Transformative Environmental Governance

Authors

Brian C. Chaffin, University of MontanaFollow
Ahjond Garmestani, US Environmental Protection AgencyFollow
Lance Gunderson, Emory UniversityFollow
Melinda Harm Benson, University of New Mexico - Main CampusFollow
David G. Angeler, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesFollow
Craig Anthony (Tony) Arnold, University of Louisville Brandeis School of LawFollow
Barbara Cosens, University of Idaho, College of LawFollow
Robin Kundis Craig, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of UtahFollow
J.B. B. Ruhl, Vanderbilt Law SchoolFollow
Craig R. Allen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2016. 41:399–423

doi: 10.1146/annurev-environ-110615-085817

Comments

US govt

Abstract

Transformative governance is an approach to environmental governance that has the capacity to respond to, manage, and trigger regime shifts in coupled social-ecological systems (SESs) at multiple scales. The goal of transformative governance is to actively shift degraded SESs to alternative, more desirable, or more functional regimes by altering the structures and processes that define the system. Transformative governance is rooted in ecological theories to explain cross-scale dynamics in complex systems, as well as social theories of change, innovation, and technological transformation. Similar to adaptive governance, transformative governance involves a broad set of governance components, but requires additional capacity to foster new social-ecological regimes including increased risk tolerance, significant systemic investment, and restructured economies and power relations. Transformative governance has the potential to actively respond to regime shifts triggered by climate change, and thus future research should focus on identifying system drivers and leading indicators associated with social-ecological thresholds.