From Critical Transitions to Sustainability Transformations: Phenomena, Theory, and Applications Across Disciplines
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.
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BibTeX
@misc{krueger2026from,
title = {{From Critical Transitions to Sustainability Transformations: Phenomena, Theory, and Applications Across Disciplines}},
author = {Elisabeth H. Krueger and Koustav Halder and Woi Oh and Nusrat Molla and Juan C. Rocha and Giuseppe Ferro and Guillaume Falmagne and Annie B. Stephenson and Lan Wang Erlandsson and Jacques Bara and George I. Hagstrom and Nico Wunderling and Jiayu Li and Xander Huggins and Emma R. Zajdela and Harman Jaggi and Sara M. Constantino and Caroline Schill and Vitor V. Vasconcelos},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.24119},
eprint = {2610.24119},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24119},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - From Critical Transitions to Sustainability Transformations: Phenomena, Theory, and Applications Across Disciplines
AU - Elisabeth H. Krueger
AU - Koustav Halder
AU - Woi Oh
AU - Nusrat Molla
AU - Juan C. Rocha
AU - Giuseppe Ferro
AU - Guillaume Falmagne
AU - Annie B. Stephenson
AU - Lan Wang Erlandsson
AU - Jacques Bara
AU - George I. Hagstrom
AU - Nico Wunderling
AU - Jiayu Li
AU - Xander Huggins
AU - Emma R. Zajdela
AU - Harman Jaggi
AU - Sara M. Constantino
AU - Caroline Schill
AU - Vitor V. Vasconcelos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.24119
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24119
AB - 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.
ER -