Turbulent Transformation: Abrupt Societal Disruption and Climate Resilient Development

This research paper examines how the global response to COVID-19 provides insights into the role of governance in achieving climate-resilient and equitable societal transformations, challenging the notion that such outcomes can be engineered through rational policy alone.

• The authors propose three pivot points for considering governance in climate-resilient development: the conflict between pursuing transformation versus returning to previous norms, the capacity for disruption and uncertainty to trigger change, and the impact of systemic inequality on how crises affect populations.
• The paper challenges the prevailing view that desired and controlled outcomes of transformation can be achieved solely through rational policy decisions, instead highlighting the 'turbulent nature' of such processes.
• Climate-resilient development is achieved by managing the turbulence of transformation through socially equitable governance, solidarity, and the creation of space for inclusive and contestatory politics.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2020). Turbulent Transformation: Abrupt Societal Disruption and Climate Resilient Development. https://www.sei.org/publications/turbulent-transformation-abrupt-societal-disruption-and-climate-resilient-development/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Turbulent Transformation: Abrupt Societal Disruption and Climate Resilient Development. 2020. https://www.sei.org/publications/turbulent-transformation-abrupt-societal-disruption-and-climate-resilient-development/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Turbulent Transformation: Abrupt Societal Disruption and Climate Resilient Development |date=16 October 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/turbulent-transformation-abrupt-societal-disruption-and-climate-resilient-development/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2020turbulent, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Turbulent Transformation: Abrupt Societal Disruption and Climate Resilient Development}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/turbulent-transformation-abrupt-societal-disruption-and-climate-resilient-development/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }