Turning Insight into Action:
How the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment Can Drive Real Change

The webinar, “Turning Insight into Action: How the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment Can Drive Real Change,” brought together experts from the Transformations Community, cCHANGE, and SocSES to explore how the Transformative Change Assessment (TCA) can support sustainability and biodiversity efforts. Key discussions centered on the universal connection to nature, the imagination gap in transformation, and the need for boundary organizations to facilitate collaboration.

Karen O’Brien emphasized the importance of showing up strategically and engaging in deliberate transformations through relationships and transformative capacities. Michael Schoon highlighted the role of resilience and broadening participation in community building, stressing the need for practical, inclusive spaces for ongoing collaboration. The session underscored the urgency of strategic partnerships and the importance of translating insights into real-world action across diverse sectors and communities.

Recording:

Slides:

Karen O’Brien
(cCHANGE)

Co-chair, IPBES Transformative Change Assessment

David Obura
(IPBES Global Assessment)

Scientific Chair, IPBES

Fern Wickson
(Chapter 1)

Professor of Ocean Leadership, The Arctic University of Norway

Sebastian Villasante
(Chapter 2)

Professor of Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela

Lynne Shannon
(Chapter 2)

Associate Professor, University of Cape Town

Oonsie Biggs
(Chapter 3)

Professor and SARChI Chair, Stellenbosch University

Sergio Lambertucci
(Chapter 4)

Researcher, National University of Comahue

Niki Frantzeskaki
(Chapter 4)

Chair Professor, Utrecht University

Hannah Gosnell
(Chapter 5, IPBES TCA)

Professor, Oregon State University

Bruce Goldstein
(Transformations Community)

Expert in transformation networks, systems thinking, and participatory governance.

Invitations:

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Webinar Overview

The IPBES Transformative Change Assessment (TCA) is a landmark moment for communities contributing towards sustainability transformations. Hosted by the Transformations Community (TC) in collaboration with cCHANGE and SocSES, this interactive webinar will focus on how these “boundary organizations” can work together to translate the key insights of the TCA into actionable strategies and real-world change.

This webinar is a pre-session leading up to the TC/ESG 2025 Conference in August 2025, where many of these discussions will continue.

Session Goals

Showcase the significance of the IPBES TCA by highlighting key insights from each chapter through lead authors’ presentations and a moderated discussion.

Explore practical applications of TCA by discussing ways researchers, policymakers, and practitioners can implement it within their organizations.

Foster collaboration across boundary organizations by reflecting on how Transformations Community, cCHANGE, and SocSES can work together to turn TCA insights into actionable outcomes.

Background: The Role of Boundary Organizations

Boundary organizations serve as critical connectors, translating scientific knowledge into actionable policy and practice while integrating diverse knowledge systems to foster systemic change (Guston, 2001). By acting as facilitators of cross-sector collaboration, these organizations enhance the epistemic community of sustainability transformations, ensuring that insights from research effectively inform and shape governance and implementation strategies. This webinar will explore how Transformations Community, cCHANGE and SocSES, each playing a boundary organization role, can work together to strengthen science-policy-practice linkages for sustainability.

Webinar Highlights

Introductory discussion on the role of boundary organizations in catalyzing transformation

Highlights from key TCA chapters presented by lead authors

Breakout discussions to explore how to apply the TCA in practice

Reflections on building collaboration across boundary organizations

Panelists & Facilitators

Karen O’Brien

cCHANGE
Co-chair
IPBES Transformative Change Assessment

David Obura

IPBES Global Assessment
Scientific Chair
IPBES

Fern Wickson

Chapter 1
Professor of Ocean Leadership
The Arctic University of Norway

Sebastian Villasante

Chapter 2
Professor of Economics
University of Santiago de Compostela

Lynne Shannon

Chapter 2
Associate Professor
University of Cape Town

Oonsie Biggs

Chapter 3
Professor and SARChI Chair
Stellenbosch University

Sergio Lambertucci

Chapter 4
Researcher
National University of Comahue

Niki Frantzeskaki

Chapter 4
Chair Professor
Utrecht University

Hannah Gosnell

Chapter 5
Professor
Oregon State University

Bruce Goldstein

Transformations Community
Expert in transformation networks, systems thinking, and participatory governance.

Co-Hosted by the Transformations Community, cCHANGE and SocSES
May 8th, 2025 | 17:00 – 18:30 CEST | Online Webinar

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