Abstract ID: 3.10134 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

This presentation will give an overview of the findings of the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment (TCA), as a potentially useful framework for the session’s discussions. The TCA assessed knowledge for transformative change towards a just and sustainable world, bringing together a broad range of evidence and about 100 authors with diverse expertise from 42 countries. The TCA finds that transformative change is urgent, necessary and challenging – but also possible. It characterizes the notion of transformative change as implying shifts in views, structures and practices in ways that address the underlying causes of nature’s decline, while identifying key principles to guide transformative efforts. It also identifies five main challenges to transformative change as well as synergistic strategies and actions to advance deliberate transformative change. These strategies and actions can be enhanced by weaving together insights from diverse approaches and knowledge systems, including Indigenous and local knowledge. The TCA stresses the importance of shared positive visions of the future to inspire transformative change, while highlighting the need for a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach that engages all actors and sectors in visioning and contributing collaboratively to transformative change. In particular, the TCA highlights the key roles that governments, civil society and businesses can play to support transformative change. A database with about 400 transformative initiatives shows that it is possible to achieve positive outcomes within a decade or less for a diverse set of social, economic and environmental indicators, and that initiatives involving greater collaborations among actor groups achieve more positive outcomes. Finally, the TCA also maps the existing theories and approaches to understand transformative change (systems, structural, inner transformation, empowerment, knowledge co-creation, science and technology), while highlighting their complementary nature for promoting and accelerating deliberate transformative change. After presenting the main findings of the TCA, I will discuss some preliminary ideas on how they can inform transformative efforts towards Living Well in mountains.