A Systems Approach to the Coupled Dynamics of Socio-political Acceptance and Sustainability Transitions

Achieving sustainability transitions necessitates not only overcoming technological challenges but also navigating the complex socio-political frameworks that shape them. In this context, we explore recent advancements in coupled models that integrate the dynamics of socio-political acceptance of mitigation actions with ecological systems. Specifically, we investigate the interactions between nonlinear socio-political acceptance and anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, with implications for climate policies and investments in clean energy. Our findings indicate that a top-down policy approach alone may be insufficient for effective emission reductions, underscoring the need for a multi-level strategy that incorporates both top-down directives and bottom-up initiatives. Furthermore, we demonstrate that opinion polarization can lead to harmful rebounds in CO₂ emissions, particularly when governments implement stringent policies in highly polarized socio-political environments.

We argue that by integrating these socio-political dynamics into climate models, we could enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between human and natural systems, paving the way for the development of more effective and resilient mitigation strategies.