Many governments, corporate leaders, and civil society organizations approach change projects with linear models and plans, “if A then B.” But engaging a complex system is not as simple as this.

我们每天浏览系统的相互依存网,所有这些网都具有复杂的互连和独特的关系。例如,一个家庭,一个社区,一个国家。同样,我们的运输系统,食品系统和城市。从系统上进行思考通常涉及:

  • Seeing the whole rather than just parts;
  • 看到变化的模式,而不是静态快照;
  • 了解系统内和系统之间的关键互连;
  • 参与不同的观点;
  • Constantly learning and adapting; and
  • Probing assumptions.

2) What Does Changing a System Actually Look Like?

First, it is important to consider why the current system is no longer fit for purpose.

For example, take the global power system. Electricity has changed people’s lives for the better in countless ways. And yet: Hundreds of millions still lack access to reliable power; the burning of fossil fuels that provides most electricity is changing the climate, contributing around全球温室气体(GHG)排放的23%;并且向更清洁的电源转移差点差不多,无法使全球温度上升到1.5度以下C.解决所有这些问题 - 同时保护人类健康和工作 - 这并不是很小的任务。

系统变化通常涉及一系列的转变,这些变化共同工作以破坏现状并创建全系统变化。例如,为了将全球电力系统转变为所有人的更可持续和公正的未来,关键的组成部分将包括:

  • Phasing out unabated coal and fossil gas electricity generation;
  • 快速扩大零碳发电;
  • Modernizing power grids, scaling energy storage, and managing power demand; and
  • Ensuring energy access and a just and equitable transition for all.

没有银子弹,而是必须拼凑在一起的解决方案的拼图,随着我们更多地了解什么有效和无效的方法。

在添加零碳发电的单一重点只会使我们走得太远。我们需要思考系统的其余部分将需要如何同时和彼此之间的关系 - 包括从化石燃料过渡而不将依赖的社区和工人抛在后面(称为“正义过渡”);更新网格和整体电源管理;确保公平访问;并发展电力系统的弹性,以影响气候变化的影响。必威官网是真的吗

It’s also critical to consider the nexus of relationships with other systems — how shifts in the power system can most effectively enable other systems to change, such as transport as more modes of travel are electrified. All the while, navigating these transitions amid the backdrop of broader geopolitical and landscape-level complexities is vital.

14个互连系统

3) How Do You Apply Systems Change?

将系统变化作为一种​​复杂挑战的方法,可以帮助决策者指出关注,确定更有效的解决方案并更好地了解各种干预措施的级联影响。

有许多路线和工具可以应用策略进行系统变化 -系统映射,期货实践, viewing变化模式和更多。但是三个一般元素包括:

  1. Determining points of leverage and the required transformations:加深对系统,其模式和互连的理解,以确定最有效地带来全系统变化的转变。
  2. Learning about what drives change:拥抱复杂性并收集过去和现在的变化例子的见解,以识别可能加速步伐和扩展的驱动因素,同时减轻意外后果。
  3. Effectively aligning change agents and mobilizing action:Deeply engaging and collaborating with the range of stakeholders in the system toward a path in which each is uniquely motivated and has a distinct role to play in shepherding the change.

4) What Major Shifts Are Required to Achieve Systems Change to Meet Our Global Climate, Nature and Equity Goals?

To limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C, halt biodiversity loss and build a fairer economy, nearly every major system will need to transform, including how we grow food, power our economies, build cities, conserve nature and beyond. Cross-cutting transitions must also occur in political, social and economic systems — such as how we finance these transitions, evolve measures of economic prosperity, govern our shared natural resources, and ensure that everyone benefits from the sustainable economy.

在这些系统中的每个系统中,都必须同时且迅速地发生许多组件变化,以实现必要的变化水平。系统更改实验室确定more than 70 critical shifts总而言之,可以帮助改变几乎所有主要系统。

These shifts range from phasing out the internal combustion engine; to extending financial services to underserved communities; to adopting more holistic indicators of economic well-being; to developing solutions for hard-to-abate industries like steel, cement and plastics; to restoring deforested and degraded land.

5) What Are the Enablers and Barriers to Systems Change?

It is critical to consider the factors that may contribute to or hinder progress of systems change. The specific enabling conditions range widely, but Systems Change Lab has identified five common categories:

  • Innovations in technology, practices and approaches;
  • Leadership from change agents;
  • Regulation and incentives;
  • Strong institutions; and
  • 行为改变和社会规范的转变。

For example, there are many possible factors that could enable or hinder systems change across the power system — such as fossil fuel subsidies, cost of energy storage, corporate leadership in procuring renewable energy, national electrification plans and more. Additional equity-related enabling conditions that would help foster a just transition in the power system could include the number of programs supporting fossil fuel workers in transitioning to other jobs, the number of firms offering training in skills for clean energy, and the number of jobs in green sectors.

Tracking trends among these factors and uncovering insights about their interconnections can help accelerate transitions while also considering potential knock-on impacts, co-benefits or trade-offs.

6)我们如何跟踪系统变化的进度?

Systems Change Labwill track global progress across nearly every major system in order to spur transformational change across climate, nature and equity.

Within each shift identified, we measure how much progress has been made toward 2030 and 2050 science-based targets, as well as individual enablers and barriers of systems change. We track where change is accelerating or heading in the wrong direction entirely, as well as identify critical gaps in knowledge and data.

To Reach Critical Systems Change, We Must Start Now

迄今为止的行动在很大程度上未能以所需的速度和规模刺激变化。建立我们达到零排放,停止生物多样性损失并建立公正和公平的全球经济的未来,这是可能的。幸运的是,我们从来没有关于需要做什么的更多信息。

采用系统方法将是实现这一道路的关键。它将需要社会各个角落和每个系统中的领导。我们可以一起激发地球和我们社会蓬勃发展所需的系统变化。