Few, S. orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-158X, Bonjean Stanton, M.C. orcid.org/0000-0002-4558-8341 and Roelich, K. orcid.org/0000-0001-6979-5401 (2023) Decision making for transformative change: exploring model use, structural uncertainty and deep leverage points for change in decision making under deep uncertainty. Frontiers in Climate, 5. 1129378. ISSN 2624-9553
Abstract
Moving to a low carbon society requires pro-active decisions to transform social and physical systems and their supporting infrastructure. However, the inherent complexity of these systems leads to uncertainty in their responses to interventions, and their critical societal role means that stakes are high. Techniques for decision making under deep uncertainty (DMDU) have recently begun to be applied in the context of transformation to a low carbon society. Applying DMDU to support transformation necessitates careful attention to uncertainty in system relationships (structural uncertainty), and to actions targeting deep leverage points to transform system relationships. This paper presents outcomes of a structured literature review of 44 case studies in which DMDU is applied to infrastructure decisions. Around half of these studies are found to neglect structural uncertainty entirely, and no study explicitly considers alternative system conceptions. Three quarters of studies consider actions targeting only parameters, a shallow leverage point for system transformation. Where actions targeting deeper leverage points are included, models of system relationships are unable to represent the transformative change these interventions could effect. The lack of attention to structural uncertainty in these studies could lead to misleading results in complex and poorly understood systems. The lack of interventions targeting deep leverage points could lead to neglect of some of the most effective routes to achieving transformative change. This review recommends greater attention to deeper leverage points and structural uncertainty in applications of DMDU targeting transformative change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2023 Few, Bonjean Stanton and Roelich. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
Keywords: | decision making under deep uncertainty; transformative change; leverage points; structural uncertainty; climate change; transport |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 Jan 2024 09:32 |
Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2024 09:32 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Frontiers Media |
Identification Number: | 10.3389/fclim.2023.1129378 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:206729 |