It’s time to change the way we think about changing the world.
Systems Change Lab monitors, learns from and mobilizes action toward the transformational shifts needed to protect both people and the planet.
Imagine a future where we reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, halt biodiversity loss and build a just and equitable economy. Building such a future is possible — and it's also within reach. Luckily, we've never had more information about what needs to be done.
To ignite transformational change across our interconnected systems, Systems Change Lab has identified more than 70 shifts needed to protect both people and the planet. Within each shift, we measure how much progress has been made toward 2030 and 2050 science-based targets, as well as enablers and barriers of systems change.
Together we can spark the radical transformations needed for the planet to survive and thrive. To pinpoint opportunities for leveraging systems change, we track where change is accelerating or heading in the wrong direction, and we identify critical data gaps.
We’ve identified 130 targets of progress across 7 systems. Of these targets, 52 are moving in the right direction and 2 are on track.
![]() | Right Direction, On Track | Change is occurring at or above the pace required to achieve 2030 targets |
![]() | Right Direction, Off Track | Change is heading in the right direction at a promising but insufficient pace |
![]() | Right Direction, Well Off Track | Change is heading in the right direction, but well below the required pace |
![]() | Right Direction, No Target | Change is heading in the right direction, but there is no target against which to assess progress |
![]() | Wrong Direction | Change is heading in the wrong direction, and a u-turn is needed |
![]() | Insufficient Data | Data is insufficient to assess the gap in action required |
Targets can only tell us part of the story: there are many other factors at play that can spark and sustain progress. To understand the underlying conditions that can accelerate or impede change, we’ve identified 218 enablers and barriers across 7 systems.
There are promising signs that show accelerated change is possible. These signals of change indicate where momentum is growing.
Explore our open-source platform to determine the state of play across each system, learn how systems interact and discover actions you can take to accelerate change.
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Systems Change Lab tracks global progress across systems and highlights current action against climate, biodiversity and equity targets.
Our world is complex and interconnected — small changes in one system can have unforeseen consequences in others. In 2024, Systems Change Lab will release a tool to show how systems are connected, highlighting where coordinated action is most needed.
Convened by World Resources Institute and Bezos Earth Fund, Systems Change Lab supports the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and works with key partners and funders including Climate Action Tracker (a project of NewClimate Institute and Climate Analytics), ClimateWorks Foundation, Global Environment Facility, Just Climate, Mission Possible Partnership, Systemiq, University of Exeter and the University of Tokyo’s Center for Global Commons, among others. Systems Change Lab is a component of the Global Commons Alliance.