Transition Management transdisciplinarity for sustainability Dr. Derk Loorbach Leiden, 26-08-2009

My argument Persistent social problems require system innovation Integrated scientific understanding, multidisciplinarity New engagement between science and society, transdisciplinarity More adaptive and innovative governance/policy systems Transition and transition management Integrated perspective on complex social systems Framework for integration and innovation

Persistent social problems require system innovation

Integrated scientific understanding, multidisciplinarity

New engagement between science and society, transdisciplinarity

More adaptive and innovative governance/policy systems

Transition and transition management

Integrated perspective on complex social systems

Framework for integration and innovation

Complex, long-term and uncertain Embedded in societal structures Many actors involved, contested and ill-structured Difficult to ‘manage’ Examples: energy, mobility, agriculture, education, health care, waste and water management, housing etc.  Unsustainability lock-in requires transitions Persistent problems

Complex, long-term and uncertain

Embedded in societal structures

Many actors involved, contested and ill-structured

Difficult to ‘manage’

Examples: energy, mobility, agriculture, education, health care, waste and water management, housing etc.

 Unsustainability lock-in requires transitions

Key ideas underlying transition management Dealing with ongoing societal transitions Influence speed and direction Stimulating and facilitating learning In and between policy, science, business and NGO’s Creating conditions for up-scaling and break-through From a normative-scientific perspective

Dealing with ongoing societal transitions

Influence speed and direction

Stimulating and facilitating learning

In and between policy, science, business and NGO’s

Creating conditions for up-scaling and break-through

From a normative-scientific perspective

Multidisciplinary basis Policy sciences Sustainable Development Complexity theory Sociology Technology studies 1980s 2000 Modeling Multi - level Multi fase TM Climate research Onzerkerh . Klimaat modellen Scene IA structuratie management SCOT Transitie Niche CTA History Innovation studies 1990s Multi - level Multi- phase emergence . CAS Scaling Climate models 3P governance IA Structuration Management SCOT Transition Niche CTA Uncertainty Transition Management

Transition Management basic tenets Complex system thinking as analytical basis Long-term (transition) vision guides short-term actions Multi-actor approach Taking multi-level dynamics into account Dealing with uncertainties Keeping options open Focus on learning, experiments and innovation

Complex system thinking as analytical basis

Long-term (transition) vision guides short-term actions

Multi-actor approach

Taking multi-level dynamics into account

Dealing with uncertainties

Keeping options open

Focus on learning, experiments and innovation

Governance framework for dealing with transitions Strategic (culture, worldviews, norms and values) Tactical (institutions, networks, structures) Operational (practices, innovations, niches) Monitoring, evaluating and adapting Developing sustainability images, coalitions and joint transition-agendas Problem structuring, envisioning and organizing transition-arenas Mobilizing actors and transition- experiments

society Transitionarena Regular policy arena - Short term - Peloton Incremental change Problem- and goal oriented - Long term - Innovators System-innovation Problem- and goal searching Transition arenas

- Short term

- Peloton

Incremental change

Problem- and goal oriented

- Long term

- Innovators

System-innovation

Problem- and goal searching

NMP4 ICIS-Merit DuWoBo Energy Valley Plan C OVAM R3 Parkstad Limburg Energytransition Drift Health Care Roof Transition Rotterdam Transition Program TA Building KSI Transforum Psibouw Transumo

Transition in/of Rotterdam 650.000 inhabitants, relatively young population, 50% immigrants, huge harbour/industry Major problems/challenges: climate, social, spatial Three programs on these themes, linked to policy transition Rotterdam Climate Initiative Pact op Zuid Stadshavens  Transition management used to structure, accelerate and guide societal and governance innovation

650.000 inhabitants, relatively young population, 50% immigrants, huge harbour/industry

Major problems/challenges: climate, social, spatial

Three programs on these themes, linked to policy transition

Rotterdam Climate Initiative

Pact op Zuid

Stadshavens

 Transition management used to structure, accelerate and guide societal and governance innovation

Urban transition management Implementation of TM raises ambition, coherence and willingness to act ‘ Transitionizing’ existing policies Use of the concept of transitions to conceptualize, analyze and identify ongoing changes towards sustainability in different domains Stimulation of envisioning and goal formulation on the long-term (re)structuring transition scenario’s and pathways Up-scaling and initiating projects and experiments Reflection and evaluation of progress of transitions and (required) changes in governance

Implementation of TM raises ambition, coherence and willingness to act

‘ Transitionizing’ existing policies

Use of the concept of transitions to conceptualize, analyze and identify ongoing changes towards sustainability in different domains

Stimulation of envisioning and goal formulation on the long-term

(re)structuring transition scenario’s and pathways

Up-scaling and initiating projects and experiments

Reflection and evaluation of progress of transitions and (required) changes in governance

Transidiscplinary approach Analysis and integration Theory and concept development Organizing Facilitating Selecting Structuring and synthesizing Evaluating and reflecting Empirical validation

Analysis and integration

Theory and concept development

Organizing

Facilitating

Selecting

Structuring and synthesizing

Evaluating and reflecting

Empirical validation

TM – 2.0: radical change in incremental steps Integrative system perspective Reframing social issues and developing shared perspectives, interests and strategies Basic tenets and framework guide experimental governance strategy development Visions, experiments, agenda’s & reflection inform one another Building up societal pressure on regime, and seducing regime actors to participate ‘ Transitionizing’ regular policy Framework for science-policy co-production Iteration between theory and practice

Integrative system perspective

Reframing social issues and developing shared perspectives, interests and strategies

Basic tenets and framework guide experimental governance strategy development

Visions, experiments, agenda’s & reflection inform one another

Building up societal pressure on regime, and seducing regime actors to participate

‘ Transitionizing’ regular policy

Framework for science-policy co-production

Iteration between theory and practice

Final remarks TM is an multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach TM seeks to accelerate and guide emerging or obvious transition dynamics Transitions are about build-up and breakdown, about raising and breaking through resilience ‘ managing’ transitions implies new roles for science and policy

TM is an multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach

TM seeks to accelerate and guide emerging or obvious transition dynamics

Transitions are about build-up and breakdown, about raising and breaking through resilience

‘ managing’ transitions implies new roles for science and policy