Social science understandings of transformation

Abstract

Society must adapt and learn to live in a world that is 4°C warmer. Many encourage profound changes in the way society is organised and responds to change, often using the language of transformation. How is transformation understood in the context of environmental change? What can be learned from a case study of transformative social and political change? The authors identify challenges for social science to inform, guide and reflect critically on the transformation concept, and to contribute to debates on reshaping society to cope with environmental change.