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

New
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 critical climate solution alongside curbing emissions.
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

Protect ecosystems on land

Restore deforested and degraded lands

Effectively and sustainably manage land

Sharply reduce pollution

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

Protect marine and coastal ecosystems

Restore marine and coastal ecosystems

Sharply reduce pollution from all sources

Halt the overexploitation of estuarine, 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

Protect freshwater ecosystems

Restore degraded freshwater ecosystems

Sustainably manage freshwater ecosystems

Improve water quality

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

Dramatically slow the spread of invasive, alien freshwater species

Ensure reliable access to clean water for all

Food

Food

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

Shifts

Increase crop, livestock, and aquaculture productivity sustainably, resiliently, and without expanding into high-carbon, biodiverse ecosystems

Reduce food loss and waste

Shift to 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

Eliminate harmful subsidies and investments

Extend economic and financial inclusion to underserved and marginalized groups

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

Price greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental harms

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

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

Shifts

Secure and uphold civil liberties and rights

Ensure transparency and access to information

Guarantee access to justice

Promote accountability and anti-corruption measures

Increase participation in policymaking and politics

Strengthen government capacity to plan and regulate 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

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

Shifts

Mainstream wellbeing, equity and sustainability goals into national development plans

Scale new economic narratives

Scale transformative economic policies for climate, nature, and people
News
Events
About

Home
Ocean

Ocean

The shift 5 shifts needed to transform the Ocean system

Click each shift to explore more detail and learn about key actions driving progress.

Protect marine and coastal ecosystems

Explore

Restore marine and coastal ecosystems

Explore

Sharply reduce pollution from all sources

Explore

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

Explore

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

Explore

Photo credits

Photo by Silas Baisch on Unsplash

Subscribe for updates

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

Email

Quick Links

What is Systems Change?
Systems & Shifts
Data Dashboard
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Back to Top