Post-Carbon Transition

Our core research question is how do we identify, model, and trigger sensitive intervention points to rapidly transition to a post-carbon society?

The Challenge

​Modern human civilisation has been built upon energy from carbon-intensive fossil fuels. We are now on the cusp of a once-in-a-civilisation transition to a post-carbon society. The outcome of this transition could be a world that is cleaner, safer, smarter, more technologically advanced, and more prosperous. But the transition will necessarily involve structural transformation in many economic sectors. Doing more of the same will not achieve this. 

In contrast, identifying positive ‘tipping points’ could help move global economic development firmly onto a zero carbon path. While there has been a great deal of research on catastrophic tipping points in the climate system, there has been relatively little on the positive tipping points in the potential societal response to climate change that might deliver accelerated action.  

Our Approach

A richer understanding of complex socioeconomic systems could help policy makers and business leaders to find intervention points in these systems that are 'sensitive' - where a modest action might trigger an outsized response and accelerate the achievement of global net-zero emissions.