From Critical Transitions to Sustainability Transformations: Phenomena, Theory, and Applications Across Disciplines
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: There has been a recent surge in the use of terms describing systemic change processes across science, policy, and public debate. The associated change phenomena are often assumed to be abrupt and irreversible once critical thresholds are crossed. However, the interchangeable use of terms leaves definitions and the underpinning scientific theory unclear, which can lead to misconceptions about transition processes and potential impacts. Here, we present selected empirical examples representing phenomena of tipping points, regime shifts, critical transitions, phase transitions, social and socio-technical transitions, and sustainability transformations, together with their underlying theory derived from the broadly defined domains of physics and mathematics, Earth science and ecology, social sciences, and their interdisciplinary overlaps. We bring these fields into closer conversation, creating a shared understanding of each of the conceptual roots, phenomena, mechanisms, and specific applications. This can help steward the governance of social-ecological change towards more just and sustainable futures.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Krueger, Elisabeth H., Halder, Koustav, Oh, Woi, Molla, Nusrat, Rocha, Juan C., Ferro, Giuseppe, Falmagne, Guillaume, Stephenson, Annie B., Erlandsson, Lan Wang, Bara, Jacques, Hagstrom, George I., Wunderling, Nico, Li, Jiayu, Huggins, Xander, Zajdela, Emma R., Jaggi, Harman, Constantino, Sara M., Schill, Caroline, Vasconcelos, Vitor V.
Institutions: University of Amsterdam, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of Waterloo, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Princeton University, High Meadows Environmental Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Technological University Dublin, University of Bonn, City University of New York, University of Glasgow, Stanford University
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Commerce, City University of New York, Princeton University, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Vetenskapsrådet, Stockholms Universitet, Technological University Dublin, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Awards: Understanding and managing Sweden’s exposure to water resilience risks in the Anthropocene, G2320637251, Understanding and securing the resilience of forest-based climate change mitigation, G4389867370, Collaborative Research: Interactive physiological controls of trait expression, nutrient allocation, and the elemental stoichiometry of Synechococcus, Journal Moderna Språk: funding for editor and editorial secretary, G5645556214, Capturing and measuring multiple and systemic environmental impacts of companies and investments: a new tool that accounts for climate, water and biodiversity and their interactions, A Safe Operating Space for the Cryosphere: understanding and safeguarding critical cryosphere functions for Earth resilience (SOS-Cryo), G8782162473
OpenAlex ID: W7223015477