We curate publications in sustainability science that address what we take to be the field’s core challenge: understanding and navigating nature-society systems (complex adaptive systems, coupled human-environment dynamics, socio-ecological systems) to enable transformations toward more equitable development pathways for both current and future generations.
Updated monthly.
July 2026
1. Actions and actors driving transformative change for global sustainability
Reyes-García, V., Krug, R.M., Agrawal, A., et al. · Nature Sustainability · Feb 2026
Large-scale bibliometric analysis identifying which actors and mechanisms actually drive transformative change. Moves beyond theory to show what works in practice.
2. Advancing biodiversity through poverty solutions
Pradhan, N., Ibáñez, I., Chhatre, A., et al. · Nature Sustainability · Mar 2026
Reveals that poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation aren’t trade-offs. Poor households can be better forest stewards than wealthier ones.
3. Realising environmental justice: Strategy and tactics for transformation
Schlosberg, D., Rickards, L., Della Bosca, H., et al. · EPC: Politics and Space · Feb 2026
Maps three distinct approaches to environmental justice organizing. There’s no single playbook, but multiple strategies that environmental justice scholars identify as effective.
4. Social movements are transformative agents for biodiversity conservation
Walter, M., Scheidel, A., Vadez, C., et al. · Sustainability Science · Dec 2025
Documents 2,801 environmental justice mobilizations and shows ~40% occur within biodiversity hotspots. Civil society, not just conservation professionals, is driving biodiversity protection.
5. Smallholder farmers’ adaptation at the climate–conflict nexus: a systematic review
Rubangakene, D., Oryema, C., Nielsen, M.R. · Frontiers in Climate · Feb 2026
First systematic synthesis of how smallholder farmers adapt when climate stress and violent conflict happen together. Adaptation strategies look different when both threats are present.