Operationalising positive tipping points towards global sustainability

Non-technical summary Transforming towards global sustainability requires a dramatic acceleration of social change. Hence, there is growing interest in finding ‘positive tipping points’ at which small interventions can trigger self-reinforcing feedbacks that accelerate systemic Examples have recently been seen power generation and personal transport, but how we identify positive points yet to occur? We synthesise theory examples provide initial guidelines for creating enabling conditions, sensing when system be positively tipped, who it, they it. All us play part triggering points. Technical Recent work on has focused social-technological systems the agency policymakers tip change, whilst earlier identified social-ecological triggered by diverse actors. bring these together consider across social-technological-ecological potential multiple actors them. Established several generic mechanisms From specific reinforcing feedbacks, contribute adoption sustainable behaviours technologies. Actions create conditions include targeting smaller populations, altering network structure, providing relevant information, reducing price, improving performance, desirability accessibility, coordinating complementary social, technological ecological innovations, policy interventions, public investment, private broadcasting behavioural nudges. Positive help counter widespread feelings disempowerment face challenges unlock ‘paralysis complexity’. A key research agenda different agents most effectively system-wide ensuring just transformation. Social media actions enable sustainability.