Systems Change Lab
Monitoring, learning from and accelerating the transformational changes required to protect both people and the planet
The world stands at a crossroads: continue to invest in yesterday’s economy — a decision that will intensify climate change, accelerate biodiversity loss and deepen socioeconomic inequities — or change course toward a more sustainable, prosperous and just future. While the latter path is the obvious choice, actions to date have largely failed to spur change at the speed and scale needed to mitigate the global crises we now face.
Reaching net-zero emissions, halting biodiversity loss and building a fairer economy will require transformational change across nearly all systems. These systems include energy; transport; cities; the built environment; industry; food and agriculture; and management of the world’s forests, freshwater and ocean. Broader, cross-cutting transitions must also occur, such as how we measure economic well-being, produce and consume the world’s resources, finance these transformations and govern the global commons.
Systems Change Lab has identified a series of shifts that, together, can help accelerate the transitions required across each system. For example, transforming the world’s energy system into one that can deliver electricity to all without emitting dangerous levels of greenhouse gas emissions will entail decarbonizing electricity; scaling energy storage and managing power demand; electrifying hard-to-abate sectors, such as transportation and industry; and developing new solutions for those who currently lack energy access.
In total, there are more than 70 shifts required across all systems, and nearly all must happen concurrently to protect both people and the planet. Some are widely understood and already underway, with well-established multi-stakeholder coalitions driving change. For others, progress has stalled or is only just beginning.
With so much at stake, it’s essential to step back and examine the bigger picture. Where is transformational change truly taking hold, and where is it falling behind? What are the ingredients of effective systems change? Can lessons of success be shared across systems?
Systems Change Lab was formed to answer these fundamental questions. The initiative:
Monitors systems change globally
Our open-source data platform enables everyone, everywhere to see a complete picture of progress: which shifts are accelerating or lagging, as well as key forces driving these changes. We also produce reports assessing global progress toward these transformations.
Identifies key drivers of systems change and shares lessons learned
While monitoring progress reveals where transformations are accelerating, it does not shed light on why they are occurring. Our research focuses on identifying the ingredients of systems change. We partner with experts around the world to produce analyses which not only instill greater confidence that change is possible, but also equip decision-makers with roadmaps for sparking and sustaining transformational change.
Campaigns for systems change
Our open-source data platform and research provide organizations, coalitions and messengers with the information they need to identify the most impactful levers of change. We also mobilize support for the most critical transformations needed to accelerate progress, while emphasizing co-benefits, risks and trade-offs to inform decision-making.
Cover image credit: Chris Yakimov/Flickr
