Skip to main content

Systems Change Lab

Data & Research
Systems
Power

Power

It is time to phase out fossil fuels and shift to a renewable system that provides clean electricity to everyone.
Explore the Power System

Shifts

Phase out coal and unabated fossil gas electricity generation

Rapidly scale up zero-carbon electricity generation

Modernize power grids, scale energy storage and manage power demand

Ensure energy access and a just and equitable transition for all

Industry

Industry

Reducing industrial emissions will require greater resource efficiency and circularity, electrification and new solutions—including hydrogen and carbon capture.
Explore the Industry System

Shifts

Reduce demand for cement, steel and plastics

Improve industrial energy efficiency

Electrify industry

Commercialize new solutions for cement, steel and plastics

Reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations as they are phased down

Transport

Transport

We must reduce demand for travel, shift to zero-carbon transport and improve existing road, rail, sea and air travel to reduce emissions.
Explore the Transport System

Shifts

Guarantee reliable access to safe and modern mobility

Reduce avoidable vehicle and air travel

Shift to public, shared and non-motorized transport

Transition to zero-carbon cars, trucks and buses

Transition to zero-carbon shipping and aviation

Cities

Cities

In an increasingly urban world, we must develop zero-waste sustainable cities that are efficient, resilient and equitable for all.
Explore the Cities System

Shifts

Plan urban land use to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience

Increase access to resilient and affordable urban services and infrastructure

Improve urban waste management and transition to zero-waste cities

Buildings

Buildings

To reduce and eliminate building-related emissions, we need to construct new net-zero buildings, optimize energy efficiency, and decarbonize heating, cooling and appliances.
Explore the Buildings System

Shifts

Construct zero-carbon buildings

Optimize building energy consumption

Decarbonize building energy use

Carbon Removal

Carbon Removal

Removing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it permanently is a necessary complement to deep and rapid emissions reductions.
Explore the Carbon Removal System

Shifts

Scale up technological carbon removal

Land

Land

The land system and its shifts will be launched soon.
Get notified of updates

Shifts

Effectively halt deforestation, conversion and degradation across terrestrial ecosystems

Restore deforested and degraded terrestrial ecosystems

Adopt improved land management practices to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration

Sharply reduce pollution in forests and land ecosystems

Halt the overexploitation of wild species on land and ensure that use is sustainable

Dramatically slow the spread of invasive alien species on land

Ocean

Ocean

The ocean system and its shifts will be launched soon.
Get notified of updates

Shifts

Effectively halt the conversion and degradation across coastal and marine ecosystems

Restore marine and coastal ecosystems

Sharply reduce pollution

Halt the overexploitation of coastal and marine species and ensure that use is sustainable

Dramatically slow the spread of invasive, alien species in marine ecosystems

Freshwater

Freshwater

The freshwater system and its shifts will be launched soon.
Get notified of updates

Shifts

Minimize disruptions to the timing and quantity of the water cycle

Effectively halt conversion and degradation across freshwater ecosystems

Restore freshwater ecosystems

Sharply reduce water pollution and improve water quality

Ensure equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all

Halt the overexploitation of wild, freshwater species and ensure sustainable use

Food

Food

To equitably and nutritiously feed a growing population while limiting warming and biodiversity loss, we must transform how we produce and consume food.
Explore the Food System

Shifts

Increase agricultural productivity sustainably, resiliently and without expanding into high-carbon, biodiverse ecosystems

Reduce food loss and waste

Ensure access to and adoption of healthier, more sustainable diets for all

Finance

Finance

Public and private investment will determine whether we are subsidizing an unsustainable pathway or investing in a sustainable and just future.
Explore the Finance System

Shifts

Scale up public investment for climate and nature

Scale up private investment for climate and nature

Scale down investment harmful to climate and nature

Extend economic and financial inclusion to underserved and marginalized groups

Ensure that the financial system accounts for climate- and nature-related risks

Circularity

Circularity

Moving away from the historical “take-make-waste” linear economy and toward a circular economy centered around “reduce, reuse and recycle” is crucial to reducing overconsumption and relieving stress on natural resources.
Explore the Circularity System

Shifts

Decrease overconsumption

Use recycled, reused and renewable materials and components

Minimize environmental and social harms in resource extraction

Make production more resource efficient

Use products longer

Increase the quantity and value of resources recovered at end of use

Governance

Governance

Effective and just governance should ensure equity in the way decisions are made, resources are allocated and services are delivered across society.
Explore the Governance System

Shifts

Enable a safe and secure environment for workers, civil society and communities

Ensure transparency and access to information

Guarantee access to justice

Promote government accountability and anti-corruption measures

Ensure inclusive citizen participation in policymaking and political processes

Strengthen government capacity to implement commitments fairly and effectively

Equity

Equity

The equity system and its shifts will be launched soon.
Get notified of updates

Shifts

Provide reliable, universal access to basic services and opportunities

Reduce social and political inequities

Facilitate a just transition to a net-zero, nature-positive future

Re-distribute income and wealth to ensure that they are not concentrated in the hands of the very few

Economics

Economics

Transforming the global economic system will require integrating wellbeing, equity and sustainability metrics into economic plans, models and policies.
Explore the Economics System

Shifts

Integrate new prosperity metrics into economic planning and policymaking

Embed climate, nature and equity into economic analysis

Transform economic policies to accelerate action for climate, nature and equity
News & Insights
Events
About

Home
Freshwater
Sharply Reduce Water Pollution and Improve Water Quality

Sharply reduce water pollution and improve water quality

Shift Menu

Overview
Outcomes
Enablers & Barriers
Other Shifts

Tracking progress on global outcomes

Key enablers and barriers to change

Other shift Other shifts needed to transform the system

Minimize disruptions to the timing and quantity of the water cycle

Explore

Effectively halt conversion and degradation across freshwater ecosystems

Explore

Restore freshwater ecosystems

Explore

Ensure equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all

Explore

Halt the overexploitation of wild, freshwater species and ensure sustainable use

Explore

Subscribe for updates

Get the latest news, insights and data on systems change.

Email

Leave this field blank

Quick Links

Getting Started
Systems & Shifts
Data Dashboard
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Back to Top